Trac Ball
Encyclopedia
Not to be confused with track ball
Trac Ball (or Trac-Ball, or Tracball) is typically a game of catch played by two or more people wherein both participants wield an oversized glove/racquet/basket, passing a ball back and forth. The racquet is similar in appearance and function to a jai alai
basket. Trac Ball is also utilized in a game called whirlyball. Whirlyball is a game played on bumper cars where two teams using track balls attempt to score goals against one another by throwing the Trac Ball into the opposing team's elevated net.
can be attained. The grooves in the racquet along with the striations on the ball provide a great deal of spin which allows players to throw deep curveballs with little effort.
Holding the racquet perpendicular to the ground and throwing forward will cause the ball to spin backwards towards the thrower. This usually causes a higher flight than intended when aiming directly at the catcher. Throw distance is extended by ball spin, but the curve is otherwise unnoticeable.
A more dramatic curving effect can be caused by holding the racquet parallel to the ground. The ball will curve back towards the catcher if, for instance, the racquet is held out to the right by a right-handed person and the ball is aimed approximately 30 degrees to the left of the catcher or more (depending on the velocity of the throw).
is a Trac Ball racquet, although a whiffleball is substituted for the traditional Trac Ball.
Trac Ball (or Trac-Ball, or Tracball) is typically a game of catch played by two or more people wherein both participants wield an oversized glove/racquet/basket, passing a ball back and forth. The racquet is similar in appearance and function to a jai alai
Jai alai
Jai alai is a sport involving a ball bounced off a walled space. It is a variety of Basque Pelota. The term, coined by Serafin Baroja in 1875, is also often loosely applied to the fronton where the sport is played...
basket. Trac Ball is also utilized in a game called whirlyball. Whirlyball is a game played on bumper cars where two teams using track balls attempt to score goals against one another by throwing the Trac Ball into the opposing team's elevated net.
Curving
A unique aspect of Trac Ball is the ease at which curvesCurveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
can be attained. The grooves in the racquet along with the striations on the ball provide a great deal of spin which allows players to throw deep curveballs with little effort.
Holding the racquet perpendicular to the ground and throwing forward will cause the ball to spin backwards towards the thrower. This usually causes a higher flight than intended when aiming directly at the catcher. Throw distance is extended by ball spin, but the curve is otherwise unnoticeable.
A more dramatic curving effect can be caused by holding the racquet parallel to the ground. The ball will curve back towards the catcher if, for instance, the racquet is held out to the right by a right-handed person and the ball is aimed approximately 30 degrees to the left of the catcher or more (depending on the velocity of the throw).
Adoption by other sports
The "scoop" commonly used in WhirlyballWhirlyball
Whirlyball is a team sport invented by Stan Mangum that combines elements of basketball and jai alai, or rather a combination of lacrosse and bumper cars, with the players riding Whirlybugs, small electric vehicles similar to bumper cars...
is a Trac Ball racquet, although a whiffleball is substituted for the traditional Trac Ball.