Clause history · American four-wall (DESHONG side line)
Rule 2 Aces, returns and service: how the wording changed
2 rulebooks state this rule, from 1893 to 1903. No rewording or change was found.
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.
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 2, part 1 of 4
Begins: “Then there are the “Scotch twist,” a high service…”
1893 Deshong Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall)
Then there are the “Scotch twist,” a high service that sends the ball around the court in an irritating fashion, and a towering ball, that does not commence to drop until reaching the corners, and then continues its fall close to the wall.
- 1903 Deshong Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
Rule 2, part 2 of 4
Begins: “There are a few players, but they can be…”
1893 Deshong Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall)
There are a few players, but they can be counted upon one’s fingers, who can serve the ball to the right and left without changing their position.
- 1903 Deshong Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
Rule 2, part 3 of 4
Begins: “This requires a great deal of skill and experience,…”
1893 Deshong Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall)
This requires a great deal of skill and experience, but it can be done effectively, and should be seen oftener in practice.
- 1903 Deshong Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
Rule 2, part 4 of 4
Begins: “A low sharp service that can be placed at…”
1893 Deshong Four-Wall Rules (American four-wall)
A low sharp service that can be placed at a side angle of the court without any rise to the ball, or sent to the extreme outside corners, is particularly destructive.
- 1903 Deshong Four-Wall Rules Unchanged automatic Read the rule
All rules: clause history. The family tree is at Rulebooks.