Matkot: Israel's Unofficial National Sport (Beach Paddleball)

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Ranked #603 in Sports, #17,702 overall

What's all the fuss about matkot?

Matkot (pronounced mahtcoat) is Israeli beach tennis without the court, rules, or net. It's awesome in it's simplicity, but very challenging. The point of the game is to keep a rally going as long as possible without the ball touching the ground. Matkot paddleball is usually played on the beach, but can be played in places with wide open spaces, like your backyard. (The game is also known outside of Israel as "Pro Kadima" or "Smashball", but those racquet brands are not direct translations of "matkot".)

Photo: Joe Shlabotnik

How to Play Matkot

1. Make sure that no sunbathers or dangerous objects are close by.
2. Stand at least a few meters apart on the beach or in your backyard.
3. Serve the ball
4. Try to get a rally going
5. Have fun and enjoy the great outdoors!

How to Play Matkot Video 

These guys play matkot on the beach in Haifa, Israel

Matkot (Israeli Beach Paddleball)

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1 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Matkot at Sunset 

Thanks to gustav* on flickr (click on the photo to see his photostream)

Photobucket

Matkot Equipment on Amazon 

Affordable, wide diameter wooden racquets

Beach Tennis

Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 12/23/2009) Buy Now

Replacement Smashballs

Amazon Price: $5.69 (as of 12/23/2009) Buy Now

Prokadima Paddleball Racquet Set

Amazon Price: $9.89 (as of 12/23/2009) Buy Now

Matkot Equipment on eBay 

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eBay

Talking Hands 

Photo Credit: Meir Ben Ari (Mirovarda42 on flickr - Click on the photo to see his photostream.)

maktot

A short video about professional matkot in Israel 

Some top players hit the ball over 100 miles per hour!

Matkot Goes Pro: Israeli beach sports

Often referred to as Israel's unofficial national sport, Matkot, a combination of tennis, ping pong and squash, is the quintessential beach pastime in Israel. Now some player's passion for the game is pushing for it to go pro.

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2437 views
2 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

"Did you know that matkot is popular in Brazil? They call it "frescobol", a.k.a. "frescoball""

An Awesome Matkot Rally Caught on Video 

I nominate these guys for the Olympics

Matkot (beach tennis)-free style מטקות

Runtime: 274
1539 views
2 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

More matkot links on the web 

Fitness article about beach paddleball
Some people think that matkot is a great way to keep in shape!
Find players near you on Facebook
If you're a member of Facebook, log in and search for groups under the keywords "matkot", "smashball", etc.
You'll find a few of these groups and who knows - maybe some fellow players. (Last time I checked, there was an active group in Nantucket, MA!)

Three Ways to Make the Game More Challenging

1. Hit the ball harder
2. Increase the distance between players
3. Play left-handed :-)

Your opinion is needed 

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Capture Your Matkot Games and Beach Fun on Video 

Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Orange) OLD MODEL

Amazon Price: (as of 12/23/2009)Buy Now

I own one of these FLIP cameras, and so far I'm satisfied with it. I like to take it to the beach and have fun recording nature and super-talented matkot players! In fact, the "how to play matkot" video at the top of the page was shot with this video camera.

The Flip Ultra Video Camera is the easiest , cheapest, cutest and most mobile way to create small video clips for the web and for popular video sharing sites like YouTube. This FLIP model can hold up to 60 minutes of video, runs on regular AA batteries, fits in a pocket (or purse), and can be taken everywhere.

Anyone can shoot a video with the touch of a button, edit it, upload it, and send it forward. As a globe trotter, it can come in handy for those unexpected moments that serve as memories for a lifetime.

The camera has a USB port and hooks up to desktops and laptops. It comes in several colors, including black, white, orange and pink.

Note: This is last year's model (which is still selling strong). FLIP recently entered the HD market, so if you're looking for the cutting edge, search Amazon for the "FLIP digital Mino HD" model.

It's all about having fun

There are no winners or losers in this game!

Maccabi & Friends 

Photo Credit: Gilad Benari on flickr (click on the photo to see his photostream)

matkot

Matkot Photos 

Photo credits (left-right):
Justin Marshall, Shawn Zamechek, Shannon Holman, Joe Shlabotnik, Meir Ben Ari (talking hands & walk like an egyptian), Haim a.k.a. "Brazilero"

Smashball King by marshallfam

Down the shore w/ Kadima by shawnzam

paddleball by shnnn

Paddleball by Joe Shlabotnik

curated content from Flickr

Repository of Essential Matkot Facts & Rumors 

* There's a matkot scene in Adam Sandler's movie "Don't Mess with the Zohan".

* Matkot doubles as an Israeli pickup method. During a rally, the ball "accidentally" lands next to an attractive female sunbather. This gives the suave matkot player an easy excuse to start a conversation.

* There's a matkot museum in Tel Aviv. I haven't been there yet, but I plan on going soon, taking photos, and posting them to this site. It contains the sport's biggest racquet, which is rumored to be at least 2 meters in diameter!

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Please leave your comments here 

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  • Reply
    Nick Nick Dec 16, 2009 @ 2:51 pm
    hey there! i'm from Singapore and just returned from Tel Aviv. Saw two guys at the beach near the colourful hotel playing this game. Incidentally, one of the Tel Aviv artists, Stacey Piltzer, is running an exhibition at the Bauhaus Centre, some of her works were done on Rabi brand Matkot racquets. :) Was hoping to buy a pair of bats/racquets and a ball so i could try it out here... but didn't have any luck before i got home. any idea where i might be able to find some online?
  • Reply
    Dee Dee Aug 10, 2008 @ 10:47 am
    My Crazy Israeli boyfriend introduced me to this game, and I am HOOKED!!
  • Reply
    beachbum_gabby beachbum_gabby Jul 10, 2008 @ 11:04 pm
    what a great sport for us beachbums :) great lens!
  • Reply
    ideadesigns ideadesigns Jun 19, 2008 @ 6:11 pm
    Another Great Israel sport! 5 stars.

by PleasantValley

I used to play matkot as a kid, but now I miss the game. Last week I saw two people playing and decided to dedicate a lens to this simple & fun pastim... (more)

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