Eskupelota: this is the most popular modality among the fans nowadays, perhaps because it is the easiest to play. Only one ball and a wall are needed, and the ball is struck with an open hand that is protected by takoak (strips of material that dampen the strike and are stuck onto the hands with sticking plaster). It can be played in a short court, trinquet or free square and the balls weigh between 101 and 107 grams in a fronton and 92 grams in a trinquet. The major championships are: Eskuz Banakako Txapelketa (singles), Eskuz Binakako Txapelketa (doubles), and Lau Terdian (a short fronton variant with the pass set at the 4½ line).
Pala and Paleta: modalities in which the dimensions and weights of the palas (bats) vary, depending on the game: pala luzea (long bat), pala motza (short bat), larru- paleta (for leather balls) and goma- paleta (for rubber balls). Bat lengths vary between 50 cm for the short bat and 55 cm for the rubber bat. The bats are made from beech or other fine woods. The weight of the balls ranges between 35 grams for the rubber ball and 115 grams for the ball used in pala luzea.
Zesta punta and Erremontea: these are modalities that use xisteras (baskets) which, depending on the game, vary in the way they receive the ball: in zesta punta the ball is retained in the basket and then thrown, while in erremontea the ball rolls around the basket without stopping.
Xare: a modality that uses a tool similar to a pala with a ring of curved wood that fastens a rather loose net of string. In this case the ball is collected and expelled using the net.
Frontenis: is a sport that is played in a 30 meters pelota court using racquets (a tennis racquet or a similar frontenis racquet) and rubber balls. It can be played in pairs or singles, but only pairs frontenis is played in international competitions. This sport was developed in Mexico around 1900, and is accredited as a Basque pelota speciality.
Way of playing
