The ball is a hollow sphere woven from strips of rattan - a natural cane. It is about the size of a grapefruit, light and slightly springy. Because it is woven, it has gaps that let air through and make a satisfying clicking sound when kicked.
In competitive sepak takraw, two teams of three players face each other across a net about 1.5 metres high (slightly lower than a volleyball net). Players can leap into the air and perform spinning bicycle kicks - flipping upside down and hitting the ball backwards over the net with their heel or the sole of their foot. These moves take years to learn.
There is also a circle version, called 'regu', where players stand in a ring and keep the ball in the air for as long as possible, passing between teammates using any part of the body except the hands and arms. This is the version most often played casually in parks, schoolyards and streets.
Sepak takraw has been played for hundreds of years across Southeast Asia. Wall paintings in Thailand and Malaysia show people playing it long before written records. Today it is played competitively at the Asian Games.