Galotxa

Galotxa (Valencian pronunciation: [ɡaˈlɔtʃa]) is a variety of pilota that is always played in the street, whether artificial or natural, practiced mostly in the northern counties of the Xúquer river.

In the evolution of the various Valencian pilota forms, Galotxa would be immediate precursor of the Escala i corda (a net in the center of the court, starting the game with the ferida, and the ball can only bounce once on the ground), but without the stairs nor llotgetes (in natural streets galleries neither exist).

There are only amateur players, although many professionals pilotaris (pilota players) of Escala i corda began in Galotxa, such as Álvaro.

Galotxa games are played on the street. This street should be straight and flat, about 50 metres (160 ft) long and 7 meters wide. But these are only guides, and usually people elect a street that fits more to their style of play.

Furthermore, given the dominance of cars and streets in the neighborhood nuisance, some councils have built artificial streets for the practice of Galotxa. These streets simulate windows, balconies, lampposts, sidewalks (and even the sewer lids) of a typical street, but with the advantage of a more regularly pitch and without the interruption of a car that wants to enter the garage, or the elderly lady who returns laden with shopping bags. Among others, there are artificial streets in Albuixech, Benidorm, Beniparrell, Calp, Foios, L'Eliana, Montserrat, Torrent, and Xirivella.

In the center of the street, and at a height of 1.80 metres (5 ft 11 in), is placed a net that divides the court in two halves, the dau and the rest. From this net, 15 steps towards the rest hangs another net, the Galotxa net. And two feet from the Galotxa net to the dau wall, reaching the left wall, a rectangle called dau is drawn on the floor. Both the dau and the Galotxa net are only required when serving every quinze, and are ignored in other play situations.

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Wikipedia