I started playing racquetball in the mid-70's (the decade, not my age).  It was a great workout and it seemed to be a good outlet for some testosterone.  My early opponents were devotees of the "grunt and smash" technique.  Basically, that means that if you yell loud enough and hit the ball hard enough, perhaps you can win the point.  I learned that technique and used it with more or less success until 1982.  It was never really a winning strategy though.   

I had been in the Marine Corps for several years at that time and I had been transferred to the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing in New Orleans to be the Wing Engineer Officer and the Wing Maintenance Management Officer. There was a Major who was the Wing Aviation Ordinance Officer and he and I became good friends...he was also a nationally ranked senior racquetball player! I was in my late 20's at the time and he was in his mid-40's...boy, was I going to enjoy this. I naively thought that my youth and energy could overcome his experience. You can perhaps imagine what is coming next. He cleaned my clock...repeatedly...effortlessly...and without moving much...for quite some time.

He taught me about three basic positions, and a winning strategy. Once he taught me this technique (I think he took pity on me), our games became much more interesting, for both of us. It is all about where you and your opponent are located on the court.

You are in front of your opponent. Your shot is low and preferably to a corner, and it should be gentle. That will require your opponent to rush forward to return the shot.

Your opponent is in front of you. Your shot is high to the front wall and it can be moderately hard, but not hard enough to go to the back wall. This will require your opponent to rush backward to return your shot.

You and your opponent are next to each other. If you are on the left of your opponent, your shot is to the left of the court to make your opponent move left. If you are on the right of your opponent, your shot stays to the right of the court to force your opponent to move right.

It means that you can move your opponent all over the court and cause them to burn energy while you are able to conserve energy. It is not the loud, grunt, and smash tactic that I learned in my youth, but it is the tactic that I use in my maturity.

By the way ladies...feel free to use this if the men that you are playing are trying to intimidate you...just finesse them...and win.