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.

FYI (For Your Information)

Links

• I've added several pages on Jokari in South Africa around 1950
• For a history of Jokari and pictures of past equipment visit John's Jokari page.
• There's a cartoon (mildly humorous) using Jokari at Laurent's Page.
• Interesting web site of direct historical connection to Jokari's early development by Alan Jackson, son of the Jokari patent holder.

Buy

Bad News--Oct 16,2004

"I have looked in the "Market Expo" and the "Quincy" sites, and they no longer offer them. I did find them at the Vermont Country Store website for $24.95 + $8.50 shipping.
I have them listed on eBay for $19.95 + $8.00 shipping. I have sold over 100 sets, and have about that many left.... refill string and ball sets (are hard to find). Jokari discontinued them and sold out before I became aware there would be a shortage.."
An email from: Yvonne, Carolina Treehouse

Use ebay.com for Jokari sets and replacement balls and tethers. If anyone has a source of suitable rubber tethers and suitable balls, separately or assembled, please tell me what you use.

I invite personal reviews of any sets you have bought recently (Especially those without the Jokari label or from overseas.).

Jokari, Inc., no longer supports this game. Here are some pictures.

(Aug 24,2004--all stock on hand at Jokari shifted to Market Expo and they, too, are out.(Nov,2006) --Jokari has no plans to reorder sets or replacement balls--period! via email)

Online Sports

e-bay.com

European Sources. Several of the pictures shown do not show a wrist safety strap and the handles aren't wrapped. Both would be easy to add.

German Source: Item B92728 sounds like Jokari, but there is a Jokari squash also. About 36 dm ($16 US). Their email is "shopATladen13.de" -- replace the AT with @.

German Source: Jokari Buchenholz

German Source: Beach-Ball-Spiel-Jokari

French Source: Jokari classique

French Source(?) Page in English: Jokari-Vilac

Collectibles