The first player, usually the tennis ball owner, starts the game or breaks the ice (see terminology below) by throwing the tennis ball against the wall with the objective of having the ball hit the wall without hitting the ground first.
After the ball makes contact with the wall and bounces off the ground at least once, any of the players, including the thrower, may then try to catch the ball. If catcher mishandles the ball and the ball touches the ground, the catcher must try to touch the wall before another player fields and throws the ball against the wall. If the ball touches the wall before the catcher, the catcher is out and must face various consequences. In some places, instead of hitting the wall you have to throw it at the catcher.
If the ball is caught before hitting the pavement, the thrower is penalized with one out, much like baseball. Some refer to this as a "cobra", or "ace". After three outs a player leaves the game.Sometimes alternate words, such as "wall," are used instead.
If the throwers ball bounces before hitting the wall, the thrower must run to the wall and touch the wall before an opponent can pick up the ball and throw it to the wall. If the original thrower doesnt make contact with the wall before the ball reaches the wall, the original thrower is out. If the thrower reaches for the ball, but has it bounce off his fingers and onto the pavement, this counts as missing the throw, and he must run to the wall.
In one variation of the game, a runner who does not reach the wall before the thrown ball hits must, in addition to receiving an out, stand facing the wall and allow the thrower to "peg" him or her with the ball (usually with all possible force).
