On the Subject of Puffballs Posted on June 25, 2023 at 02:12:48 AM by jatna77
"jatna, stop trying to make 'puffball' happen, it's NOT going to happen!" -Regina George
This Jai-Alai glossary http://tigerhili.com/bullets/bullets10.htm defines an Entregada as: "a cream puff return, that gives the opposition an easy shot."
Under that category, I have defined for myself, what is called a Puffball which is: a not-very-fast throw, rebote, or shot that is easy to catch because it comes straight back to your opponent, who is in the front or middle court.
Sometimes it cannot be helped. Saves, including rebotes saves, that are difficult and therefore force a weak return, are not puffballs. Emphasis on difficult. But often there is no excuse and the player simply gives away control of the point to their opponent for no reason whatsoever.
Usually but surprisingly not always, the opponent takes the easy catch in the front or middle court and absolutely destroys with their kill shot. They are spoiled for choice of shots because they are in an advantageous position and know more or less where the puffball thrower is.
If you want to see what a puffball looks like, here is an example: https://youtu.be/nKgagEGZYBw?t=7329 Ironically, just as Steve M comments about how Aratz's previous kill shot was not a puffball, Aratz throws a puffball.
Here is another example with 2 in a row, first by Benny and then by Julen:
https://youtu.be/9jnQCxZ3Zc0?t=9595
In addition to weak throws and rebotes, I consider weak 2-walls and weak outside placements which are slow, do not open wide enough, and return straight to the opponent or easily within the opponent's range: puffballs.
Why do I say weak? Because if you throw the ball hard enough, even if it comes straight back to the opponent, the opponent will likely still not control it. Just like the body smash in badminton.
Don't get me wrong, slow throws and shots have their place and can be very effective. But not if they come right back to the opponent in the front or middle court.
It frustrates me to see puffballs, because not only do they give away control of the point needlessly but if the player could just eliminate them from their game, their chances of winning any given point would go up dramatically.
I consider puffballs a tactical mistake if not a straight-up error. And they happen a lot, at all levels. I have even seen them in long-court play but not nearly as frequently as I do at MC. I do hope the players are aware or made aware of them by their coach because improvement in this area is needed by almost all of the MC roster and they would be much better players without them.
To be fair, lately, there have been fewer of them, even by Aratz, so maybe they are already working on the problem. I hope so, for the sake of my sanity, if nothing else. ;p Replies:
