Xare

Xare is racquet sport, a form of Basque pelota. The racquet (called an Argentine racquet) is made of a hoop in hazel or chestnut wood, and is somewhat loosely strung—the ball is not exactly struck, nor is it quite caught—the effect is somewhere in between. The ball is very hard, and covered by parchment. The game is played in a special indoor court, called a trinquete. For xare a net is strung across the middle of the trinquete, and the players face each other, as in real tennis. The players wear helmets.