Fortunately nothing major, because the guys I play with don't
throw all that hard, but I've been hit a few times. Once, playing
outdoors in Astoria, I was on the sidelines while a couple of
other guys were playing a point. The pelota bounced on a crack
in the ground, and veered to the outside and caught me just below
the left knee. Even through my jeans, it ripped the skin off my
shin, but no major damage.
Playing on a court in Florida (I won't mention which one) a few
years ago with a few friends, just tossing it around, not even
playing competitively.....there were four of us on the court.
I was around the 7 line on the outside part of the court, another
guy was inside at the 7, and the other two guys were back at about
the 10 or 11. One of the guys in the backcourt throws the ball,
and it's coming right to my forehand. The guy to my inside (who
will also remain nameless) comes running to the outside a few
feet in front of me, and I didn't see him until the last split
second because my back was to him as I prepared for a right side
catch. He went for the catch, and tipped the pelota down into
my left shin, a few inches above the ankle. Being the idiot that
I am, rather than going for ice, I walked it off for a minute
or so and continued playing. About fifteen minutes later, I noticed
that I had a lump about the size of a pelota inside my left sock.
This was day two of a seven day vacation, and I wasn't about to
spend my week in bed with my leg elevated, so I went about my
business for the entire week, with the blood oozing down into
my ankle and my foot. It didn't hurt too badly for a couple of
days, but by the end of the week I was limping badly. I knew nothing
was broken, because I was able to walk on it right after it happened,
but it was getting very ugly. By the time I got home after the
vacation, my ankle and foot were badly swollen and about seven
different shades of purple, and I had to go on crutches for a
week and a half.
