Chinese Handball - Variations

Variations

Between the Legs: If the ball bounces a second time, the hitter may put the shot between their legs and have it bounce once and hit the wall. This allows for longer and more enjoyable gameplay.

Reject: The player second in line may choose to accept a ball by hitting it or reject it by calling "Reject" before the balls third bounce. If rejected, the ball is replayed. Different calls depend on where you play but mean the same thing.

Interference: This rule is used if a player or bystander comes in the way of the hitter in his pursuit of the ball. If the player calls this, the ball is replayed, also called "redo." If a player deliberately comes in the way of allowing the ball to hit the wall (i.e. blocking the ball from hitting the wall or grabbing it) the player is out. However, it is illegal for a player to hit a ball at another player to get them out for interfering.

Grass/Wall/Fence/Curb: This a variation of the Interference but by inanimate objects. If you were to play this outside and have the ball hit the grass or the edge of a curb, the ball will be replayed but if the player was to hit the ball before it reached the grass, the ball is still fair. In the case the field is sided with a fence, or hits the wall again; players can either choose to have the ball replayed or have one extra bounce before the ball is dead.

Eggrolls: With this rule the ball can land anywhere after hitting the wall (no side lines).

Ace Rule: When more than 2 players are left in the game, if the ace or server, gets out, they move to the end of the line. This rule no longer applies with 2 people remaining. Again, different calls depend on where you play but mean the same thing. A "Drop Shot" is a very powerful shot where the player makes a fist and positions himself/herself down very low to the ground and hits the ball with great force to make the ball skim once on the pavement and to the wall in such a way where there is no return bounce and play is decidedly over until the next serve. The terms "Ace's Rule" and "Drop Shot" was known to be used in Long Island's New Hyde Park in NY State in the 1970s but, the exact physical location where the terms first originated remain undetermined.

One Bounce One Out: In this version of the game players are allowed one bounce to make it to the ball and hit it before it bounces a second time. If the player fails to make the ball back to the wall they are out for the game. This is mainly popular at High Schools on Long Island.

Carries: A two-player version of the game popular on Long Island where a player may place a set for themselves before making their shot. The player may not catch the ball, but may pop it up into the air with a quick lifting motion before hitting it. This form of play typically involves a combination of burns (very low, fast shots which almost skip along the ground) and blasts (hard, far shots) to catch the player out of position. Games are played until 11 or 21 points. A player gains a point and the next serve when the opposing player does one of the following: 1. Fails to return the ball back to the wall while first causing the ball to bounce once and only once. Hitting it directly into the wall is called 'head-on' and forfeits that point. 2. Fails to hit the ball before the first player's ball takes its second bounce after hitting the wall.

Any other rules are at the discretion of the players, making each game variable from the number of outs, to the boundaries, varying the flow of the game.