Speed-ball
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Speed-Ball is a racquet sport invented in Egypt in 1961 by Mohamed Lotfy for the training of beginner tennis players. Today it is a sport in its own right, enjoying popularity not only in Egypt but in other countries. Several of these countries make up the International Federation of Speed-Ball (FISB).
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[edit] Description
A hollow ball in latex revolves around a metallic mast (1,70m high) which is linked by a nylon thread (fishing thread type) of 1,70m length. The thread is knotted to the mast by a loop or a plastic ring freely revolving around a reel. The mast is fixed in a base from 40kg to 90kg. The ball is elliptic and is hit with a rigid plastic racquet with a small handle and a strings around 25cm of diameter. The speed-ball court is about 6x4 m. for the single match and 8x6 m. for the doubles.
[edit] Rules
Speed-ball is played alone (super-solo), with two players (single match), or four players (double match).
[edit] Super-solo
In Super-solo, the aim is to hit the ball a maximum times in one minute. At first with the right hand, then a minute again with the left hand, then with two racquets in fore-hand only, then with two racquets in back-hand only. The number of hits of each movement is added to make the final score of the solo.
The duration of one movement is 30 seconds for the players under 14 years old and one minute for older players. A break of 30 seconds for all classes is granted behind each movement.
The best players can do up to 150 hits in one minute!
[edit] Single match
The single match, contrary to the solo, is played with only one racquet. In a single match, there is two players, each one has his own ground. The two grounds are separated by a neutral strip of 60cm wide (diameter of the speed-ball's base). A match is divided into games of 10 points. The players hit the ball once each one and invert the rotation wise. To score points, the ball must run twice successively across the opponent ground without the player can return it. If there is a fault, the point is missed and there is a new service. The service is alternated, whoever is the point's winner. The first player who wins 10 points wins the game. The first player who wins two games (three games for men's seniors) wins the match.
[edit] Double match
The double match takes place like the single, in two teams of two players. In each team, the players serve and hit the ball alternatively. The general rules are the same as the single.
Specific mistakes involve the player's rotation and reception of the ball.
[edit] Federation
The International Federation of Speed-Ball (FISB) was founded in 1984 by the membership of Egypt, France, and Japan. Several other countries joined the federation (USA, Canada, China, Austria, Swiss, Slovenia, Denmark, ...).
