How is an Irish alley cracker handball made?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

The Irish "alley cracker," also known as the hard ball, is constructed with a center made of cork or wood. This core is wrapped in woolen thread and layered with thin pieces of cork or rubber. The final outer covering consists of thin sheepskin.1

This ball is the recognized medium for championship play and typically measures approximately 1.9 inches (4.7 cm) in diameter, with a weight ranging from 1.5 to 1.75 ounces (43–50 g). While some tournaments utilize a soft rubber ball, the traditional alley cracker remains a significant part of the history of handball.1