Ducksy Walsh RIP

megadodge

Just heard the almost unbelievable news that the greatest handballer of all time, Kilkenny's Ducksy Walsh has passed away at the age of 50.

He suffered a stroke at the weekend and never fully recovered.

Even people who have virtually no knowledge or interest in handball have heard of the legendary Ducksy, such was his brilliance. He won an incredible 38 Senior handball titles between singles and doubles in 60x30 and 40x20.

I am very involved in handball myself and had got friendly with Ducksy over the last decade or so and can honestly say I never saw a fitter 50 year old which makes it even harder to take in. He actually won out the 60x30 Nationals tournament just two weeks ago and was returning from a top doubles tournament when he fell ill.

Rest in Peace legend.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ducksy_Walsh

Hammer Archer

I had unapproved this thread as there was no official word.
Unfortunately, it's been reported that he's passed away:

http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2016/0804/806934-legendary-kilkenny-handballer-walsh-dies/


RIP

Mehapoy

Hammer Archer wrote: »

I had unapproved this thread as there was no official word.
Unfortunately, it's been reported that he's passed away:

http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2016/0804/806934-legendary-kilkenny-handballer-walsh-dies/


RIP

Sad news RIP, great sportsman, to get a stroke at 50 is almost unbelievable for one do fit.

Dirty Dingus McGee

Can people explain the various types of handball and which is considered the main one.is there a difference between the handball he played and the handball Paul Brady plays?

seligehgit

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

Can people explain the various types of handball and which is considered the main one.is there a difference between the handball he played and the handball Paul Brady plays?

Wasn't it simply the size of the courts??60x30 and 40x20.. Don't believe there was any difference between that of Paul Brady and Duxsy Walsh.

FanadMan

He was my introduction to handball. Remember watching him on Sports Stadium in the 80s and thinking it was a great sport.

RIP

megadodge

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

Can people explain the various types of handball and which is considered the main one.is there a difference between the handball he played and the handball Paul Brady plays?

The two main types of handball played in Ireland are 60x30 and 40x20, with Onewall making big inroads in the last few years.

60feet x 30feet is the traditional Irish game. The floor is concrete and the roof is not in play. It is played with a tennis ball sized 'soft' ball.

40feet x 20feet is the American game. The floor is timber, playing the ball off the roof is allowed and the ball is a smaller and harder.

Onewall, as the name suggests uses just one wall and lines marked on the floor similar to tennis. It is played with a lighter ball similar in size to the 60x30 ball.

During Ducksie's formative years and up to the mid 1990's 60x30 was always the more prestigious game, but since then the 40x20 has overtaken it.

Ducksie's style, as befitted his agegroup, was more suited to 60x30, but he was also an excellent 40x20 player. At Senior level alone he won 16 singles and 10 doubles All-Irelands in 60x30 and 7 singles and 5 doubles in 40x20.

While Paul Brady has played 60x30 without much success, he plays almost exclusively 40x20 handball and has based his entire skillset around this form of handball.

While the basic rules are the same, the two games require different skillsets and tactics - similar (at least in the old days) to grass court tennis suiting the serve and volleyers and clay court suiting the baseliners. Different players specialise in each and the best are good at both.

Tombo2001

megadodge wrote: »

The two main types of handball played in Ireland are 60x30 and 40x20, with Onewall making big inroads in the last few years.

60feet x 30feet is the traditional Irish game. The floor is concrete and the roof is not in play. It is played with a tennis ball sized 'soft' ball.

40feet x 20feet is the American game. The floor is timber, playing the ball off the roof is allowed and the ball is a smaller and harder.

Onewall, as the name suggests uses just one wall and lines marked on the floor similar to tennis. It is played with a lighter ball similar in size to the 60x30 ball.

During Ducksie's formative years and up to the mid 1990's 60x30 was always the more prestigious game, but since then the 40x20 has overtaken it.

Ducksie's style, as befitted his agegroup, was more suited to 60x30, but he was also an excellent 40x20 player. At Senior level alone he won 16 singles and 10 doubles All-Irelands in 60x30 and 7 singles and 5 doubles in 40x20.

While Paul Brady has played 60x30 without much success, he plays almost exclusively 40x20 handball and has based his entire skillset around this form of handball.

While the basic rules are the same, the two games require different skillsets and tactics - similar (at least in the old days) to grass court tennis suiting the serve and volleyers and clay court suiting the baseliners. Different players specialise in each and the best are good at both.

I think that's a very good summary.

60x30 is the Irish version of the game while 40x20 is the American version of the game.

I would say the difference is far greater than that between a grass court and a tennis court. I remember watching Americans try their hand at 60x30 and they weren't at the races at all, couldn't manage it.

The principal differences are
(I) the 60x30 is actually more than twice the size in terms of area. That means the way you serve the ball for example can be quite different.
(II) the side arm stroke is dominant in small court (think skimming stones at a beach). This stroke is used for low hard shots. You cant serve this way in big court, its not effective.
(III) the ball is different - it bounces further in the big court (partly because of the ball itself and partly as you say because of the concrete floor). Its a larger ball, not so hard on your hands.
(IV) there is no ceiling in the larger court. - traditionally, you don't use the overhand stroke (a bit like throwing javelin) in the big court as often as in the small court.

I've seen Ducksie play many times; I was at his first all Ireland senior win in 1985 when I was a kid, and I remember it feeling like an 'occasion'. Everyone knew Ducksie was a brilliant juvenile coming through the ranks, and now he was taking over the senior mens game.

I cant say if he's the most naturally gifted sportsman I've ever seen but he is certainly one of most elegant and stylish to watch, in terms of how he hit the ball and his positional sense on court. Its worth watching some of his videos on youtube, its a pity there aren't more of them. The one with John Bike is possibly Ducksie at his best, but its a pity there is nothing similar from the 60x30.