Word Rally

A rally with words instead of rackets

Word Rally borrows the back-and-forth feel of a tennis match and swaps the racket for your keyboard. A ball flies toward your side of the court with a word beneath it. Type that word before the ball arrives and you smash it back. Keep the rally alive longer than your computer opponent can.

How to play Word Rally

When the ball is served, a word appears. Type it correctly and quickly to return the ball. The faster you finish, the harder the return, which gives the other player less time to respond. If you take too long or finish with a mistake, the ball drops and the opponent scores a point. Backspace corrects any slip, though it costs a little time.

Matches and opponents

A match is played to a set number of points. Early opponents are slow and easy to beat. Later ones return the ball in a flash, so you must type each word without hesitation. Between matches you can see your average word time, which tells you more than a simple win or loss.

Skills you will build

• Typing single words quickly, one after another.
• Keeping a steady speed across many short bursts.
• Recovering your focus after losing a point.
• Reading the next word while finishing the current one.

For teachers and parents

Because every word is short and separate, Word Rally is easier for newer typists than full-sentence races. It is also a fun way to see the value of accuracy, since a mistake costs the point. Try the Type Race game for sentence-length challenges, explore all typing racing games, or take the typing test for a longer measure. Everything is gathered on the typing games page.

A quick tip

Do not tense up after a lost point. Shake out your hands, sit tall and let the next word come. Relaxed fingers are quicker than tight ones.

Frequently asked questions