A game similar to tetherball is Swingball (also called totem tennis). It uses a smaller, softer ball that the players strike with racquets. It is more popular in Ireland, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. In these countries, tetherball is virtually unknown.
Swingball has a shorter pole (about 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in height). It is portable, and the ball flies around the pole at a constant distance (also about 1.5 metres (4.9 ft)) on a helical screw. The game ends when the ball reaches the top or bottom of the screw. Generally the ball used for these games is either a tennis ball, or a softer, sponge-rubber ball. The racquets are usually the size of tennis racquets, but are constructed of hard plastic. The game is played informally, usually with the pole being driven into a lawn or other grassy area, or as a holiday game on a flat stretch of sandy beach.
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