Quaffle

Warning!

At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery & Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells & Harry Potter: Magic Awakened & Hogwarts Legacy & Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions.
As such, spoilers will be present within the article.

"This ball's called the Quaffle. The Chasers throw the Quaffle to each other and try and get it through one of the hoops to score a goal. Ten points every time the Quaffle goes through one of the hoops."

— Description of a Quaffle and its function^[src]

A Quaffle was a ball used in the wizarding game of Quidditch.^[2] It is approximately the size of a football.^[3] When a Chaser used it to score once, they earn ten points for their team.^[2]

Description[]

The Quaffle was twelve inches in diameter. It was a red, leather-covered ball used as the main object of play and was the only one out of the three ball-types that was practically immobile. The three Chasers carried and passed the Quaffle to their opponent's goal hoops, where they tried to score points by throwing it through one of the three rings. Each time it passed through the hoops, the scoring team gained ten points.^[2]

Quaffles had to be thrown into the goal hoops in order to score, failing to do so (like carrying through the goal hoop) resulted in a Haversacking foul. Also, the Keeper had to defend the goal hoops from the front of the ring and not the back (a Flacking foul).^[2]^[4]

History[]

Quaffle Evolution — The evolution of the Quaffle; to the left are two ancient Quaffles, one containing a strap and other containing finger holes; to the right is the Pennifold Quaffle

According to the entries in Gertie Keddle's diary, the Quaffle was the first ball used in the early form of Quidditch played at Queerditch Marsh. Originally, the ball was not enchanted, and made of patched leather with a strap attached to it to allow players to throw and catch it one handed. Some Quaffles had finger holes instead of the strap, rather like a Muggle bowling ball, or a coconut.^[1]

In 1711, the Quaffle was changed to its current scarlet colour, after a match played in heavy rain made it indistinguishable from the muddy ground. Shortly after, the witch Daisy Pennifold came up with the idea of enchanting the Quaffle so that it dropped to the ground slower than normal. Chasers were complaining of having to dive to the ground to retrieve a dropped ball, and the new enchantment gave the Chasers time to retrieve the ball while still in the air. The ball became known as the "Pennifold Quaffle".^[5] In 1875, Gripping Charms were discovered, allowing the players to hold onto the Quaffle without using a strap or finger holes.^[5]

Fouls[]

Quaffle-pocking was a common foul that consists of altering the Quaffle somehow, such as poking holes in it to make it fall faster or zigzag. Only Chasers could commit this foul.^[5]

Behind the scenes[]

Quidditch Quaffle Ball (Concept Artwork) — Concept art of the Quaffle

In the film series, Quaffles had four large indentations on them instead of being perfect spheres, which was likely done to better distinguish them from Bludgers as both share the same colour (the latter is darker in colouration upon closer inspection).
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter sells a foam replica of a Quaffle.
The Quaffle-pocking foul may be a reference to the cheating methods Baseball pitchers sometimes use to gain an advantage by altering the ball in some way, such as coating it in a sticky substance to increase contact with the hand and increase the ball's spin when thrown.

Translations[]

Catalan: Bomba ("bomb")
Chinese (Simplified): 鬼飞球 (Gui fei qiu) ("Flying Ghost Ball")
Chinese (Traditional): 快浮
Croatian: balun
Czech: Camrál
Danish: Tromler ("steamroller")
Dutch: Slurk
Estonian: pomma
Faroese: Bjølga
Finnish: Kaato
French: Souafle
German: Quaffel
Greek, Ancient: κολοφῶν
Greek, Modern: κόκκινη μπάλα ("red ball")
Hebrew: קואפל
Hindi: तूफ़ान tūph.ān
Hungarian: kvaff
Icelandic: tromla
Irish: Cuaifeal
Italian: Pluffa
Japanese: クアッフル (kuaffuru)
Latin: Quaffle
Lithuanian: Kritlys
Norwegian: sluff
Polish: kafel
Portuguese (Portugal): Quaffle
Portuguese (Brazil): Goles
Romanian: Balon ("ball")
Russian: Квоффл (kvoffl)
Serbian: Квафл (kvafl)
Slovak: Prehadzovačka
Slovenian: lokl
Spanish: quaffle
Swedish: Klonken
Ukrainian: квафел (kvafel)
Welsh: Llyncill

Appearances[]

The Harry Potter Wiki has 33 images related to Quaffle.

Notes and references[]

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Quidditch Through the Ages, Chapter 3 (The Game from Queerditch Marsh)
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 ^2.5 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 10 (Hallowe'en)
↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 8 (Flight of the Fat Lady)
↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 11 (Quidditch)
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 Quidditch Through the Ages, Chapter 6 (Changes in Quidditch since the Fourteenth Century)

Game of Quidditch

Officials: Quidditch referee
Player positions: Beater • Chaser • Keeper • Seeker
Playing equipment: Beater's bat • Bludger • Broomstick • Golden Snitch • Quaffle

[QTA3-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Quidditch Through the Ages, Chapter 3 (The Game from Queerditch Marsh)

[PS10-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 ^2.5 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 10 (Hallowe'en)

[poa8-3] Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 8 (Flight of the Fat Lady)

[PS11-4] Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 11 (Quidditch)

[QTA6-5] 5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 Quidditch Through the Ages, Chapter 6 (Changes in Quidditch since the Fourteenth Century)

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