Tamburello, named Tambass in

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, is a court game invented in the northern provinces of Italy during the 16th century. It is a modification of the ancient game of pallone col bracciale, bearing the same general relation to it as

Squash Squash may refer to: Sports * Squash (sport), the high-speed racquet sport also known as squash racquets * Squash (professional wrestling), an extremely one-sided match in professional wrestling * Squash tennis, a game similar to squash but pla ...

does to Racquets. Tamburello is also similar in form to

tennis Tennis is a racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent ( singles) or between two teams of two players each ( doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket that is strung with cord to strike a hollow rubber ball ...

. Tamburello and its variations remain popular today in many nations of the world.

Forms

Open

This form is played at professional level in Italy where there are two varieties: the first kind taking place in a specialised sports venue called a sphaeristerium (''sferisterio'' in

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

), with a lateral wall which permits the ball to rebound; the second kind being played in an open playing field without a lateral wall. A full-sized tamburello court, which need not be as true and even as that for pallone, is long and half as wide, divided laterally through the middle by a line (''cordino'') into two equal spaces, the ''battuta'' and the ''rimessa''. Five players regularly form a side, each carrying in one hand an implement called a tamburello, resembling a

tambourine The tambourine is a musical instrument in the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zills". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though ...

(whence the name), which is a round frame of wood over which a cover of horsehide is tightly stretched. A rubber ball generally larger than a

tennis ball A tennis ball is a ball designed for the sport of tennis. Tennis balls are fluorescent yellow in organised competitions, but in recreational play can be virtually any color. Tennis balls are covered in a fibrous felt which modifies their aerodyna ...

is used. One of the players opens the service (''battuta''), which begins from a small square called the ''trampolino'', situated at one corner of the ''battuta'' but outside the court. The service must be over the middle line. The ball must then be hit from side to side over the line, the side failing to return it or sending it out of court losing a point. The game is scored like

lawn tennis Tennis is a racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent (singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket that is strung with cord to strike a hollow rubber ball cove ...

, four points constituting a game, counting 15+15+10+10. Tambourin02

Indoor

Tamburello Indoor is practiced in an enclosed space such as a sports hall or a school gym on a small field and each team has maximum 8 players of which 3 simultaneously in the field. The ball in this case cannot be made of rubber, because too fast, and then using the tennis ball type depressurized. This is the tamburello's form more prevalent among the world: they play at least in 20 nations.

Tambeach

Tambeach is played on sand so players must hit the ball in flight before it contacts the ground. Players stand on a field which is 24x12 metres split in half by a net high 2.15 m. They play in this manner: one player versus other one or two players versus other two like

beach tennis ''For the sport called "beach paddleball", see Matkot. For other sports called "paddleball", see Paddleball (sport).'' Beach tennis is a game combining elements of tennis and volleyball and played on a beach. Forms Beach tennis Beach tenni ...

Tambutennis

In tambutennis two players regularly stand in each side on a court split in half by a net like

. The ball, used in this game, is made with

terrycloth Terrycloth, terry cloth, terry cotton, terry toweling, terry, terry towel, or simply toweling is a fabric woven with many protruding loops of thread which can absorb large amounts of water. It can be manufactured by weaving or knitting. Terryclo ...

Tambourelli

Tambourelli is form which was started by Scottish players and it is similar to tambeach and

badminton Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. Although it may be played with larger teams, the most common forms of the game are "singles" (with one player per side) and "doubles" (with two players p ...

because they play with a shuttlecock.

Notes

References

External links

Italian tamburello supplier

Catalan Tamburello Federation

Video

{{Team sports Team sports Ball games Sports originating in Italy