What Is WhirlyBall?

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:46 pm

I noticed in the Mogwai tourdates thread that they are playing at a place called WhirlyBall Atlanta. I had never heard of such a place so I looked it up:

Quote:

WhirlyBall, dubbed "The worlds only totally mechanized team sport", is best described as a combination of Basketball, Hockey and Jai-Alai played while riding an electrically powered machine, similar to a bumper car, called a WhirlyBug. Although the WhirlyBug resembles a bumper car, it is a far superior machine. Quicker, stronger and far more maneuverable, the WhirlyBug powers you and your team down court in a five on five game.

WhirlyBall is a team sport and a fun group activity. The playing court is approximately 4,000 sq. ft. and there are 10 WhirlyBugs on the playing court at one time, five red and five yellow. In one hand the player has a Jai-Alai style plastic scoop and in the other hand a steering crank. The ball being tossed around is a softball sized whiffle ball.

At each end of the court there are vertically hung backboards with a 15 inch hole in the center. Behind the hole is a plexiglass swing gate equipped with a buzzer to notify the referee when a score is made. The referee is the person sitting in the elevated booth above the court who will call play by play during the game, keep score and assess any penalties incurred. Before you go out on the court, the referee will go over the rules and give you a brief rundown on how to play WhirlyBall. Participating center rules and safety requirements may vary.

Anybody ever play this? It actually sounds like it could be pretty fun, especially if there is massive booze involved.

Website

Senator LooGAR · **Posted:** Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:47 pm

There's been a thread about this.

Didn't know there was one in the A.

Chrome_CW · **Posted:** Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:49 pm

Yes, I've played this and it is a ton of fun....unfortunately the one here in Seattle doesn't have a bar onsite....cause damn, that would be fun.

tehobner · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 8:48 pm **Posts:** 4479

bumper cars + lacrosse=whirlyball

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:53 pm

None of this explains why Mogwai is playing at a WhirlyBall court in Roswell as opposed to oh, I dont know, a rock club in the actual city.

Senator LooGAR · **Posted:** Thu Mar 09, 2006 9:17 pm

Yail Bloor Wrote:

None of this explains why Mogwai is playing at a WhirlyBall court in Roswell as opposed to oh, I dont know, a rock club in the actual city.

Horrible booking team?

Odds Bodkins · **Posted:** Thu Mar 09, 2006 9:37 pm

They have a ghetto fabulous bar in every location as well.

shmoo · **Posted:** Thu Mar 09, 2006 9:46 pm

Whirlyball is awesome, and of course there is drinking involved.

Sex, Drugs, and Dave · **Posted:** Thu Mar 09, 2006 10:01 pm

Yail Bloor Wrote:

None of this explains why Mogwai is playing at a WhirlyBall court in Roswell as opposed to oh, I dont know, a rock club in the actual city.

I think the only people that would get it would be people who read Chunklet Magazine.

Last year Chunklet ran an article about a game of Whirlyball that they played against Mogwai while they were in town playing the Curiosa festival...chunklet won...a lot to 0.

Chunklet put together this show.

2+2=4

Sex, Drugs, and Dave · **Posted:** Thu Mar 09, 2006 10:11 pm

anyone have an extra ticket???

Prince of Darkness · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:41 am **Posts:** 11048

It's the greatest sport ever. Especially with kegs.

Shit, the first time I got to go whirlyball was over 10 years ago. We really ought to get a chicago outing together.

Who's down?

You're in bumper cars on a court, with short lacrosse sticks and wiffle balls.

Z · **Joined:** Sat Oct 23, 2004 1:38 pm **Posts:** 7979

Prince of Darkness Wrote:

Shit, the first time I got to go whirlyball was over 10 years ago. We really ought to get a chicago outing together.

Who's down?

You're in bumper cars on a court, with short lacrosse sticks and wiffle balls.

i'm in! i've wanted to do it, but there's no way i could organize enough of my friends for one evening.

red · **Joined:** Fri Jun 17, 2005 5:34 am **Posts:** 5009

Z Wrote:

Prince of Darkness Wrote:

Shit, the first time I got to go whirlyball was over 10 years ago. We really ought to get a chicago outing together.

Who's down?

You're in bumper cars on a court, with short lacrosse sticks and wiffle balls.

i'm in! i've wanted to do it, but there's no way i could organize enough of my friends for one evening.

don't you ever call me white trash again.

shmoo · **Posted:** Fri Mar 10, 2006 1:56 am

I'm in!

robotboy · **Posted:** Fri Mar 10, 2006 2:32 am

i've played whirlyball and it's great

wenchlette · **Posted:** Fri Mar 10, 2006 3:14 am

I'm so intrigued, but I was always the dumbass kid stuck in the corner. I just see worlds of embarrassment. I could sit on someone's lap.

cemeterypolka · **Joined:** Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:40 am **Posts:** 3473

well i had a dream about this last night.

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Fri Mar 10, 2006 10:17 am

Death To Shoegaze666 Wrote:

Yail Bloor Wrote:

None of this explains why Mogwai is playing at a WhirlyBall court in Roswell as opposed to oh, I dont know, a rock club in the actual city.

I think the only people that would get it would be people who read Chunklet Magazine.

Last year Chunklet ran an article about a game of Whirlyball that they played against Mogwai while they were in town playing the Curiosa festival...chunklet won...a lot to 0.

Chunklet put together this show.

2+2=4

I suspected as much. Welcome back by the way.

Cotton · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 6:12 pm **Posts:** 17155

mogwai just announced philly dates.

NeZ · **Posted:** Fri Mar 10, 2006 2:51 pm

Prince of Darkness Wrote:

It's the greatest sport ever. Especially with kegs.

Shit, the first time I got to go whirlyball was over 10 years ago. We really ought to get a chicago outing together.

Who's down?

You're in bumper cars on a court, with short lacrosse sticks and wiffle balls.

I'd be down for a Chicago Whirley Ball outing if we could get enough people together. 6 - 10 would be required.

no guru · **Posted:** Fri Mar 10, 2006 3:02 pm

SpontaneousPoet Wrote:

I'm so intrigued, but I was always the dumbass kid stuck in the corner. I just see worlds of embarrassment. I could sit on someone's lap.

Whereas I was the carny who operated the bumper cars but didn't actually ride them.

timmyjoe42 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 10, 2006 3:43 pm

MEGA Wrote:

bumper cars + lacrosse+booze=whirlyball fun

What Is WhirlyBall?

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