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> if you have any good books or online video series that would
> help me I'd appreciate any thoughts!

All of the various pros that have put out training content on YouTube have had them organized fairly well by the PencilTree team, here:

https://www.penciltree.com/racquetball

If you are looking for videos from one group that covers everything, then The Pro Racquetball Academy in Stockton, California is the group I'd recommend. They are known as 'The 209', and 4 of their players are in the top 20 on the pro tour. Each episode is 20-30 minutes long. They will talk about Ektelon products that you probably won't be able to find anymore, but they are a good group.

https://youtu.be/uLdsrrKagQw?list=PLXfUMm_ZwIxUQ1JjW0-FO0JuPWR-cnm2s

I personally recommend the Gearbox GB250 if you are in that price range. Cliff Swain has a good video on what to think about when buying a racquet, and I'd recommend that you do the demo program from RBW and think on his points when you hit with each one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkQSIrKLMJA

As far as books go, I'd recommend Advanced Racquetball by Steve Keeley and Championship Racquetball by Fran Davis.

https://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Racquetball-Steve-Bo-Keeley/dp/1501072234/
https://www.amazon.com/Championship-Racquetball-Fran-Davis/dp/0736089799/

You can get something like this. They're unwieldy and kind of goofy-looking, but effective.

The best thing is prescription safety glasses, but you won't want to shell out for those if you're just trying it out.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00069IVDI/ref=sxl1?qid=1463431317&sr=1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65

Those goggles are the best I've used and never have fogged up on me. I've seen others here suggest cheap construction safety glasses. If that works for you go for it as it is cheaper for sure but for me they alway fog and I play without which is stupid. I finally just bought these and they are amazing. Don't be dumb like me. Just skip to the finish line.

The starter racquets are the "bent-frame" kind... just a straight piece of material formed into a head shape. Most of the time, those racquets end up bending and leaning to one side and are pretty much worthless. A midlevel head i.165 (http://www.racquetballwarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=I165) or a used KM 750 (http://www.racquetballwarehouse.com/useddescpage.html?pcode=PK15750) or even a Gearbox GB50 (http://www.amazon.com/Gearbox-GB-50-Racquetball-Racquet/dp/B00GNMJ0UU?ie=UTF8&keywords=Gearbox%20racquetball&qid=1463611541&ref_=sr_1_12&sr=8-12) will be a million times better and will last you several years. I know A-level people that still play effectively with those racquets (minus the GB50, but that's still a solid starter racquet).

Bumming balls or using what's left after others play is doable if that's an option, or you can just go to walmart and pick up a can of anything (purple and ektelon fire (http://www.amazon.com/Ektelon-Fireball-Racquetballs-Red-ball/dp/B001E6L9XQ/ref=sr_1_5?s=racquet-sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1463611831&sr=1-5&keywords=ektelon+balls) tend to be the preferred tournament balls depending on where you live, but that might not matter to you).

As others have said, a cheap pair of safety glasses is a must, and decent ones simply aren't that expensive (http://www.amazon.com/Ektelon-Mirage-II-Racquetball-Eyewear/dp/B000ETVJSE/ref=sr_1_3?s=racquet-sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1463611766&sr=1-3&keywords=racquetball+glasses).

They don't hold up, at all, on your knees. The honeycomb pattern tears almost instantly with any sort of sliding action across a wood floor.

The compression quality is quite good though.

I wear the viper sleeve under a Mizuno kneepad with great success.

https://www.amazon.com/Mizuno-480105-LR6-Volleyball-Kneepad/dp/B00114V4SG?th=1

Let's see...

Question 1:

Do you mean face up vs. face down? This won't matter unless your racquet is asymmetric. An example would be the several of the Head/Ektelon racquets where the order of the crosses matter. In these cases, you would simply need to be aware of which side you start your crosses on. For these types of racquets, there are typically specific manufacturer instructions that can be found online (e.g. link; checkout the Head Black Widow for a specific example of mounting instructions). For racquets with normal grommet systems, you don't need to worry about the orientation so much.

Question 2:

Same as #1 above, this will depend on the individual racquet. These racquets tend to have fan-like orientation of strings at the throat (Think the Head throat design). Typically, the last cross will have a "hard weave," where if the first main to be crossed is "lower" than the others, your cross will start by going under that string. From that, you can predict how to begin your crosses at the head of the racquet. If you're ever worried, take a picture of the racquet's strings at the start of the crosses before cutting them out (just make sure they were strung properly to begin with!).

Question 3:

I've personally used one by Gamma (link it was basically the only one I could find when I was looking for one) and it has worked great for me. I've heard that others also really enjoy ones by Alpha, although those can be difficult to find and I haven't actually tried it myself. My method for starting the crosses is:

1. On the side opposite to your starting knot, weave the first cross (backwards)
   
2. On the emerging side, ensure you have enough string to reach the tension head. On this same side, add starting clamp to the string outside of the racquet and flush against the side of the frame
   
3. Using the other side of the string, weave the second cross, pull tension, then clamp
   
4. Weave third cross, pull tension, then clamp.
   
5. using the loose string near the starting clamp, pull tension, remove the starting clamp, and use your second clamp (previous on cross #2) to clamp this cross down
   
6. Tie the end knot.
   
   I use this method to avoid pulling tension directly against the frame to minimize stress on the racquet. Many people will argue different methods are better than others online, but you will find what works best for you/your racquets. However, your specific situation is different.
   
