Valencian fronto

Frontó (Valencian pronunciation: [fɾonˈto]) is a modified Valencian pilota version of the original Basque Pelota game. The name frontó refers both to the game, ball and the playing area. Unlike some of the more popular Valencian Pilota rules, frontó is an indirect game, that is, players do not stand face-to-face but share a common playing area.

The first frontó in Valencia is dated in the late 1800s, and was called the "Jai Alai" (Basque for joyful party). On June 12, 1894 the newspaper El Mercantil announced one of the first matches with 4 Basque players.

After its foreign origins, Valencian frontó evolved with the use of a different ball, the "tec", so that it has more in common with Valencian pilota. So far, though it has not gained as much popularity as the Escala i corda or Raspall rule variations, the only version of pilota with professional players.

Valencian and Basque Pelota players now meet in casual tournaments or exhibitions despite the use of different balls and different court sizes.

A Valencian frontó is a rectangular flat three-walled courtfield:

The side wall has 10 numbered vertical lines used for players to stand in their positions and to locate two lines: The fault line, at the 4, marks the closest place to the "frontis" where the serving ball may be bounced on the ground, and the pass line, at the 7, signals the farthest place from the "frontis" where the ball may bounce when serving.

Spectators usually sit on stairs or chairs placed where the fourth wall would stand, after an area called "contracanxa", which is used to play openly bouncing balls. Under normal Valencian Pilota rules, public stands aren't separate from the playing area.

Valencian frontó is played with a tec ball, made of goat skin. The ball weighs 45-50 grams, and has a diameter of 38–40 mm.

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Wikipedia