Racket Wars: Guide Book To All The World's Racket Sports

ISBN: 9781483525723

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Acknowledgements

Olympic Racket Sports

Badminton

Basque Pelota

Paleta Goma

Paleta Cuero

Xare

Frontenis

Paleta Corta

Court Tennis (Real Tennis)

Longue Paume

Rackets (Hard Rackets)

Table Tennis

Table Tennis (Round, Hexagon, )

Table Tennis (Triples, Tri-Surface, Tri-Pong)

Tennis (Lawn Tennis)

Mini Tennis

Two-Racquet Tennis

Tennis Triples

Wacketball

International, National, & Regional Sports

360ball

3-Way Mini Tennis

All Volly Tennis (Beach Tennis)

Sun Proball

Battledore & Shuttlecock

Beach Paddleball

Matkot

Frescobol

Aqua Paddleball/Smashball/Itza Paddleball

Bi Rak It

Footrocket

Frontenis

Hot Tennis

Jokari

Fly Ball

Balls Back

Tote Tennis

Ketball

Knuckle Racquet

Paddleball (Stringed)

Paddleball One-Wall

Paddleball Four-Wall

Paddle Tennis

Padel Tennis

Paleta Frontón

Paradise Tennis

Pickleball

Pington

Pitton

Platform Tennis

Pong Tennis

Qianball

Racketball

Racketlon

Racquetball

Whispherball (Wacquetball)

Outdoor Racquetball

Racquetball Without-Walls

Rapid Ball

Ricochet

Soft Tennis

Speedball (Speed-o-Ball)

Paddle Tetherball

Tethered Tennis

Swing-Ball

Speedminton (Speed Badminton)

Black Lighting

Speeder

Speedyball

Squash (Squash Rackets)

Squash Tennis

Sticke’

Tenniwall

Team Racquet Sports

Ball Badminton

Bunkerball

Eclipseball

Longue Paume

(see Court Tennis)

Smolball (Tenniball)

Tennis Polo (Toccer)

Viperball

Index

Introduction

This book is the result of an idea that I had in the spring of 2008 while resting between successive Squash matches. I had been invited to play at the Washington DC Squash club and was trying my best to demonstrate to the Squash players that a good Racquetball player could easily transfer those skills onto a Squash court. My efforts met with mixed results. I am primarily a Racquetball player, competing and winning at national level events, but as a true Racket Warrior, someone who plays multiple racket sports, I have tried my hand at other racquet sports such as Tennis, Squash, Badminton, and Table Tennis. In between the Squash matches I found myself wondering about other, less well known racket sports, and whether the skills required to play Racquetball or Squash were compatible and/or transferable to other racket sports. I decided to conduct some basic research on racket sports in general and determine what made them similar, as well as different, from each other.

At that time I was only familiar with, what I like to call the big five, Tennis (Lawn Tennis), Table Tennis, Squash (Squash Racquets), Racquetball, and Badminton. I had no idea that there were over 100 hundred different racket sports and games, forty-five of which were still actively being played at various locales around the world. A common thread among all racket sports is that they seem to create a loyal; core following that remains passionate about the sport and keeps it alive while other sports die out from lack of participation. Of eight racquet sports created in the 19th century or earlier, seven are still actively played, and four of those are the most popular in the world today. In order of worldwide popularity, measured by participation, they are Table Tennis, Badminton, Tennis, and Squash. Racquetball is the fifth most popular racquet sport, but it was created much later in the middle of the 20th century.

As a part of my initial research I looked for an existing book that listed all racquet and paddle sports that were played around the world. To my surprise I could not find any one book that provided a comprehensive list and description of these sports. Most books concentrated on one specific sport or on the most popular racquet sports, such as Tennis, Squash, or Table Tennis, with maybe a brief mention of a few of the lesser known sports such as Padel Tennis. So, I decided to write an all encompassing guide to all of the world's racquet and paddle games. This book provides a listing and description of all known racquet sports and their variations, whether the sport is currently being played or played in the past. I’ve even included many games that never passed the prototype stage. The sports are divided into three categories: Olympic racket sports, other international and national or regional sports, and team racket sports. The Olympic section describes the six racket sports that are currently, or were at one time, recognized by the International Olympic Committee and played as a participatory sport in the Olympics. The next section lists all other racket and paddle sports that have been created. Whether the sport attained a broad appeal, was played internationally, or was more limited in circulation (found in only a couple of nations or specific regions within a country). The third and last section lists those six racket sports that are based on the interplay of competing teams, consisting of at least four players per side.

