Cliff Swain
Encyclopedia
Cliff Swain is the player with the most tournament wins in professional racquetball
history. He began playing the pro tour - International Racquetball Tour
(IRT) - in the 1980s and continued doing so into the 2000s. Known for his great drive serve and on court intensity, the left-handed Swain was a dominant player in the 1990s finishing as the #1 IRT player in 5 seasons during that decade. Swain retired from the IRT following the 2006-07 season, but did play some tournaments in the 2008-09 IRT season. He also played on the Classic Pro Racquetball Tour (CPRT) for former pro players over 40 in the 2008-09 season. Swain was inducted into the USA Racquetball Hall of Fame in 2003.
, California
and was raised in Braintree
, Massachusetts
. Swain was introduced to racquetball
by his father, Robert "Red" Swain, a competitive handball
player when Cliff was 13 years old. Swain was naturally talented and quickly picked up the game, soon winning Massachusetts State and New England Regional Junior Racquetball Championships. In 1983 Cliff Swain won the US Junior National 16 and Under Racquetball Championship. In 1984 Swain won the Orange Bowl World 18 and Under Junior Racquetball Championship. Swain played on the racquetball team at Providence College
in 1984 before turning professional.
is second with 60), and he has also played more tournaments 265 than any other player (second is Ruben Gonzalez at 200). Swain's career highlights are his two US Open Racquetball Championships in 1997 and 2001. Swain was the season end #1 IRT player 6 times: 1990, 1993–95, 1998 and 2002.
Swain won his first professional racquetball title in 1985 at the Tulsa Open in Tulsa, Oklahoma
. Swain went on to win the 1985 Ektelon
National Championship in his first season on tour, consecutively beating racquetball legends, Marty Hogan
, Dave Peck and Greg Peck. Swain was named the Professional Racquetball Rookie of the Year in 1985. Cliff remained one of the top ten professional players from 1985 to 1989. In 1990 Swain finished the year as the number one ranked player in the world for the first time. Swain would go on to finish number one five more times in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998 and 2002. Swain won over eighty tournaments in his pro career including the 1997 and 2001 US Open Racquetball Championships
.
In 2003, Swain was inducted in to the USA Racquetball Hall of Fame. In 2004 and 2005 Cliff played the Legends Racquetball Tour winning the Legends 35+ National Championship both years. Cliff Swain teamed with fellow racquetball legend, Marty Hogan to win the 2004 and 2005 Legends National Doubles Championships. In 2008 Cliff Swain teamed with Woody Clouse to win the 40+ USA Racquetball National Doubles Championship.
Swain would likely have won more racquetball tournaments, but in 1990 at the age of 24, he left racquetball to pursue a tennis
career at the encouragement of Ion Tiriac, one time coach of Boris Becker
. That pursuit lasted two years and although Swain had some success, it was not nearly at the level he had experienced in racquetball
.
Racquetball
For other sports often called "paddleball", see Paddleball .Racquetball is a racquet sport played with a hollow rubber ball in an indoor or outdoor court...
history. He began playing the pro tour - International Racquetball Tour
International Racquetball Tour
The International Racquetball Tour is the professional series that features the world's best racquetball players and the most important pro events, mostly played in the USA....
(IRT) - in the 1980s and continued doing so into the 2000s. Known for his great drive serve and on court intensity, the left-handed Swain was a dominant player in the 1990s finishing as the #1 IRT player in 5 seasons during that decade. Swain retired from the IRT following the 2006-07 season, but did play some tournaments in the 2008-09 IRT season. He also played on the Classic Pro Racquetball Tour (CPRT) for former pro players over 40 in the 2008-09 season. Swain was inducted into the USA Racquetball Hall of Fame in 2003.
