Clause history · American four-wall
Rule 5 Rule 5: how the wording changed
9 rulebooks state this rule, from 1886 to 1931. The wording was reworded or changed 1 time.
How to read this page
- Added words are underlined and sit inside [+ +].
Removed wordsare struck through and sit inside [- -].- Each rulebook says in words what kind of change it is: unchanged (same wording as the rulebook it was compared with); punctuation only (only punctuation, spacing or capitals differ); moved (same wording, in another place or under another number); reworded (the sense is the same, said in other words); changed (the rule now says something different).
- A program matched each clause with the one before it. Automatic matches were made by the program alone; machine-reviewed ones were also checked by a second program. A person has not checked either, so a wrong match is possible.
Rulebook by rulebook
The table has one row per rulebook; each date jumps to its wording below.
| Date | Rulebook | Clauses, by kind of change |
|---|---|---|
| 1886 | Spalding Four-Wall Rules, 1886 | 1 first recorded |
| 17 March 1889 | The Sun Four-Wall Rules, 1889 | 1 moved |
| 1893 | Deshong Four-Wall Rules, 1893 | 7 first recorded |
| 1903 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1903 | 4 unchanged, 3 punctuation only |
| 1903 | Deshong Four-Wall Rules, 1903 | 4 unchanged, 2 punctuation only, 1 reworded |
| 1 January 1920 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1 January 1920 | 1 first recorded |
| 1923 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1923 | 1 unchanged |
| 1928 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1928 | 1 first recorded |
| 1931 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1931 | 1 punctuation only |
The wording
Each part of the rule is followed on its own, oldest rulebook first. Rulebooks of other codes that borrowed the wording appear in their place by date.
Rule 5, part 1 of 10
Begins: “In scoring the game each player shall be credited…”
1886 Spalding Four-Wall Rules
In scoring the game each player shall be credited with an ace according as it may be scored by "service" or "return."
17 March 1889 The Sun Four-Wall Rules
Compared with Spalding Four-Wall Rules, 1886.
Same words as the rulebook it was compared with. Nothing to mark.
Rule 5, part 2 of 10
Begins: “All balls must be recoverd on the first bound…”
1893 Deshong Four-Wall Rules
All balls must be recoverd on the first bound after reaching the floor.
1903 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
Compared with Deshong Four-Wall Rules, 1893.
All balls must be
recoverdrecovered on the first bound after reaching the floor.1 word added, 1 removed.
1903 Deshong Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall (DESHONG side line))
Compared with Deshong Four-Wall Rules, 1893.
All balls must be
recoverdrecovered on the first bound after reaching the floor.1 word added, 1 removed.
Rule 5, part 3 of 10
Begins: “That is, a ball can take the circuit of…”
1893 Deshong Four-Wall Rules
That is, a ball can take the circuit of the four walls before it can be termed returnable.
- 1903 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- 1903 Deshong Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall (DESHONG side line)) Unchanged automatic Same words as Deshong Four-Wall Rules, 1893. Read the rule
Rule 5, part 4 of 10
Begins: “The service is considered to be very difficult when…”
1893 Deshong Four-Wall Rules
The service is considered to be very difficult when the ball, after hitting the front wall, takes in either the side walls on a fly, bounds on the floor, and then comes off the back wall; or after hitting one side wall bounds from the floor to the back wall, and thence to the other side wall.
1903 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
Compared with Deshong Four-Wall Rules, 1893.
The service is considered to be very difficult when the ball, after hitting the front wall, takes in either the side walls on a fly, bounds on the
floor,floor and then comes off the back wall; or after hitting one side wall bounds from the floor to the back wall, and thence to the other side wall.1 word added, 1 removed.
1903 Deshong Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall (DESHONG side line))
Compared with Deshong Four-Wall Rules, 1893.
The service is considered to be very difficult when the ball, after hitting the front wall, takes in either the side walls on a fly, bounds on the floor, and then comes off the back
wall;wall, or after hitting one side wall bounds from the floor to the back wall, and thence to the other side wall.1 word added, 1 removed.
Rule 5, part 5 of 10
Begins: “The great trouble in recovering these balls is that…”
1893 Deshong Four-Wall Rules
The great trouble in recovering these balls is that the force of their flight is expended when they come in contact with the last wall, and, therefore, drop dead to the floor.
- 1903 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- 1903 Deshong Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall (DESHONG side line)) Unchanged automatic Same words as Deshong Four-Wall Rules, 1893. Read the rule
Rule 5, part 6 of 10
Begins: “If the ball is returned to the front wall…”
1893 Deshong Four-Wall Rules
If the ball is returned to the front wall the server must recover it, either on the fly or first bound; if he fails the hand is out, and his opponent becomes a server.
1903 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
Compared with Deshong Four-Wall Rules, 1893.
If the ball is returned to the front wall the server must recover it, either on the fly or first bound; if he fails the hand is
out,out and his opponent becomes a server.1 word added, 1 removed.
1903 Deshong Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall (DESHONG side line))
Compared with Deshong Four-Wall Rules, 1893.
If the ball is returned to the front wall the server must recover it, either on the fly or first bound; if he fails the hand is out, and his opponent becomes
aserver.1 word removed.
Rule 5, part 7 of 10
Begins: “It is allowable to serve at either side of…”
1893 Deshong Four-Wall Rules
It is allowable to serve at either side of the court, but always within the two parallel lines.
- 1903 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- 1903 Deshong Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall (DESHONG side line)) Unchanged automatic Same words as Deshong Four-Wall Rules, 1893. Read the rule
Rule 5, part 8 of 10
Begins: “Stepping beyond the inner line twice in succession, or…”
1893 Deshong Four-Wall Rules
Stepping beyond the inner line twice in succession, or hitting either side wall, roof or floor before striking the front wall, or serving three short balls in succession, shall cause the loss of a hand.
- 1903 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- 1903 Deshong Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall (DESHONG side line)) Unchanged automatic Same words as Deshong Four-Wall Rules, 1893. Read the rule
Rule 5, part 9 of 10
Begins: “If the players cannot agree upon a ball a…”
1 January 1920 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
If the players cannot agree upon a ball a new ball shall be selected by the referee.
- 1923 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
Rule 5, part 10 of 10
Begins: “Players must wear white suits.”
1928 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
Players must wear white suits.
1931 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
Compared with A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1928.
Players must
wearwears white suits.1 word added, 1 removed.
All rules: clause history. The family tree is at Rulebooks.