Players hit the rubber ball against a front wall, keeping it in play before it bounces twice on the floor. It can be played singles or doubles, and games are all about control, placement, and lightning reactions. You don’t just whack it — you paint the wall with precision.

Paleta Goma is played on a fronton - a large, open court with one main wall and sometimes side walls, or on a trinquet - 4 walls with a sloped gallery on the left. It’s big, echoey, and built for drama. You’ll find them all over Argentina and the Basque regions.

The goma is a small, solid rubber ball that bounces fast and hard. It’s lighter than a tennis ball but packs a punch, especially off the wooden bat. When it hits the wall cleanly, it sounds like a gunshot — which is half the fun.

Scoring is usually up to 15 or 30 points, depending on the format, with rallies scored when one side fails to return the ball before the second bounce or hits out of bounds. Simple to follow, brutal to master — especially when your opponent’s shots kiss the wall at impossible angles. You’ll want to develop two forehands.

Paleta Goma started as a street game in Argentina before finding its way into formal frontones. It’s now played across Latin America, Europe, and even at the World Pelota Championships. In short: this humble rubber ball went global.