Jai alai means merry festival in the Basque language. It is known for the name Pelota (ball) in Spain. A dispute exists where as to where the game originated. Some people think that Hernando Cortez learned that early Aztecs had played it long before he invaded Mexico and that he carried the idea back to Andalusia, Spain. Other historians say jai alai is just a game of handball, with variations supplied by the Basques. They started with the bare hand, progressed to a flat bat, a short basket, and finally to the long curved wicker basket or "cesta."
The ball in Jai alai is harder then a golf-ball and is approximately ¾ the size of a baseball. It has been clocked at faster then 150 miles per hour. This makes the movement of the jai Alai ball the fastest of any ball in any sport. It is constructed of virgin de para rubber from Brazil. It is hand wound by a process takes many hours.
The basket or cesta has a glove on top. Each player has his preference to the size of the basket. It has a chestnut frame and ribs and reeds used to weave it into a permanent durable shape.
The rules of Jai alai are simple. The server must bounce the ball once on the service line. Then he scoops up the ball as it bounces and flings it to the other te
Bote Pronto: A ball which is caught right after it bounces. Difficult to do.
Paredon: The ball comes far out from the back wall.
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