Which sport has the fastest recorded ball speeds?

The fastest tennis ball on record clocks in at about 163 mph (262 km/h), but that speed pales in comparison to that of the ball used in Jai-Alai (also known as Pelota). According to the Guinness Book of World Records, a regulation ball used when playing Jai Alai has the fastest recorded speed of any moving ball in a game: 190 mph (305.77 km/h). The record-breaking speed was achieved by Ibon Aldazabal of Spain in Dania Beach, Florida, USA, on 24 November 2017.

Jai alai means "a jolly feast" in Basque. Its roots are murky; however, many believe that the game originated in Central America and was brought back to Spain by explorers. Once there, it became very popular in the Basque region, and it is often called “Basque Pelota”.

The game itself is played in a court with three walls. The object of the game is to hurl the ball against a wall in such a way that it is difficult for the opponent to catch and return it. Due to the dangerously high speeds involved, accidental deaths have occurred, and scorekeepers watch through a protective screen.

The ball itself is smaller than a baseball and is made of rubber covered in goatskin. It is filled with pressurized gas and weighs about four ounces. The pressurized gas helps it travel fast and hard. Two layers of goatskin are necessary in order for the ball to be able to sustain the demands of the game. Due to the velocity and the high impact of the balls, the covers split and balls must be replaced after just 15 minutes of play time.