Vaqueta ball
Encyclopedia
The vaqueta ball is the kind of ball
used to play some Valencian pilota
variants: Escala i corda
, Galotxa
and Raspall
. Its name derives from the fact that it's made of bull's
skin, hence its black colour (that tends to become brown as it's used), this way the ball contrasts with the white colour of the trinquets'
walls.
The vaqueta ball has a diameter of 44 mm, its circumference is 138 mm, and its weight is around 42 and 48 gr, depending on the variant (in Escala i corda
lighter balls are preferred, while in Raspall
heavier balls are used).
The actual weight of the balls is the end of a process, that is, historical pilotaris such as
Quart
in the 1930s played with balls around 28 and 33 gr. The lighter the ball the slower it goes and the less it flies (its direction). This change of weight has been favoured by "rest" players, who tend to be stronger and have to send the ball longer, but it's an extra handicap for "mitger" and "punter" players, who have to stop the ball or strike it in the middle of its trajectory and while it's still carrying a lot of force.
During the matches, and before beginning every "quinze", the team who stands at the "dau"
is allowed to change one of the 6 disposable balls (each team previously chose 3 of them). This way, if playing again a double team, a trio would choose a new ball, which are fast and with a long bounce, so that the opposing two players are forced to move constantly. Otherwise, the attacking team tends to choose heavier balls, since they exhaust more when defensing.
The making of a vaqueta ball is a piece of Arts and crafts
. The "piloters" are mainly leather
workers such as Emili López (Alberic
), Enric Álvarez (Carcaixent
), Miquel Baixauli (Catarroja
), Joan Montañés (Llíria
), Josep Bernet (Massalfassar
), and Miquel Pedrosa (La Vall d'Uixó
), or retired players as el Rovellet
(València
).
First the "piloter" chooses the bull's
skin, specially from the nape of the neck, which has to be 6 or 7 mm thick and which has to be very tough, so that the ball becomes a real stone when it's finished. Once the leather is chosen, it's steeped
until it becomes 3 mm thick. During this process the skin becomes softer and the "piloter" may work with it. Next, 8 triangles
are cut and sewn up from the inner side with nylon
so that they form a sphere
. But before the last triangle is sewn up, the ball is stuffed with fluff. After that the last triangle is sewn up and the ball
gets closed. It will be pressed for 3 or 4 days in order to acquire a perfect spherical shape. The elaboration process is finished around 1 month later, when the leather is absolutely dry.
There are a number of reasons to explain the expensive price of the "vaqueta" balls: The handcrafted elaboration, the time consumed, the quality of the materials, and the few number of renowned piloters. Hence its price may be around 40 and 80 €, but there also on sale balls used by the professional players, though they are not as fast or tough as new ones.
Ball
A ball is a round, usually spherical but sometimes ovoid, object with various uses. It is used in ball games, where the play of the game follows the state of the ball as it is hit, kicked or thrown by players. Balls can also be used for simpler activities, such as catch, marbles and juggling...
used to play some Valencian pilota
Valencian pilota
Valencian pilota is a traditional handball sport played in the Valencian Community. Its origins are not known, but seems to be related to the French Jeu de paume....
variants: Escala i corda
Escala i corda
Escala i corda is the most prestigious variant of Valencian pilota, and the only one, with Raspall, that have professional players.- History :...
, Galotxa
Galotxa
Galotxa 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....
and Raspall
Raspall
Raspall is a variant of the handball game, Valencian pilota, played mainly in the Valencian regions south to the Xúquer river: the Vall d'Albaida, the Safor, the Costera, the Marina Alta and the Marina Baixa. It is also popular in the Ribera Baixa...
. Its name derives from the fact that it's made of bull's
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
skin, hence its black colour (that tends to become brown as it's used), this way the ball contrasts with the white colour of the trinquets'
Valencian trinquet
Valencian trinquet, or simply trinquet , is the court used in the Valencian Community for two different modalities of Valencian pilota: the Escala i corda and the Raspall.- Court :...
walls.
Traits
Escala i corda
Escala i corda is the most prestigious variant of Valencian pilota, and the only one, with Raspall, that have professional players.- History :...
lighter balls are preferred, while in Raspall
Raspall
Raspall is a variant of the handball game, Valencian pilota, played mainly in the Valencian regions south to the Xúquer river: the Vall d'Albaida, the Safor, the Costera, the Marina Alta and the Marina Baixa. It is also popular in the Ribera Baixa...
heavier balls are used).
The actual weight of the balls is the end of a process, that is, historical pilotaris such as
Quart
Alberto Arnal
Albert Arnal , known as Quart was the Valencian pilota ruling dauer player during the 1930s. His mastery deserved him to be rewarded by having a picture on the Honor Gallery of the Pelayo trinquet...
in the 1930s played with balls around 28 and 33 gr. The lighter the ball the slower it goes and the less it flies (its direction). This change of weight has been favoured by "rest" players, who tend to be stronger and have to send the ball longer, but it's an extra handicap for "mitger" and "punter" players, who have to stop the ball or strike it in the middle of its trajectory and while it's still carrying a lot of force.
