Ok, I believe you ! I graduated HS in 1982 ( Guilford ct) and
promptly moved to SD around Sept of 1982, I didn't move back until
1996, so I missed a lot of that time in the 80's and early 90's.
I know there was an Elorza II, but I'm talking the tall lanky
original Elorza, he was top notch and great in singles ! It must
have been after 1982 however. I visited Ct a few times those almost
15 years, but hard to keep up with a minor sport when living in
Ca, Co, NV.
If I had a weaker throwing frontman like a Castro, Ondarres type
the Elorza power game would balance it better than the steady
Goyo, Echave, Churruca type. The problem I see with two dominant
power players teamed up is they both might want the same ball
too often and not really click too well as a team.
I saw Atain and somebody soundly destroy Lander and Somebody
in a Milford Partido ( must have been circa 1997 ?) Atain looked
absolutely zoned in and better than any backman I've ever seen!
I sure miss pro Jai alai....and I know I'm too old to play amateur well.
I'll never play jai alai again ! About two years ago I threw a
frisbee around (hard toss) with a few friends, a day later my
arm ached for 6 months !
The forehand throw is unnatural, I could throw from the left side
only and not hurt much, I'm sure.
I never could master that forehand rebote like a Tevin...much
more natural to me to run around a serve and take it on the left
side if I possibly could do so.
I loved to use a backhand rebote and could control that well....seemed
like would see it better (to me) and it was much more controllable.
The forehand stuff is harder (IMO) you can't be a Chasio type
and throw your most wicked overhand picata shot dozens of times
a night....you'll blow out your arm for sure...save that shot
for maybe 3 times a night ( singles usually) when you know it
wins a critical point !
Perhaps some are more natural to their right side in Jai Alai
? ( I'll assume natural right handed people to simplify it)...as
in prefer to catch right and of course throw right...that won't
work too well, either !
You can't avoid catching on your left as a player, in particular
as a backman, if the pelota is more midwall then it might be best
to let it come out to your frontman for a nice putaway shot if
thrown by some idiot like the 1990's Milford Arrieta with all
power and no brains !
a nice rebote coming off his wild shot trying to break the wall,
slows down to 50 mph after bouncing around the 11 line and an
easy putaway in the front court for any pro....if the ball evens
stays on the court that long !
That Arrieta was really about the dumbest player I ever saw !
He'd throw above the upper padding, hit the overhead screen, etc.
way too often.
He gave away too many points. Throw it very hard and low (backhand) against
the wall, like 3' high
and you'll be fine, get it past the frontman opponent, that has
the skills to throw kill shots....no freaking high stuff that
hits the overhead screen, or worse yet hits the frontis above
the upper red barrier....that should never happen unless in a
desperation save with valiant effort.
A pro should very rarely hit the limits on height....I do know
this (height) can vary by a lot location wise !
I totally understand that jai alai canchas are akin to baseball
fields with lots of variance between say Fenway park and anywhere
else...
There isn't a standard Jai alai court...The pro court should be
about 180' in length, not so sure about height ( 40')....width?
how much wood area? Can you climb the screen to get to a pelota
, or not Allowed?
Carom serve or no?
