Jai-Alai

Not many Americans know much about Jai-Alai but it is a very popular game in certain parts of the country and with certain cultures. Here are some general information tips about this truly unique game.

The court, also called the cancha, for Jai-Alai consists of 3 walls (front, back, and right), and the fourth wall is made of screen so that the spectators can watch the action. The floor is also a part of the court.

If the ball (called the pelota) touches the floor outside these walls, it is considered out of bounds. It is interesting to note that the pelota is the hardest ball of all sports. The ceiling is usually very high, so the ball has a more predictable path.

To begin a game, the server must bounce the ball behind the serving line, then with the cesta "basket" hurl it towards the front wall so that it hits between lines 4 and 7 off the front wall. The ball is then in play.

The object of Jai-Alai is to score 7 or 9 points which results in a win. Jai-Alai points are scored by the other team dropping, missing, holding, or sending the ball out of bounds. In almost all cases, the game is played in a round-robin format, which means that teams rotate after every point. The team to score a point stays on the court and the opposing team rotates off the court. Points usually double after the first round of play.

Jai-Alai enjoyed a lot of popularity in the US as a gambling alternative to horse racing. It is perhaps most popular today in the state of Florida. The first Jai-Alai fronton (club) in the United States was located at the site of Hialeah Race Course near Miami (1924).

Jai-Alai is unique in that it is often the spectators who have the most information given. There are, of course, players of the game, but often the players are those individuals who have studied the game for years and have just as many years of experience playing it. There is, of course, no reason why a person cannot learn to play the game, but generally speaking the sport is one of watching.

This is a game where wagering has a long history. To learn more Jai-Alai wagering and where it is still legal to do so, visit one of the many websites that are devoted to this sport which is known as the worlds fastest game.