Where is it played?:
Jai alai is played in Spain, Cuba, South America, Mexico, the U.S., the Philippines, Italy, and elsewhere. It is of Basque origin. In the U.S., jai alai is played mostly in Florida.
Who can excel at it?:
Those who excel at it are certainly brave, and they are good athletes with fine hand-eye coordination. Most of the best players are natural right-handers, rather than lefties (this is due to the asymmetry of the court and the requirement that lefties catch and throw with their right hands).
How fast does the ball move?:
Jai alai balls have been recorded traveling at 188 miles per hour. Jai alai is reputed to be the fastest ball sport in the world (a bit faster than racquets, although there is usually more time to react to the speed of the ball since the jai alai court is longer than the racquets court).
How big is the court?:
The jai alai court, or "cancha", measures about 180 feet long by 35 feet wide by about 35 feet high. There is an additional 15 feet of width that runs the entire length of the court, and which is floored by wood. The ball may not bounce within this area, but players may run and play within it.
Is it an Olympic sport?:
Yes, jai alai (at least a variant known as "pelota basque") has been played competitively in the Olympics (Paris, 1900 and Barcelona, 1992) and demonstrated in the Olympics (Mexico, 1968).
Who are some all-time great players?:
One notable professional jai alai player was Piston I, who began his professional career at nine years of age in Madrid, in 1922. A gallery of exceptional players is provided by the International Basque Pelota Federation.
How long does it take to learn?:
The teamwork and the technique of jai alai take years to learn. In addition, the game is quite dangerous. If you want to play it well, you should start as young as possible.
How easy is it to start?:
Some of the Florida frontons offer court rental and you could try out the sport when the cancha is not being used by professionals. It would be very good to get a lesson so that you learn the rules and shots and technique of catching/throwing in one continuous motion. It is a potentially dangerous sport and you should wear a helmet when you try it.
How much does it cost to begin?:
Court rentals are available. You will also need standard equipment, which should be available for loan or rental.
How many players and courts are there?:
There are seven frontons in the U.S., five of which are in Florida. Worldwide, there are probably a hundred or more frontons, and many teams of eight players who compete on them.