Hurricane Ball and Method of Play

Abstract

A method and apparatus for playing a court game for at least a first player and a second player is described. The court game may have at least a reinforced ball, at least two paddles, and at least one barrier. A centerline divides the playing court. The barrier is configured to allow the ball to pass below the barrier but prevent the ball from passing above the barrier. Using the paddles, players hit the ball back and forth under the barrier. If a player fails to hit or otherwise contact the ball, and the ball hits a wall behind the player, the opposing player scores.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for playing a court game for at least a first player and a second player, the court game having a reinforced ball, at least two paddles, a barrier, and a playing court, the playing court comprising a substantially rectangular playing surface bordered along at least two first sides by at least two first and second barrier members, along at least two second sides by a first baseline and a second baseline, and having a center line defining a first section for the first player and a second section for the second player of the playing court, wherein the barrier is positioned over the center line leaving a void between a bottom edge of the barrier and the playing surface, the method comprising the steps of:
 a first player residing in the first section of the playing court, the first section being defined by the centerline, at least two first barrier members, and the first baseline;   a second player residing in the second section of the playing court, the second section being defined by the centerline, at least two second barrier members, and the second baseline;   the first player serving the ball to the second player,
 wherein serving the ball occurs when the ball is hit by one of the at least two paddles causing it to travel underneath the barrier from a first section to a second section of the playing court; 
   the second player hitting the ball to the first player,
 wherein the ball must travel from the second section of the playing court to the first section of the playing court and travel underneath the barrier; 
   wherein the ball may be hit no more than two times within either the first section or the second section; and   wherein if either the first player or the second player fails to contact the ball upon receiving the ball in the first or the second section and the ball contacts a back wall located downstream from the first baseline or the second baseline, then the opposing player scores a point.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein if the ball contacts any of the barrier members on the serve, then the second player serves the ball. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein if the ball contacts the barrier member on the serve, then the first player or the second player re-services the ball. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein if either the first player or the second player makes contact with the barrier or crosses the centerline, then the opposing player scores a point. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the playing court is about 20 feet by about 60 feet. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the barrier members are deformable, resilient members about 7 inches to about 14 inches in height. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first player or the second player serves the ball from behind the first or the second baseline. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a distance between the bottom edge of the barrier and the playing surface is less than about 39 inches. 
     
     
         9 . A method for playing a court game for at least a first team and a second team with each team having at least two players, the court game having a reinforced ball having a polymer layer and a reinforced layer, at least four paddles having a handle area and a racquet area with the racquet area consisting of three distinct layers of material, a barrier, and a playing court, the playing court comprising a substantially rectangular playing surface bordered along at least two first sides by barrier members, along at least two second sides by boundary lines, and having at least one center line defining a first section and a second section of the playing court, wherein the barrier is configured to leave a void between a bottom edge of the barrier and the playing surface, the method comprising the steps of:
 the first team residing in the first section of the playing court, the first section being defined by the at least one centerline, at least two first barrier members, and the first baseline;   the second team residing in the second section of the playing court, the second section being defined by the at least one centerline, at least two second barrier members, and the second baseline;   the first team serving the ball to the second team,
 wherein serving the ball occurs when the ball is hit by one of the at least two paddles causing it to travel underneath the barrier from a first section to a second section of the playing court; 
   the second team hitting the ball to the first team,
 wherein the ball must travel from the second section of the playing court to the first section of the playing court and travel underneath the barrier; 
   wherein the ball may be hit no more than two times within either the first section or the second section; and   wherein if either the first team or the second team fails to contact the ball upon receiving the ball in the first or the second section and the ball contacts a back wall located downstream from the first baseline or the second baseline, then the opposing team scores a point.   
     
     
         10 . A kit for playing a court game on a playing surface, the kit comprising:
 a ball, the ball having a polymer layer and a reinforced layer;   at least two paddles, each of the at least two paddles having a handle area and a racquet area with the racquet area consisting of three distinct layers of material;   a barrier, the barrier having a first support, a second support, and a bottom edge configured to be about 39 inches or less above the playing surface.   
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 10  further comprising a marking apparatus for defining boundaries of the playing surface. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 10  further comprising at least two barrier members for aligning along a portion of the playing surface. 
     
     
         13 . A playing court for a game involving the serving and returning of a resilient ball, the playing court comprising:
 a substantially flat and rectangular playing surface having a first side, a second side, a first end, and a second end;   at least one foul line located in a central area of the playing surface;   a first barrier member located along a length of the first side and a second barrier member located along a length of the second side;   a barrier located in a central area of the playing surface,
 wherein the barrier is configured to allow an object to pass underneath the barrier and between a bottom edge of the barrier and the playing surface, and wherein the barrier prevents the object from passing over the barrier; 
   a first wall and a second wall, the first wall and the second wall being located in a proximity to the first end and the second end respectively.   
     
     
         14 . The playing court of  claim 13  wherein the barrier is translucent or transparent. 
     
     
         15 . The playing court of  claim 13  wherein the barrier has apertures, the apertures being smaller in size than the object. 
     
     
         16 . The playing court of  claim 13  wherein the rectangular playing surface is about 20 feet by about 60 feet. 
     
     
         17 . The playing court of  claim 13  wherein the barrier is a net.