   One trick when mounting (since I've used the Gamma stringers before) is to first ensure that your mounting towers are far apart, then adjust the mounting points at 12 and 6 o'clock such that your racquet somewhat "floats" over the middle of the turntable just enough such that you would be able to fit your fixed clamps at the top of your frame for the first cross. If it's still not possible to fit them up there, then you'll likely need to simply use a starting knot (see the link the other poster provided), and weave the first cross, tension (to tighten the knot), weave the second cross, tension, then clamp with a fixed clamp. This isn't ideal, but would be unavoidable if your clamps can't fit at the top cross. Some methods exist where you could start by weaving your second cross first, and then looping around to your first cross, which then jumps to the third...etc. Personally, I think those methods cause excessive string contact on the outside of the racquet so I typically avoid them where possible unless a manufacturer directly recommends it.
   
   Question 4:
   
   You can use an extra shoelace or toothbrush moistened with some rubbing alcohol. With the shoelace, just rub it back and forth on your clamps/tension gripper. YouTube also has some videos on this, I think. Depending on the color of strings you've been using, you can sometimes see the residue that gets removed.
   
   Sorry this became another wall of text! What type of racquets do you own or expect to string most frequently?

All you need is eyewear that has a rim on the top of the part that covers your eye.

Rave

Cheap and effective.

edit: I used to have these. They would fog up every point. Since I switched to a rimmed pair of glasses, I've never had this problem.

My calves used to cramp constantly. Stretching has helped some, and as others have noted here, make sure you're hydrating (with electrolyte replenishment).

I also added these calf sleeves and wear them anytime I'll be playing more than an hour or so:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FLP5549/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This has cut down significantly on my calf cramps, although I did still get a twinge towards the end of a one-day shootout a few months back. But the gym was hot, and I don't think I was replenishing fluids sufficiently.

Huge improvement though.

I use these Dr Scholl's insoles - I found the surface lasts longer before grinding through. Better than Sof Sol Athlete.

So, if your insoles have holes under the balls/toes/heel - toss 'em & replace. Next, decent socks like Thorlo.

And the key - get a pumice stone and sand down your callouses EVERY DAY, in the shower. Problem solved.

The idea with insoles and socks is: you want the sock to slip on the insole - not your skin (layers) slipping (shearing) on the sock. This is what people are trying to achieve w/ double socks.

I use these. I've survived a couple full speed hits with them and they are slightly cheaper than the ektelon quantums. http://www.amazon.com/BSN-1721XXXX-Overglass-Protectors/dp/B0000BYRPK/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1407596116&sr=8-7&keywords=over+glasses+racquetball

Slackin. Good thing Amazon's got ya covered!


http://www.amazon.com/Python-Racquetball-Replacement-Rubber-Black/dp/B00157ASKE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452196489&sr=8-1&keywords=python+grip

my orthopedist said these were as good as the expensive/custom ones in his office: https://www.amazon.com/Powerstep-Pinnacle-Orthotics-U-Blue-Mens/dp/B000KPKMX0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495764667&sr=8-1&keywords=pinnacle+powerstep now i see them at high end runners stores. i've had them for years after getting plantar faciitis, never had it again after using them. that being said, once your foot starts swimming inside a court shoe, it's over ~ time to buy a new shoe. i just take the new shoe insole out and replace it with the one i linked.

Neither had I! It's only $4.99 on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Splash-20th-Anniversary-Edition-Hanks/dp/B00015YVD6/

Then I'd experiment with either aspirin/advil, adjusting my grip to lower the thumb and if those don't work, a larger or smaller racket handle. Maybe even changing your actual grip may help. I never use stock grip tape, but always use an after-market like this.

Here, try this String for Heavy Hitters

I was wearing racquetball glass with vent.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00069IVDI/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I thought this is for court racquetball, isn't it?

These gloves are all I've ever worn and they've never stained at all. I get plenty sweaty as well. The one thing is that they do wear out in the palm where the end of the racket sits, but it does take a while to get to that point.

I use these http://www.amazon.com/Ektelon-Strobe-Protective-Racquetball-Glasses/dp/B000GPC9NK

They rarely fog up on me (only if I am sweating a lot and get sweat on the actual lenses) and they have a a shock absorber thing on the forehead that works very well.

Some players I know use batting gloves. You may also find that applying an overgrip helps reduce slippage. I use Gamma but there are lots of options and most are very cheap.

The wrist pain could simply mean that your forearm muscles aren't strong enough yet - if so this will come with time and can be improved with exercise. But it could also mean a problem with technique. You may want to ask an experienced player to look at your swing and grip.