Fives - The wall game.
A 180-year-old sport getting a 21st-century front door. Learn the game, master your shots, and find your nearest court.
What is Fives?
Fives is the English name for handball played against walls of brick or stone. This 3-wall version has a ball that is small, soft, and gloved-palm struck; rallies are fast and full of geometry. It's been played in the UK since the 1840s, and in pockets across Africa, Australia, India, Malaysia, France and Switzerland for nearly as long.
What makes Fives unmistakeable is the court design: a step divides the court into two halves, and there are numerous edges and ledges as well as a buttress on the left wall. The ball never bounces as expected, which creates unpredictable rallies. Players can have completely unique styles of play, making the game extremely tactical.
It can be played by all ages and abilities. Many keep enjoying it into their later years, thanks to the low impact, the doubles format, and a heavy focus on skill and finesse over speed and power.
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