Jai-Alai

Jai alai, or jai-alai, means “Merry Festival” in the Basque language. The term is used to denote a fronton, or open-walled arena. It is the fastest game in the world, with jai-alai ball speeds reaching 188 miles per hour. Jai-alai is enjoyed as a gambling alternative to racing games.

There are several theories about the history of jai alai and its origins. Where did jai alai begin? Some believed it descended from similar games of ancient Greece. It was also believed to have originated from games of pre-Columbian Central America, where conquistadors brought the game back to Spain. But in jai alai history, it was the inhabitants of the Basque region who refined jai-alai.

The basic equipment of jai alai include: the casco or helmet, the most vital equipment in jai-alai as the most serious jai-alai injuries include a massive blow to the head by a speeding pelota; the cesta or basket, a wicker basket glove used to throw and catch the ball; the faja, the fringed red sash worn as part of the standard uniform of white shoes and trousers and the colored and numbered shirt indicating the jai-alai player position; and the pelota, or ball, made out of rubber and goatskin. You can check out pictures of jai-alai on the Internet to get an idea of what the game looks like.

The jai alai arena consists of three walls – front, back and right walls – with 17 lines marking it. The court measures 176 feet long, 50 feet wide and 40 feet high.

So how do you play jai alai? Squash is a similar sport on how to play jai alai. The game is played by two players in a singles match, and four players in a doubles match. The objective is to hurl a ball against the front wall fast enough so that the opponent will not be able to catch or return the ball.

Jai alai fronton is used to play a variety of ball games called Cesta Punta. There are six frontons located throughout the United States: Dania Beach, Hamilton County, Ocala, Orlando, Fort Pierce and Miami jai-alai frontons. The Miami jai-alai fronton had the biggest operation, with a record audience of 15,502 people in December 27, 1975.

Jai-alai was only an Olympic event in 1900, with only two teams competing – Spain and France. Famous jai alai players include Erdoza Menor, Juan Cruz Bustinduy, and Francisca Churruca, one of the best jai alai players in the world.

Jai-alai popularity is slowly dwindling, but frontons strive to get back the former glory of the fastest game in the world. It is one of the many sports that have the perfect mix of speed, accuracy and power in play.