Jokari®, A Paddle and Ball Sport

Back in the 1950's I played a tethered-ball and paddle game called Jokari so much that I developed a distinct unequalness in the circumference of my forearms. But that aside, it was fun. So, here, I describe it for the web. Some time later (1960's?) I saw a major marketing effort for Jokari in a Sears store . But after that I couldn't find any replacement balls or rubber bands. Once, in 1979, I saw a coed at Northwestern College (Iowa) with a set. Finally, in 1998, I used the web to find Jokari/US's address. On their catalog's last page, under discontinued products, I found an entry for Jokari, the game.
Now, with a new ball and rubber tether, I play Jokari with my grandkids, and it is still fun. Pictures of the equipment and the game are below. The usual anchor is a box that also serves to store the ball and string, not a chunk of rail. That box long since was lost in one move or another. This isn't an advertisement, per se, I just remember the game as good, easy, " no-equipment " fun. Any hard surface pad about fifty feet long is plenty big (with no breakables fore or aft).

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The Rules

Help Wanted

If there have been any contests or "national events" featuring Jokari please pass that information along to me. Thanks.

Jokari/US's web site features their major product lines but not the game. Actually they have sold all the sets they had on hand and may not go back into production unless there is a significant demand. (email 5/17/2002--Jokari, Inc. plans to have Jokari sets and parts in their on line catalog. See Buy.)

FYI (For Your Information)

Links

I've added three pages on Jokari in South Africa around 1950
For a history of Jokari and pictures
of past equipment visit .
There's a cartoon (mildly humorous) using Jokari at .

Buy

I invite personal reviews of any sets you have bought recently. Jokari® advised me that their forthcoming set is superior to what they sold previously.

Jokari, Inc

HOORAY! Jokari is going to restock game sets: July 1, 2002 they plan to have sets available to the public. The catalog items will be (as of 5/17/2002):

• #100 Jokari® Paddleball Game Set: $24.95
• #310 Ball/String Replacement - 3 pack:  $9.99

These prices include shipping and handling within the contiguous 48 states. These will be in the or call , extension 0 (Customer Service). 1205 Venture Court Carrolton, TX Tel , ext 0 Fax

The site John referred to:

Online Sports

e-bay.com

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