Matkot (Hebrew: מטקות lit. "racquets") is a popular paddle ball game in Israel similar to beach tennis, often referred to as the country's national sport.[1]
Matkot is a non-competitive beach game in which two or more players hit a small ball back and forth using paddles. [2] The sport is named after the racquet, the matka; the origin of this word is unclear.[3]
The racquets are traditionally made of wood, although sometimes the handles are reinforced with a plastic covering. The head of a racquet may vary somewhat in size and shape. The heads are circular and about 30 centimetres (12 in) in diameter. The racquet handles are short, and with very little trunk between the handle and the racquet head.
The standard ball used is the same ball as is used in squash. However, novice and intermediate players sometimes use a ball that is similar in size to a squash ball, but lighter and/or bouncier.
The game has developed a moderate level of popularity outside of Israel as a participatory sport, particularly where there is either a strong beach culture (e.g. Brazil, where it is also highly popular, but more commonly known as frescoball), or a significant number of Israelis living abroad (e.g. Thailand).