Chinese handball

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Chinese handball (also known as Ace-King-Queen, King(s), and Slugs), is a form of American handball popular on the streets of New York City and Bridgewater, NJ during the 1960s and '70s, and is still played today. In the Philadelphia region it is known as Chink, with almost all of the same rules.

Contents 1 Game play 2 Special Maneuvers 3 East Coast variation 4 Australian variation 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] Game play

Similar to one-wall handball with an opposite twist ("Chinese"), instead of hitting a ball against the wall to opposing players after the first floor bounce as in a normal handball scenario, would hit the ball (normally a spaldeen or kick pinkie) to the ground first toward the direction of the wall. The ball would then bounce off the wall and to the intended player. That player would either return the ball (the same way) back to the server or another player down the line.

A player may continue to hit the ball in his own box as long as he desires. This leads to set up shots where smaller and smaller bounces produce a difficult 'baby' shot that is sent to the next box. Alternately, low, long strokes develop a hard to return power shot to another box, or 'Baltimore Chops' a high bouncing shot. Some local rules may vary such as an 'Ace' knocked out of the lead box does not get a letter.

If a ball takes an erratic bounce due to a crack, or obstacle, on the court a player may call 'Hindoo' (from 'hinder' in Handball) and the ball is replayed with no letter assigned.

Any player failing to eventually return a ball from his box into another box receives a letter ('K', then 'I', then 'N', when he has the previous letter) and goes to the end of the line. At each change of position there is normally a shout out of each player from the 'Ace' stating his letters. When a player has all the letters that spell 'KINGS' the game is over and the losing player must face the penalty known as 'asses up' which consists of the losing player bending over with his head against the wall and his buttocks up while each of the other players take turns having three throws of the ball from across the street at the loser's buttocks, any hit on the buttocks (legs and back do not count as a hit) gives everyone another turn of three throws. Not a game for the fainthearted.

The line consists of 2 to 20 players, with the first player being the "Ace". The second player is the "King" and the third is the "Queen". The final player in line is known as an "Ace Killer" because of his opportune position to take out the "Ace".

Chinese Handball is a game that requires much strategy and reflexes.

[edit] Special Maneuvers

A variety of special maneuvers were incorporated to enhance gameplay. Depending on the maneuver, the player who hits the ball or the player who is about to hit the ball will shout out one of the maneuvers which would slightly alter the rules for that particular moment in game play. Some of the maneuvers include:

• Worm Burner: Player hits the ball very low so it stays close to the ground, and hits the wall at such an angle that it rolls so fast, that it burns all of the worms on the ground. In some places called a "killer".
• Through the Legs Shot: If the ball bounces twice, a player must hit the ball so that it goes through both of their legs (under the crotchal region). Also called a "double undie".
• "Cobble Smash": Player hits the ball with a closed fist instead of his palm, thus creating a greater velocity and a much harder shot to return. This maneuver is not very hard to perfect, however in the early stages of learning this move many tend to hit the wall on a fly rather than the ground first. Also known as "bombing".
• Watermelon* A player may hurl himself under the ball after its bounce and call watermelon. The next player then proceeds to hit it and play the game.

[edit] East Coast variation

Most popular among high school kids on Long Island, New York, and Bridgewater, New Jersey. This consists of the basic rules but gives an opportunity to retrieve the ball after a second bounce. If the ball bounces a second time, the hitter may put the shot between their legs and have it bounce once and hit the wall. This allows for longer and more enjoyable gameplay. Other rules in this variation are:

Reject: The player second in line may choose to accept a ball by hitting it or reject it by calling "Reject" before the balls third bounce. If rejected, the ball is replayed. Different calls depend on where you play but mean the same thing.

Interference: This rule is used if a player or bystander comes in the way of the hitter in his pursuit of the ball. If the player calls this, the ball is replayed, also called "redo."

Grass/Wall/Fence/Curb: This a variation of the Interference but by inanimate objects. If you were to play this outside and have the ball hit the grass or the edge of a curb, the ball will be replayed but if the player was to hit the ball before it reached the grass, the ball is still fair. In the case the field is sided with a fence, or hits the wall again; players can either choose to have the ball replayed or have one extra bounce before the ball is dead.

Ace Rule: When more than 2 players are left in the game, if the ace or server, gets out, they move to the end of the line. This rule no longer applies with 2 people remaining. Again, Different calls depend on where you play but mean the same thing. A "Drop Shot" is a very powerful shot where the player makes a fist and positions himself/herself down very low to the ground and hits the ball with great force to make the ball skim once on the pavement and to the wall in such a way where there is no return bounce and play is decidedly over until the next serve. The terms "Ace's Rule" and "Drop Shot" was known to be used in Long Island's New Hyde Park in NY State in the 1970's but, the exact physical location where the terms first originated remain undetermined.

Any other rules are at the discretion of the players, making each game variable from the number of outs, to the boundaries, varying the flow of the game.

[edit] Australian variation

A version of Chinese handball is still very popular in Australian schools, where it is known simply as "handball". Some schools even have specially designed handball courts, which are divided into one-and-a-half metre or two-metre squares.

The Australian version of the game has enough variation to be considered on its own merits. See Australian Handball

[edit] See also

• Australian Handball
• Reverse handball

[edit] External links

• Rules and photos on Streetplay.com

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