During the matches, and before beginning every "quinze", the team who stands at the "dau"
Valencian trinquet
Valencian trinquet, or simply trinquet , is the court used in the Valencian Community for two different modalities of Valencian pilota: the Escala i corda and the Raspall.- Court :...
is allowed to change one of the 6 disposable balls (each team previously chose 3 of them). This way, if playing again a double team, a trio would choose a new ball, which are fast and with a long bounce, so that the opposing two players are forced to move constantly. Otherwise, the attacking team tends to choose heavier balls, since they exhaust more when defensing.
Elaboration
Arts and crafts
Arts and crafts comprise a whole host of activities and hobbies that are related to making things with one's hands and skill. These can be sub-divided into handicrafts or "traditional crafts" and "the rest"...
. The "piloters" are mainly leather
Leather
Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...
workers such as Emili López (Alberic
Alberic, Valencia
Alberic is a municipality in the comarca of Ribera Alta in the Valencian Community, Spain.-External links:*...
), Enric Álvarez (Carcaixent
Carcaixent
Carcaixent is a town and municipality in the province of Valencia, eastern Spain, with c. 20,000 inhabitants. Its origins go back to prehistoric Iberian and Roman times, with some remainders in its area. It is located in the Ribera Alta comarca, 40 km south of the provincial capital...
), Miquel Baixauli (Catarroja
Catarroja
Catarroja is a municipality in the comarca of Horta Sud in the Valencian Community, Spain....
), Joan Montañés (Llíria
Llíria
Llíria or Liria is a medium sized town off the CV35 motorway to the north of Valencia, Spain. Known as Edeta in ancient Iberian times, it is the musical capital of the region.-Location:...
), Josep Bernet (Massalfassar
Massalfassar
Massalfassar is a municipality in the comarca of Horta Nord in the Valencian Community, Spain....
), and Miquel Pedrosa (La Vall d'Uixó
La Vall d'Uixó
La Vall d'Uixó is a town situated in eastern Spain, in the Valencian province of Castellón. La Vall is located 25 km to the south of the province's capital Castellón, 45 km to the north of the community’s capital Valencia and 8 km to the Mediterranean Sea, so it is at 118 m...
), or retired players as el Rovellet
Antonio Reig
Antoni Reig Ventura , known as Rovellet because his father was Rovell from Dénia, was a professional Escala i corda Valencian pilota variant player...
(València
Valencia
-In Spain:* Valencia , Spain, capital of the Valencia Autonomous Community* Valencian Community, an autonomous community of Spain**Valencian people, an ethnic group or nationality whose homeland is the Valencian Community...
).
First the "piloter" chooses the bull's
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
skin, specially from the nape of the neck, which has to be 6 or 7 mm thick and which has to be very tough, so that the ball becomes a real stone when it's finished. Once the leather is chosen, it's steeped
Steeping
Steeping or weltering may mean:# Saturation in a liquid solvent to extract a soluble ingredient, where the solvent is the desired product. Tea is prepared for drinking by steeping the leaves in heated water to release the flavor and nutrients...
until it becomes 3 mm thick. During this process the skin becomes softer and the "piloter" may work with it. Next, 8 triangles
Triangle
A triangle is one of the basic shapes of geometry: a polygon with three corners or vertices and three sides or edges which are line segments. A triangle with vertices A, B, and C is denoted ....
are cut and sewn up from the inner side with nylon
Nylon
Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as polyamides, first produced on February 28, 1935, by Wallace Carothers at DuPont's research facility at the DuPont Experimental Station...
so that they form a sphere
Sphere
A sphere is a perfectly round geometrical object in three-dimensional space, such as the shape of a round ball. Like a circle in two dimensions, a perfect sphere is completely symmetrical around its center, with all points on the surface lying the same distance r from the center point...
. But before the last triangle is sewn up, the ball is stuffed with fluff. After that the last triangle is sewn up and the ball
Ball
A ball is a round, usually spherical but sometimes ovoid, object with various uses. It is used in ball games, where the play of the game follows the state of the ball as it is hit, kicked or thrown by players. Balls can also be used for simpler activities, such as catch, marbles and juggling...
gets closed. It will be pressed for 3 or 4 days in order to acquire a perfect spherical shape. The elaboration process is finished around 1 month later, when the leather is absolutely dry.
There are a number of reasons to explain the expensive price of the "vaqueta" balls: The handcrafted elaboration, the time consumed, the quality of the materials, and the few number of renowned piloters. Hence its price may be around 40 and 80 €, but there also on sale balls used by the professional players, though they are not as fast or tough as new ones.