START.—The leader of the game, or any player on either side, puts the ball in play by throwing it among the players of the opposite side. Whoever catches the ball acts as the first server. The server serves by bounding the ball once and then hitting or batting it with the open palm on the rebound, so that it will go over into the opponents' court. Should a served ball fail to rebound in the antagonists' court, it is returned to the party from which it came, that they may have a second trial. One player continues to serve until his side scores five, when the ball is thrown to the opponents. The players on a side serve in rotation.
RULES AND POINTS OF PLAY.—In returning a serve or keeping the ball in play at any time, it may be bounced any number of times before being sent into the opponents' court. The one essential point is that it should be kept bounding, a ball that is dead being thrown back to the server. In bounding the ball it must always be hit or batted from the upper side with the palm of the hand. Should the ball bound very low so as to give slight opportunity for batting into the opponents' court, a player may coax it to a higher point before batting. A ball may also be worked forward or to any advantageous point of the ground by bounding or "dribbling" in this way before batting it. Whenever a ball enters a court, any member of the party on that side may play upon it. The players in each court will naturally scatter to be ready to receive the ball. Players will use in this game many points of tennis, such as sending the ball into the opponents' territory with a long glancing stroke, which may make it bound unexpectedly toward the rear of the opponents' court; or on the contrary, with a small bound that shall just barely cross the line. A ball going out of bounds is out of play, and must be returned to the server unless it should rebound in the court for which it was intended, when it should still be considered in play.
SCORE.—The score is entirely for a defensive game, being wholly on the opponents' failures. If desired, the score may be the same as in tennis, but is generally as follows:—
One point is scored for (a) failure to strike the ball as directed (from above with the open palm); (b) failure to bound the ball before sending it into the opponents' ground; (c) failure to return a good serve or play.
BOWL BALL
(See Center Club Bowls, Circle Club Bowls, and Line Club Bowls.)
CALL BALL
(See also Ring Call Ball, Ball Stand, and Spud.)
10 to 30 or more players.
Playground; gymnasium.