The term “rubber match” refers to the final and decisive game of any series. Its origins can be traced to the 16th-century English game of lawn bowling. The objective of lawn bowling, which is similar to bocce ball, is to roll wooden balls over a level field toward a smaller, white ball so that they stop as close to it as possible without striking it. Most analysts think that the phrase “rubber match” derives from either two lawn bowling balls rubbing together – a game-ending error — or from the chance for the final game to “rub out” or eliminate the losing side.
Rubber Match Origin
The origin of the word “rubber match” is unknown, but one thing is certain: it has nothing to do with genuine rubber. As stated previously, it was first utilised in 16th century lawn bowling games. The act of two game balls rubbing together could function as a tiebreaker, so choosing the winner of the game. Since then, “rubber match” has remained in our sports vocabulary.
Others say that the word is derived from the phrase “rubbing out,” which implies to entirely demolish, obliterate, or eliminate. While we cannot definitively determine which came first, the phrase or the game word “rubber match,” we can examine lawn bowling and bocce ball to observe how the term was and is now used in both activities.
Lawn Bowling
In lawn bowling, teams roll hard plastic balls across a bowling green — often a grass surface — with the objective of landing them as close to a smaller ball called a “jack” as possible. It may appear to be a simple game, but some battles have been known to last four hours.
Each player in a singles or doubles match is given four balls to roll. In triples, though, each player receives three balls. After all players have rolled their balls, the winner is determined by measuring the distance between each ball and the jack. The player who’s ball is closest to the jack (also known as “shots”) wins points. After calculating the points for a particular throw, play resumes at the opposite end of the green.
Bocce Ball
So, is lawn bowling the same as bocce ball? There are a few key differences that distinguish the sports from one another, despite the fact that they are identical. Initially, the game of bocce consists of eight large balls and a smaller ball, commonly referred to as the “pallino” but also known as the “jack” or “boccino” by some players.
In contrast to lawn bowling, each team receives four balls, each of which has a unique design or colour to identify it from the others. Each team may have a maximum of four players, and the number of players dictates how many balls each team may toss. For instance, a two-player team each tosses two balls. In a singles match, however, the individual tosses all four balls.
To begin the competition, the teams toss a coin. Whoever wins has the option of selecting the ball colours or having the first toss of the game. The pallino must then cross the centre line of a conventional bocce court in order to qualify as a legal throw. If the pallino fails to reach the centre line or lands outside the court’s lines, the opposite team receives the next roll.
The player who rolled the pallino begins play by rolling their ball as close as possible to the pallino. The opposite team then has its turn. After all the balls have been hurled, the teams with the balls closest to the pallino receive a point. Interestingly, there is no “rubber match” in bocce because the game ends when one team reaches 16 points.
What Does Rubber Game Mean?
If both teams have the same number of wins and losses, the last game of a series is known as a “rubber game” or “tiebreaker.” In 1599, the expression initially arose in lawn bowling, and by 1744, it had extended to card games. Now, it is utilised in a variety of sporting events.
However, “rubber game” has also been employed in other contexts. In the card game bridge, for instance, “rubber bridge” is the original game in which participants play the same deal to allow for comparison scoring. In addition, in card games, “rubber of whist” refers to the best of three games that determines the winning team.
What Is an Exhibition Game in Baseball?
In baseball, “rubber match” refers to a series consisting of the best of three, five, or even seven games. For instance, during the MLB regular season, clubs that are deadlocked for a postseason spot must play a tiebreaker game. Only 16 tiebreaker games have ever been played in the history of Major League Baseball.
And that’s a good thing, as things might become much more convoluted if two or more teams face a series of tiebreakers, particularly in terms of determining divisional and “wild card” champions. Minor league clubs Pawtucket Red Sox and Rochester Red Wings played the longest professional baseball game in history in 1981. Over two days, the game lasted eight hours and twenty-five minutes and consisted of 33 innings. In addition, the “rubber match” segment lasted 18 minutes.
What Is a Rubber Basketball Game?
Similar to baseball, rubber matches in basketball are uncommon. However, much like the significance of NBA jersey numbers in identifying players, the term’s connotation in basketball remains the same, referring to a tiebreaker. If a tie occurs at the conclusion of a conventional game, five-minute overtime periods are played until a winner is determined.
The Indianapolis Olympians and the Rochester Royals played the longest National Basketball Association (NBA) game ever played in 1951. Six sets of five-minute overtimes were played before the Olympians finally won the game.