Clause history · American four-wall
Rule 8 Rule 8: how the wording changed
10 rulebooks state this rule, from 1873 to 1931. The wording was reworded or changed 2 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 reworded |
| 1903 | Deshong Four-Wall Rules, 1903 | 1 unchanged |
| 1 January 1920 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1 January 1920 | 2 first recorded |
| 1923 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1923 | 2 unchanged |
| 1928 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1928 | 1 first recorded |
| 1931 | A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1931 | 1 reworded |
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 8, part 1 of 5
Begins: “If the striker or his partner stops the ball…”
1873 James's Four-Wall Rules
If the striker or his partner stops the ball intentionally before it bounds after leaving 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.
Same words as the rulebook it was compared with. Nothing to mark.
Rule 8, part 2 of 5
Begins: “Only one hand shall be used in striking the…”
1893 Deshong Four-Wall Rules
Only one hand shall be used in striking the ball, otherwise a foul is committed, and the punishment is the loss of a hand or an ace.
1903 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
Compared with Deshong Four-Wall Rules, 1893.
Only one hand shall be used at a time in striking
thea ball, otherwise a foul is committed, and the punishmentiswill be the loss of an ace or a handor an ace.out.10 words added, 5 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 8, part 3 of 5
Begins: “Stepping over the service line while serving shall be…”
1 January 1920 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
Stepping over the service line while serving shall be counted as a short ball.
- 1923 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
Rule 8, part 4 of 5
Begins: “Doing so twice in succession shall be counted a…”
1 January 1920 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
Doing so twice in succession shall be counted a hand out.
- 1923 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
Rule 8, part 5 of 5
Begins: “While serving the ball the server must stand in…”
1928 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
While serving the ball the server must stand in the serving space between the two lines.
1931 A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules
Compared with A.A.U. Four-Wall Rules, 1928.
While serving the ball the server must stand in the serving space between the
two lines.service-line and the short-line.4 words added, 2 removed.
All rules: clause history. The family tree is at Rulebooks.