Jai alai This is the version known
outside Europe as
jai alai. It is called
zesta punta in Basque and
cesta-punta in Spanish (literally: 'edged basket'). It uses a special glove that extends into a long pointed curved basket (hence the name), circa 60 cm long in straight line and 110 cm by curved line. The basket (
xistera in Basque and
chistera in French) was introduced by
Gantchiqui Dithurbide from
Saint-Pée, France in 1860, and its long version by
Melchior Curuchage, from Buenos Aires in 1888.
Hand-pelota Hand-pelota (Basque:
esku huska or
esku huskako pilota, Spanish:
pelota a mano) is played barehanded (or with minimal protections) and with a traditional ball made of wool around a hard core and covered with leather. The standard ball should weigh 92–95 grams. It is played in the short court either individually (one vs. one) or by pairs (two vs. two). Traditionally and professionally it is reserved for men. Players can be distinguished by the swelling of their hitting hand. It was originally played in the 13th century in the Basque region of Spain and France, and has been played for a long time in Mexico, South America, Cuba, Italy and many US states, including Florida. The sport is similar to
squash or
fives, players hit the ball against the end wall, trying to get the ball out of the opponent's reach.
Paleta goma (rubber) Also called "Argentine paleta goma", this is played with a short and broad wooden bat, called
paleta in both Spanish and Basque, and a gas-filled rubber ball. The ball is neither solid nor hollow. It is made from two-halves glued together. Before being glued, the core is filled with a special gas which gives the ball firmness and bounce, and thus greater speed. Paleta goma can be played by either men or women. This version of paleta was invented in
Argentina and is widely played there. The Argentine male
pelotaris are used to dominating international competitions.
Paleta cuero (leather) This variant is played with a bat similar to the previous one but with a traditional leather ball. This game is mainly played by men.
Pala corta (short bat) This is played with somewhat shorter but thicker and much narrower bat (
pala ancha). The ball is leather or rubber. It is reserved, in principle, for men.
Pala larga (long bat) Is played with a longer bat (
pala larga), again thick and not much wide. Leather or rubber ball in the long court. In principle, this game is reserved for men.
Grand Chistera This version of the sport is played essentially in France by 2 teams of 3 players on an outside court referred to as
place libre, meaning "free space" in French, or
Cancha, meaning "court" in Spanish. The court is 16 m wide and 100 m long with the limit for play being at 80 m from the wall or
Fronton and has no side walls. The sport is played with the same glove as the zesta punta.
Joko-garbi A variant of the above. The basket-glove is shorter and less deep and it is allowed to retain the ball only momentarily. The Basque name
joko garbi means "pure game", in opposition to the abuse of
atxiki (unfair retention of the ball), typical of the late 19th century style of playing, dubbed
joko zikin ("dirty game"). This game is for men only.
Remonte Similar to joko-garbi, but the xistera is flatter and doesn't allow the atchiki foul. It can be played by individuals or teams of two players. This game is still performed by professionals in several Jai-Alai frontons in northern Spain.
Xare Xare or
sare (from name of the racket, which means "net" in Basque; also spelled
share in Spanish) is played with a wooden ring strung with a net, meaning that the ball is thrown instead of hit. It is played only on the
trinquet court. It is traditionally strong in South American countries, especially
Argentina, as a result of which it is also known as
raqueta argentina and
raquette argentine in Spanish and French.
Paleta frontón Paleta frontón is a Peruvian variant. The sport is similar to
squash but is played on an open court, with a wooden, carbon fiber or glass fiber paddle and a black rubber ball. == Professionalism in pelota ==