The purpose of this book is to list all known racket and paddle sports and illustrate as best as possible in a book format, the speed, power, athleticism, and skill required playing each sport. As a guide, the book contains a brief overview for each sport delineating the history, how the sport is played, displaying photographs, pictures, equipment descriptions (racket/paddle, projectile) and courts/playing area. The E-book version of this book also contains Video: http://racquetsportstoday.ipage.com/ clips of the sports being played.

In conducting the research for the book I was faced with one daunting obstacle, the lack of book references for some of the less popular, or known, racket sports. Those racket sports with a substantial following, such as Tennis, Table Tennis, Squash, Racquetball, and Badminton, have had, and continue to have books written about them, and more than sufficient reference material is available. However, I have not been able to uncover, for most of the lesser known racket sports, and especially their variations, any reference to their very existence other than obscure, singular articles in sport magazines, mention on a few Internet web sites, or in one case the oral recollections of two former professionals in the sport. In my attempt to be as thorough as possible I have tried to leave no stone unturned and included those Internet sites that have provided value-added information that was not available in other references or sources. I am sure that there are readers that will know of, and bring to my attention, the existence of many other racket sports, or variations, that I have missed. I welcome that input and look forward to providing an even more comprehensive listing in a follow-on edition of this guide.

I hope that this book educates, surprises, fascinates, and piques your interest to discover more about, and to play some of the lesser known racket sports, along with the more popular sports.

Acknowledgements

This book would not have been possible, or completed, without the assistance, advice, and support of the following professional contacts, acquaintances, friends, associates, companies, organizations, and fellow Racket Warriors. I thank each and every one for help in providing unique and useful information, photographs, pictures, and Video: http://racquetsportstoday.ipage.com/. Their know-how and special knowledge of racquet sports, combined with a willingness to assist me, was remarkable. Letting me tap into their expertise, and knowledge base was invaluable. I especially thank them for helping to clarify vague and ambiguous lines of research, suggesting alternative lines of investigation, and helping me document little known facts regarding existing and extinct racket sports.

Racket Sports

What makes a sport a racket sport or racquet sport, and how do racquet sports differ from other sports? The best description, or definition of a racquet sport that I have found, and the one used in creating this book, is any sport that uses a racket or paddle-like device to strike a ball, or other projectile, back and forth, directly or indirectly, between opponents. All racquet sports that involve opponents use either a "direct" or "indirect" competitive format. In a "direct" format competitors face each other, usually, but not always, separated by a net. In an "indirect" competition players utilize a reflective surface (wall, backboard, elastic cord, etc) as the intermediary medium between the players, and the players are usually positioned side by side or nearly so. Notable exceptions that are played without a net or walls are Fresco/Matkot, Speedminton, Jokari, Speed Ball, and string Paddleball, to name a few,

Sports such as Jai-Li, Taijiball, and Lacrosse, where the ball is caught or carried in a racquet netting or basket, and slung forward to continue play, are not included as true racquet sports. Nor, are sports such as Pelota Mixteca, Handball, or Pelota Manu included, as they all use various degrees of padding on the hands to strike the ball instead of a racquet or paddle. Ice and Field Hockey are not included as the stick does not qualify as a racket.

With all of the various sports that are available to play in the United States and the rest of the world, why racquet sports? In an About.com Guide article by Stephen Hufford, titled Why play Racquet Sports? The Truth About Why Racquet Sports Are So Great, he explained in clear terms why those of us who play, love our racquet sports so much and become obsessed with them. Although Stephen listed nine reasons racquet sports create such dedicated followings, I credit four of those, mental battle, physical demands, skill requirements, and lifetime enjoyment, with my own obsession. Another factor is that racquet sports tend to attract individuals who prefer to participate in sports rather than just watching others participate. Watching or participating in a team sport can’t match the continuous mental contest that takes shape in a singles or doubles match. You don’t have multiple team members to cover or assist you when you have a lapse in concentration or if your physical stamina falters, and you can’t take time off when the game action is directed at your team member. Additionally, some racquet sports can be played at a lower intensity level, enabling individuals to remain active and continue playing well into their 80s and 90s. And, players always have new or different racquet or paddle techniques that they are learning or trying to perfect. As a player you can always get better, improving your game, and never reach technical perfection regardless of which racquet sport you participate in or how old you get. Also, your game continuously changes as you age and your physical capabilities change.

The size, shape, and construction of the racquets or paddles used, vary in