Clause history · American four-wall
Rule 7 Rule 7: how the wording changed
10 rulebooks state this rule, from 1873 to 1931. The wording was reworded or changed 3 times.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1873 | James's Four-Wall Rules, 1873 | 1 first recorded |
| 1886 | Spalding Four-Wall Rules, 1886 | 1 unchanged |
| 17 March 1889 | The Sun Four-Wall Rules, 1889 | 1 moved |
| 1893 | Deshong Four-Wall Rules, 1893 | 1 first recorded |
| 1903 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1903 | 1 changed |
| 1903 | Deshong Four-Wall Rules, 1903 | 1 unchanged |
| 1 January 1920 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1 January 1920 | 4 first recorded |
| 1923 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1923 | 4 unchanged |
| 1928 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1928 | 2 first recorded, 1 unchanged, 1 moved, 1 changed |
| 1931 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1931 | 2 unchanged, 2 punctuation only, 1 changed |
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 7, part 1 of 8
Begins: “If the striker when serving the ball strikes either…”
1873 James's Four-Wall Rules
If the striker when serving the ball strikes either side wall before striking the front wall, it is a hand out.
- 1886 Spalding Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
17 March 1889 The Sun Four-Wall Rules
Compared with Spalding Four-Wall Rules, 1886.
If the
strikerstriker, when serving theballball, strikes either side wall before striking the front wall, it is a hand out.2 words added, 2 removed.
Rule 7, part 2 of 8
Begins: “When a ball from the server drops anywhere inside…”
1893 Deshong Four-Wall Rules
When a ball from the server drops anywhere inside of the ace line, the player has the privilege of using his hand or foot; if the hand is used, it counts the same as if it was served regularly over the line; if the foot, the striker or his partner has the privilege of stopping the ball before it reaches the front wall.
1903 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
Compared with Deshong Four-Wall Rules, 1893.
When a ball from the server drops anywhere inside of the ace line, the player has the privilege of
using his hand or foot; if the hand is used,playing it should he so desire, but in doing so the play counts the same asif it wasthough the ball had been served regularly over theline;ace line, and ifthe foot, the striker or his partner has the privilege of stopping the ball beforeit reaches the frontwall.wall the ball must be returned by the opponent.28 words added, 30 removed.
- 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 7, part 3 of 8
Begins: “In serving, the ball must be bounced on the…”
1 January 1920 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
In serving, the ball must be bounced on the floor and struck on the first bounce.
- 1923 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
1928 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
Compared with A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1923.
Same words as the rulebook it was compared with. Nothing to mark.
1931 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
Compared with A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1928.
In serving, the ball must be bounced on the
floorfloor, between the service-line and the short-line, and struck on the first bounce.7 words added, 1 removed.
Rule 7, part 4 of 8
Begins: “Missing the ball puts the server out.”
1 January 1920 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
Missing the ball puts the server out.
3 more rulebooks with the same words
- 1923 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- 1928 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
- 1931 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
Rule 7, part 5 of 8
Begins: “The server has the privilege of several attempts at…”
1 January 1920 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
The server has the privilege of several attempts at bouncing the ball before serving.
- 1923 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
1928 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
Compared with A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1923.
The server has the privilege of
severalseveral, but not more than three attempts at bouncing the ball before serving.6 words added, 1 removed.
1931 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
Compared with A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1928.
The server has the privilege of several, but not more than
threethree, attempts at bouncing the ball before serving.1 word added, 1 removed.
Rule 7, part 6 of 8
Begins: “The server must stand between the short line and…”
1 January 1920 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
The server must stand between the short line and the service line before commencing his service and must not step over the service line while serving.
- 1923 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
Rule 7, part 7 of 8
Begins: “If the server bounces the ball more than three…”
1928 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
If the server bounces the ball more than three times before serving he shall be declared out.
- 1931 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
Rule 7, part 8 of 8
Begins: “To be in play the ball must hit the…”
1928 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
To be in play the ball must hit the front wall and rebound across the short line before striking the floor.
1931 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
Compared with A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1928.
To be in play the ball must hit the front wall and rebound across the
short lineshort-line before striking the floor.1 word added, 2 removed.
All rules: clause history. The family tree is at Rulebooks.