Frescobol

Frescobol (Portuguese, lit. fresh ball) is a racket sport originating in Brazil in the 1950s. The game is played between 2 (or occasionally 3) players with solid rackets, most often made of wood or fibreglass, and the aim of the game is to hit a small rubber ball between players for as long as possible. It is often considered a beach activity.

Players playing frescobol in Ipanema.

Equipment

The racket used is made out of wood or composite materials such as fibreglass or carbon fibre. It can be hollow or solid. The maximum measurements are a width of 25 centimetres and a height of 50 centimetres. It should weight between 300 and 400 grams, depending on player preference. A non-slip grip can be added to the handle.

A frescobol racket (or paddle).

The ball is a hollow sphere of pressurized rubber. Often racquetball balls are used.

Similar games

Frescobol is very similar to the Israeli sport matkot/kadima. They are identical in how they are played, but matkot is usually played with round rackets instead of the teardrop shaped rackets used in frescobol.