According to some other sites, the pelota is now (maybe always was) hard rubber. I could’ve sworn it was wood when I first saw a match (as a wee young child somewhere in Tijuana, iirc… ).
WAG: ping pong ball initial velocity off the paddle.
Al Macinnis- he had fastest slapshot in contests over the yrs-timed at about 110 mph. Roscoe Tanner had a 160mph serve-it got him in jail recently-was serving drugs to an undercover cop. Actually it would be the ammo used in target shooting-(or trap & skeet) these are sports- about 700mph?
Not eligible for consideration under the terms of the OP.
doctordoowop, did you read any of the thread? First, regarding ammunition, the OP had this to say:
And second, regarding the 110 and 160 mph speeds, those are apparently topped by other records, in both badminton (surpise to me) and jai-alai.
“Well, first off, Rysto, you have to be South American. Then, you become suicidal. Then, you let people bet on whether or not a speeding wooden ball is going to impact your fragile head.”
Actually, jai alai originated in the Basque region of Spain. Most players historically were Basques (some from across the border with France).
I am originally from Miami and many a day I should have been in high school was spent instead at the Miami Jai Alai fronton, known as the Yankee Stadium of jai alai. Michelena, a French Basque, was the best player in those days but Joey, a tall, lithe Jewish guy from North Miami Beach, was probably among the top 5 players. Kent, a whitebread kind of guy, was also competitive. I am sure there were some players with South American roots, too, but it’s certainly not a South American game.
As far as fragile heads go, they do wear protective helmets. And they are good at what they do, believe me.
It is my favorite parimutuel because unlike the others, the action can last 20 or 30 minutes, especially if they play to 9 points rather than 7. A horse or dog player only gets a couple minutes’ worth of action for the same $2 win bet or whatnot.
If you are ever in Miami, a visit to Miami Jai Alai is a diverting afternoon. The old Cuban guys in their guayaberas (sp?) — the shirts with 4 pockets in front — chomping on their cigars, whacking their programs in their palm and disgustedly shouting their epithets in Spanish are worth the price of admission (only $2 itself).
Which is pretty much what I remember from actually having seen it in person myself. 
I don’t remember the helmets, but we are talking 1960s childhood memories. (Notice I did post a non joke link in the post immediately following…)
bromells, did you guys always use a rubber pelota? Do you remember them ever being wood?
Just wondering if I’m remembering correctly.
Interesting thread, I play both jai alai and racquetball, I always heard jai alai was the fastest sport, although 188 mph surprised me, I never had it clocked but I know I can throw it faster than I can hit a racquetball, and I did have the racquetball clocked in a racquetball clinic, with one of those speed guns and my fastest was 138 mph, the fastest player whack it at 152 mph, I assume the pros may even hit the ball faster, we just play at open level.
OOOps I didn’t see the previous post, jai alai is never played with a wood ball It is played with a ball similar to golf but about three quarters the size of a baseball and the cover is made of goatskin, which is replaced every few games or so. There are other choices for amateurs, a rubber ball, or a platic ball, but no wood. I guess you could say that is sounds like wood when it hits the granite wall, maybe that is why you think is wood.
Pod Racers.
Definitely Pod Racers.
Not quite legal for the OP since the power comes from Gravity not the person doing it, but ultra high altitude sky diving gives some very fast non machine powered speeds.
See http://www.stratoquest.com/default.cfm?page=2 which quotes an expected speed of 885 mph.
Nah - the fastest club head speeds (Tiger isn’t the fastest around) are only in the high 150s, occasionally the low 160s. The ball leaves the club face faster than that (170s-190s if I recall), so a John Daly drive might be a contender here.
I’m not the only one who would like Cecil to take a whack at this, right?
(Or did I just jinx that possibility right out of existence?)
I swear the record must have been set by this kid named Anotonio during a recess game of dodgeball in 4th grade. I still have nightmares.
That may be it, flusyndrome. The last time I saw one in person, I was a child, so maybe I just thought it was wood.
btw, Welcome to the Dope!
I have an incredible tape of a Grateful Dead concert played at the Miami Jai Lai Fonton in June 1974. Having seen the sport played (at least on TV), I can’t for the life of me figure up where they put the stage and how the setting worked. Still, an amazing show.
Doesn’t the ‘ball’ being chucked around in Lacrosse move pretty damn fast? Does anyone have a speed for it?
I wonder how fast the tips of the streamers they sometimes use in gymnastics move.
I don’t have numbers for it, but in the amount of lax that I’ve watched (and I’ve watched a goodly amount), I’d say that it’s sub 100mph most of the time, and might hit 120 if someone took an amazing shot.
And, why the quotes around ‘ball’?