Does LA Fitness Have Racquetball Courts?
Some LA Fitness clubs, particularly older Bally-conversion locations, still have racquetball courts. Newer clubs and downtown urban locations generally do not.
Quick Answer
Some LA Fitness clubs still have racquetball courts, particularly older locations that were converted from Bally Total Fitness in the 2010s. Newer clubs and downtown urban locations generally do not.
Court access is included with membership. Bring your own racquet and eye protection.
Which Clubs Have Racquetball
Roughly 25 to 30 percent of LA Fitness locations still have racquetball courts. Most of these are pre-2000 buildings inherited from Bally, Q Sports and Sport & Health chains.
Filter by "Racquetball" on the Find a Club map. If your local club shows the amenity, they have at least one court.
Court Specifications
- Dimensions: Regulation 20 x 40 x 20 feet.
- Walls: Full four-wall glass or drywall construction.
- Floor: Sealed maple or synthetic sport court.
- Court count per club: Typically 2 to 4 courts.
How to Book a Court
Most clubs allow drop-in play or reservation up to 24 hours in advance. Book at the front desk or on the app. Peak booking hours are weekday evenings 5 to 8 pm and weekend mornings.
Sessions are typically 60 minutes. Late arrival forfeits the reserved slot after 10 minutes.
Equipment Needed
Racquet, eye protection (mandatory at every LA Fitness), racquetball, non-marking shoes. Most clubs sell racquetballs at the front desk for about $6 for a can of three.
Some clubs rent racquets and eye protection for a nominal fee ($3 to $5). Check with the front desk before showing up empty-handed.
Racquetball Programs and Leagues
A handful of clubs run competitive leagues, typically 6 to 12 weeks for $60 to $120. Ladder rankings and social tournaments happen throughout the year.
Find a local partner through the club's member forum on the app or by posting on the racquetball bulletin board at the courts.
The Racquetball Decline
Racquetball participation in the US has declined 60% since 2000. LA Fitness has responded by converting many old courts into cycle studios, group fitness rooms and functional training zones during club renovations.
If you specifically want to play, join a club that still has courts and use them regularly. The "use it or lose it" rule applies; low-use courts get converted.
Why Racquetball Courts Are Disappearing
Racquetball courts occupy a large, tall, single purpose box. That footprint is the reason clubs built them in the 1980s and the reason they keep converting them now. The same space holds a functional training area, a group studio or two dozen pieces of equipment that get used all day rather than in booked hour slots.
The practical result is that court availability is entirely location dependent, and it changes. A club that had two courts three years ago may now have one, or none, without any announcement beyond a sign on the door.
Older suburban clubs are the most likely to still have them. Newer builds and city locations rarely do.
How To Confirm Before You Join
Do not rely on the amenity list on the website, which is frequently out of date after a remodel. Call the specific club and ask two questions: whether the courts are still in use as courts, and whether they are open to general members or reserved for a league.
Then visit at the time you would actually play. A single court in a club with an active league can be effectively unavailable on weekday evenings regardless of what the booking policy says.
- Ask how far in advance bookings open, since most clubs use a 24 or 48 hour window
- Ask the maximum booking length, usually one hour with an extension if nobody is waiting
- Ask whether guests can play, and whether a guest fee applies
- Ask whether the club runs ladders or leagues, which is the best way to find opponents
Gear And Safety
Eye protection is the one non negotiable item. A racquetball travels fast enough to cause serious eye injury, and many clubs require protective eyewear as a condition of using the court. Bring your own rather than assuming loaners exist.
Court shoes with non marking soles are usually mandatory. Running shoes are built for forward motion and offer poor lateral support for the sharp direction changes the game demands, which is how ankles get rolled.
Racquets come with a wrist tether for a reason. Use it.
If Your Club Converted Its Courts
Ask whether the membership covers other locations in the region, since a multi club access tier often puts a court within reach even when your home club has none. Local community centres and universities also run public courts at low hourly rates, and squash courts, while not identical, scratch a similar itch if a partner is available.
Finding People To Play With
The hardest part of racquetball at a club is not court access, it is finding a regular opponent at a similar level. Ask the front desk whether a contact board or a group chat exists, since most active courts have one.
Failing that, turn up at the same time twice a week. Regulars notice a new face quickly and invitations follow.
Pro Tips Before You Commit
- Tour on a weekday evening between 5pm and 7pm. That is the busiest window. If the equipment is still accessible then, it will be fine any other time.
- Ask for the promotional rate, do not accept the rack rate. LA Fitness runs quiet in-club promos almost every month; sales counselors have discretion to waive the initiation fee if you ask.
- Get every quote in writing. Verbal promises about future price locks are worth nothing once the sales rep leaves the club.
- Read the exact clause on annual fees. Most members are surprised in month 8 by a $59 annual fee they were never verbally told about.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is racquetball equipment provided? Rentals are available at some clubs. Bring your own for consistency.
Do I need to reserve courts? Recommended during peak hours; drop-in play is fine off-peak.
Can I play squash on a racquetball court? No, the court dimensions are different. LA Fitness does not offer squash.
Is eye protection required? Yes, LA Fitness policy requires eye protection for all racquetball play.
Bottom Line
Racquetball at LA Fitness is a shrinking amenity concentrated in older converted clubs. If you play, join a club that still has courts and use them enough to keep them off the renovation list.