December 16, 2025 Larry Byrne

My Return to Racquetball After almost 20 Years Away

For a long time, racquetball was a part of my life that belonged to the past.
Not because I stopped loving the sport, but because injuries, timing, and fear slowly pushed it out of reach.

One year away became several, and before I realised it, nearly 20 years had passed since I last played seriously.

I avoided my local club like the plague, knowing the feelings it would stir up if I set foot inside it. Over time, I found fulfilment elsewhere — going to the gym, hill running, and competing in adventure races. By the time I hit 40, I was in better shape than I had been in my late 20s and 30s.

That’s when something changed. I developed the determination to give racquetball another go. Even if it was only for the social aspect and I was happy if it meant playing at a lower standard. I just wanted to play again — and one day, share a court with my children.

How I Drifted Away From the Game

Successive knee injuries in my twenties led to growing uncertainty about recovery and long-term damage.

I tore cartilage in my left knee playing football and, within weeks, had an arthroscopy in the Mater Hospital. At the time, the biggest barrier wasn’t the injury itself — it was the doubt about whether returning to sport was worth the risk.

I was given old-fashioned advice by the surgeon:

“If you want to continue working, you must give up sport.”

That was not what I wanted to hear.

I didn’t listen. Within a couple of months, I was injured again — playing football again — but this time it felt worse. And it was the other knee.

I remember thinking: That’s it. How do I come back from this?

Weeks became months. Months became years. I became a father, life got busy, and racquetball was pushed further and further out of my mind. Eventually, I became numb to how much I missed it and accepted that I would never enjoy it competitively again.

The Spark That Brought Me Back

My return wasn’t planned. It started with a simple realisation:

I miss this more than I thought.
I’m nearly 42. If I don’t do this now, I never will.

I made the decision there and then to commit to a return.

A few years earlier, I had been told my right knee had a partially torn ACL. By this point, though, my confidence had grown. I had learned to cope with it, and without even realising it, I had built strength around it.

The first session back was tough. Fitness was gone. Timing was off. Confidence came and went.

I was run around the court by a club legend — 20 years older than me — who barely had to move. It reminded me of him doing the exact same thing years earlier when I was younger and he was my age.

But the important thing was this:
I was able to move. I was able to twist and turn — albeit strapped up to the hilt.

And the competitive edge — the reason I loved racquetball in the first place — was still there.

The Irish Open, Pro-Level Exposure, and a Reality Check

My comeback gathered momentum faster than expected.

I entered the Irish Open just two days before playing my first competitive match back. The tournament was less than two weeks away. I entered the Men’s Pro Singles without hesitation. Men’s Over 40s? No chance.

I had heard there were strong young players in the draw, and after such a long time out of the game, I requested to be downgraded to a C player. I wanted to test myself properly, so I entered the competitive C/D/Novice Singles instead.

My first outing was a success. On the Friday night, I won my opening round match 3–1 against a player who had travelled over from France. That result set up a second-round tie against world number 13 and IRT professional, Thomas Carter.

Sharing the court with a player of that calibre was a huge moment for me. It reaffirmed exactly why I love this sport — the intensity, the challenge, and the standard it demands. I managed to pick up a few points in each of the three games.

I knew I had limited time in my legs, and with my first round in the C/D/Novice Singles scheduled for later that morning, I asked him to make it quick.
He duly obliged 3–0.

My final match of the tournament, against one of the country’s craftiest and most experienced players, was a thriller. I lost the deciding game 12–10 in what felt like a marathon. I didn’t mind losing — I was just relieved to get through the tournament without any major damage.

What I didn’t know at the time was that I had played the entire tournament with a fully ruptured ACL. Scan results a week later showed the true extent of the damage and put my Irish Open performance into perspective.

Racquetball Irish Open matches including Thomas Carter during my return to competition

A Decision Had to Be Made

Once the reality of the injury became clear, I had a choice:
step away again, or finally deal with the problem properly.

I chose to commit. By that point, I had the bug back — and there was no way I was being convinced otherwise. I got an appointment with my doctor that week and was referred to the Santry Sports Clinic in Dublin.

In August, I underwent ACL reconstruction surgery. Rehab has been challenging — physically and mentally — especially while balancing work, family life, and welcoming a newborn son into our home.

Progress hasn’t always been smooth, but it has been consistent.

Surgery, Rehab, and Starting Again

Recovery has taught me patience.

Some days the knee feels strong. Other days it reminds me that progress takes time. Strength, mobility, and confidence are built slowly, one session at a time.

My target is clear:
to return to full competition in next years Irish Open on the May bank holiday weekend in 2026.

Post ACL reconstruction recovery using crutches following racquetball injury

Update

Things havent gone exactly to plan.

My original target was to return for The Irish Open, but recovery has reminded me that timelines on paper and reality are not always the same.

Rather than rush back half ready, I have taken the decision to continue building for the summer and return as strong as possible for the start of next season. That means improving strength, movement, confidece and consistency over the months ahead. And shed the 20 extra punds I am carrying. Damn dirty bulking!!

Why This Journey Matters

This journey was never only about getting back on court.

I always wanted to build something of my own, something real, meaningful and connected to an area I genuinely cared about.

Court Gear gives me that opportunity through racquet sports. I am trying to build something worthwhile, step by step.

Filed in: beyond-the-court

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