Mailapeliin

Mailapeliin is a Finnish term that translates to "stick game" or "racket game" in English. It broadly refers to a category of sports that involve striking a ball or shuttlecock with a racket or a similar implement. This encompasses a wide range of popular athletic activities.

The most well-known examples of mailapeliin include tennis, badminton, and table tennis (ping pong). These sports share the common characteristic of players using rackets to hit a projectile over a net, with the objective of scoring points by making it difficult for the opponent to return the shot legally.

Beyond these major sports, the term can also extend to other games that fit the general description. For instance, squash and racquetball, played within enclosed courts, also fall under the umbrella of mailapeliin. Historically, games like lawn tennis and real tennis, from which modern tennis evolved, would also be classified as mailapeliin.

The equipment used in mailapeliin varies greatly depending on the specific sport. Rackets range from the strung rackets of tennis and badminton to the solid paddles of table tennis. The projectiles also differ, including balls of various sizes and densities, as well as shuttlecocks. The rules, court dimensions, and scoring systems are unique to each individual game within the mailapeliin category, making for a diverse and globally popular group of sports.