Early years
Cliff Swain was born on March 21, 1966 in San JoseSan Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and was raised in Braintree
Braintree, Massachusetts
The Town of Braintree is a suburban city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Although officially known as a town, Braintree adopted a municipal charter, effective 2008, with a mayor-council form of government and is considered a city under Massachusetts law. The population was 35,744...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. Swain was introduced to racquetball
Racquetball
For other sports often called "paddleball", see Paddleball .Racquetball is a racquet sport played with a hollow rubber ball in an indoor or outdoor court...
by his father, Robert "Red" Swain, a competitive handball
American handball
American handball is a sport in which players hit a small rubber ball against a wall using their hands.- History :...
player when Cliff was 13 years old. Swain was naturally talented and quickly picked up the game, soon winning Massachusetts State and New England Regional Junior Racquetball Championships. In 1983 Cliff Swain won the US Junior National 16 and Under Racquetball Championship. In 1984 Swain won the Orange Bowl World 18 and Under Junior Racquetball Championship. Swain played on the racquetball team at Providence College
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
in 1984 before turning professional.
Professional career
Swain's 71 IRT tournament wins is more than any other IRT player (Marty HoganMarty Hogan (racquetball player)
Marty Hogan is a former American racquetball player who won more than 100 international or national titles and six U.S. national championships during his 14-year career. Hogan was ranked either number one or number two in the world from 1976 to 1990.- Early years :He was born in St...
is second with 60), and he has also played more tournaments 265 than any other player (second is Ruben Gonzalez at 200). Swain's career highlights are his two US Open Racquetball Championships in 1997 and 2001. Swain was the season end #1 IRT player 6 times: 1990, 1993–95, 1998 and 2002.
Swain won his first professional racquetball title in 1985 at the Tulsa Open in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. Swain went on to win the 1985 Ektelon
Ektelon
Ektelon, Inc. is an American manufacturer of equipment for racquetball.Currently based in Bordentown, New Jersey, Ektelon was founded by Franklin W. "Bud" Held in 1964 as the first company to manufacture racquetball racquets and stringing machines, not long after the development of the sport of...
National Championship in his first season on tour, consecutively beating racquetball legends, Marty Hogan
Marty Hogan (racquetball player)
Marty Hogan is a former American racquetball player who won more than 100 international or national titles and six U.S. national championships during his 14-year career. Hogan was ranked either number one or number two in the world from 1976 to 1990.- Early years :He was born in St...
, Dave Peck and Greg Peck. Swain was named the Professional Racquetball Rookie of the Year in 1985. Cliff remained one of the top ten professional players from 1985 to 1989. In 1990 Swain finished the year as the number one ranked player in the world for the first time. Swain would go on to finish number one five more times in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998 and 2002. Swain won over eighty tournaments in his pro career including the 1997 and 2001 US Open Racquetball Championships
US Open Racquetball Championships
The US Open racquetball championship is widely acknowledged as the premier professional racquetball event. It is a Grand Slam event with men and women competing from the International Racquetball Tour and Women's Professional Racquetball Organization, respectively. It also includes divisions for...
.
In 2003, Swain was inducted in to the USA Racquetball Hall of Fame. In 2004 and 2005 Cliff played the Legends Racquetball Tour winning the Legends 35+ National Championship both years. Cliff Swain teamed with fellow racquetball legend, Marty Hogan to win the 2004 and 2005 Legends National Doubles Championships. In 2008 Cliff Swain teamed with Woody Clouse to win the 40+ USA Racquetball National Doubles Championship.
Swain would likely have won more racquetball tournaments, but in 1990 at the age of 24, he left racquetball to pursue a tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
career at the encouragement of Ion Tiriac, one time coach of Boris Becker
Boris Becker
Boris Franz Becker is a former World No. 1 professional tennis player from Germany. He is a six-time Grand Slam singles champion, an Olympic gold medalist, and the youngest-ever winner of the men's singles title at Wimbledon at the age of 17...
. That pursuit lasted two years and although Swain had some success, it was not nearly at the level he had experienced in racquetball
Racquetball
For other sports often called "paddleball", see Paddleball .Racquetball is a racquet sport played with a hollow rubber ball in an indoor or outdoor court...
.
External links
- The IRT Historical Data Archive maintained by Todd Boss
- Sports Illustrated, July 11, 1994
- International Racquetball Tour (IRT)