A Brief Introduction to Eton Fives
The Absolute Essentials
Eton Fives is a hand-ball game, played in a three-sided court. It is only played as "doubles" (i.e. by two teams of two players), there being no official "singles" version of the game. Players wear padded leather gloves, since the ball (which is slightly large than a golf-ball and made of rubber and cork) is quite hard. It is in the same sporting "family" as other hand ball games such as Rugby Fives, Winchester Fives, Irish handball, American handball and Basque Pelota Vasca.
The Eton Fives Court
The Eton Fives court has only three sides, the back of the court being completely open. The inside of the court is quite complicated in design, being based on a bay formed by the buttresses at the base of the chapel steps at Eton College, where the game originated. (Please see this photograph of the original court ). Whilst there is now an official standard court design, most courts in existence vary quite a lot in terms of dimensions and detail, but all of them have the same, rather unusual, features.
The court is divided into two parts, separated by a "step", which is positioned about 1/3 of the length of the court from the front wall. The front part of the court is variously known as the front or upper (up) court, or top step (we will use the term 'front court'). Because of the step, the front court is a few inches higher than the rear part, which is known as the back, down or lower court (we will call it the 'back court'). The end of the back court is defined by another small step,
Whilst there are no actual rules about where the players must stand during a game - except during the service - it is usual for two players (one from each team) to be in the front court, whilst their partners play in the back court, although any player may play a shot in either court during the course of a game, as the need dictates. A Fives court is quite small for four people (especially when they are running around a lot) and players have to be careful not to obstruct each other.
The Walls
A sloping ledge runs around the three walls, about four-and-a-half feet above the floor. The lower angle of this ledge is the "playline", on or above which the ball must be played to be "in". The walls in the front court have an additional "square" ledge about 2 feet from the bottom. The front wall of the court is generally higher than the side walls, which themselves slope from the front to the rear of the court. The upper limit of the three walls is defined by the "coping" - the stone work at the top.
The Buttress
Probably the most obvious feature of an Eton Fives court is the large projection on the left-hand side - called the buttress or, less commonly , the "pepper" or "pepperpot". The buttress is roughly L-shaped and is about shoulder high. It is located at the step and extends into both the front and back courts. The buttress is very complex in shape, with many slopes and angles. Where the buttress meets the step it forms a small three-sided niche, called "the dead-man's hole" or just "the hole" or "the box" (or, less often, and slightly confusingly, the "pepperpot"). This is a natural place to try to send the ball when playing, as it often results in an unreturnable show. However, because it is very small, it requires great accuracy to successfully "kill" a ball in the hole.
Skill & Subtlety
As can be imagined, the design of the court, with its profusion of surfaces and angles, adds marvellous complexity to the game. Skillful players make great use the features - especially the buttress - to confuse and deceive their opponents. Simple shots often become unpredictable ricochets. The front court is particularly difficult to play in, as the ball may easily change direction several times during its travel.
Eton Fives is an extremely fast game, but it is also a game of great skill - players practiced in its subtleties and nuances will nearly always beat those who rely mainly on brute force and speed. Perhaps uniquely amongst ball games, the court's peculiarities of design are considered to give left-handed players an advantage over right-handed ones. The amibidextrous, naturally, have a huge advantage over both, since shots may be played with either hand.
The Rules of the Game
The rules of Eton Fives (which are properly called its "laws"), whilst not as bizarre as those of, for example, Real Tennis, do have their idiosyncracies. In other games the service is an opportunity to defeat your opponent without allowing them to play a shot. In Eton Fives, however, the player making the return of service shot (which is known as "the cut") can repeatedly refuse services until they get one that they like. Also unlike other games, there is usually no referee or umpire in Eton Fives, even at the highest levels of competition. All players are therefore on their honour to admit foul shots and to allow "lets" where there is any doubt - absolute fair play is an essential aspect of the game.
The Future
Because Eton Fives began at an all-boys school, it was traditionally played only by males, either whilst still at school or as members of "old-boys" clubs. However, in recent year a number of more "general" clubs, not associated with a school, have been established. Also, an increasing number of women have started playing and there are now competitions for mixed, ladies and school-girl pairs. There are now Eton Fives clubs all over the world, as far afield as Switzerland, Nigeria, Malaya, Argentina and Australia .
Although Eton Fives has its origins in the somewhat exclusive English Public School system, it is not really so very different from the sort of hand-ball games that have played against any convenient wall by children all over the world for centuries. Eton Fives deserves much wider participation. Courts can be constructed quite cheaply and need little maintenance. Equipment is simple and inexpensive. Team spirit is promoted, whilst individual excellence is recognised. More new courts are now being built (or old ones renovated) than for very many years.
Despite its ancient traditions, or perhaps because of them, Eton Fives is very much a game for the 21st century.
Constructed by Mike Fenn
21st June 2001
efa@etonfives.co.uk