Could handball be the next big game in Buffalo? If it’s up to Tim LaMere, Christiano LiPuma, and Aidan Ryan, that would be the case. The three are the founders of Buffalo Handball, creators of the “Buffalo Ball,” which is a newly reimagined and rigorously tested handball that has now hit the market.
To be honest, the last time that I heard about anyone playing handball in Buffalo was at Mass Ave Park on the city’s West Side. It turns out, however, that this outdoor “one wall” version of handball is the more recreational version of what was widely played in the days of yore, when handball was all the rage at local athletic clubs.
According to the founders of Buffalo Handball, the rules of traditional American handball are similar to racquetball, with players serving and returning off the front wall. The biggest difference, aside from its smaller, harder ball, is that players use only their hands.
Now that we have that straight, it’s important to note that there is a dedicated group of Buffalonians that is still playing at the Catholic Club of Buffalo on Delaware Avenue in Allentown (also known as Knights of Columbus). This is where LaMere, LiPuma, and Ryan met, through the love of the game, where they learned about, and played against, local legends, as well as visitors from Southern Ontario, Syracuse, Cleveland, and places further afield.
Interestingly enough, the trio found that the official ball of choice, the “One Ball” – an updated version of the iconic royal blue ball with a red “21” decal, also approved by the United States Handball Association (USHA), was flawed. Whereas the “21 Ball” was expensive and would break quite often, the updated “One Ball” was equally expensive at $11, and had a nubby exterior and sticky grip. Many players felt that both versions were not ideal for play for an assortment of reasons. With that in mind, LaMere, LiPuma, and Ryan set out to create a longer-lasting, better-bouncing, and more affordable product (three pack – $22.49).
“We’d go through two, three balls a night,” said LiPuma. “It’s a huge letdown for a ball to crack and go dead in the middle of a really great rally. And it also got expensive.”
It was LeMere, who drew on his experience in manufacturing processes and supply chain management, that suggested that the trio attempt to create the ultimate handball – one that would meet USHA’s tournament regulations, while lasting longer and playing true to the game. It took a few whacks at developing the Buffalo Ball, but in the end, there is now only one. This “Holy Grail” of balls has been tested, and approved, by top players in Buffalo and Ontario, and is starting to make the rounds outside of this region.
Those curious can see the ball in action on courts from Queens to Phoenix—or any Sunday morning at the Catholic Club of Buffalo.
“We’re selling a product that lasts longer than the competitor at a lower price,” said LaMere (CEO), a Buffalo transplant who learned the game on one-wall courts in Queens. “So our strategy is to earn loyalty. We’ve seen already that once you try the Buffalo Ball, it’s the only ball you’ll want to use.”
“Beyond that, the only way we can grow as a business is to grow the game of handball,” Ryan added. “We’re on a mission to fix up some of the public outdoor handball courts around the city, including one at Mass Ave Park, and the one at Rev. James Eckridge Park on the city’s East Side. That’s the court where former mayor Jimmy Griffin and former Buffalo Common Council President James Pitts used to play against each other.”
I find it remarkable, the number of Buffalo entrepreneurs that have come up with better versions of sports equipment and gear, including golf putters, golf balls, hockey sticks, cooling apparel, and now handballs. Along with handballs, Buffalo Handball also sells t-shirts, hoodies, and other merchandise.
Aside from selling the best handballs in the land, LaMere, LiPuma, and Ryan want to promote the game of handball in WNY. They feel that there is an untapped market that would love to try out a sport that has such a strong legacy in this region. It all starts with a new and improved, small, hard, blue rubber ball, which could lead to another new era in Buffalo sports legacies.
The “Buffalo Ball” is available at www.buffalohandball.com, along with Buffalo Handball-branded gear and products for true connoisseurs, like a handball pressurizer. The ball also meets specifications for paddleball, a sport played on outdoor one-wall courts with flat paddles, similar to ping-pong paddles, either held or strapped to the hand. Follow on Instagram at @BuffaloHandball716 and TikTok at @buffalo.handball.