# Rule 5 Three short serves (Spalding Four-Wall Rules, 1886, historical)

> **Historical rulebook: not the current rules.** The current rules are here: https://handball.theperfectship.com/rules/four-wall/

The striker failing to strike the ball over the ace line three times in succession is a hand out.

## Mentioned here

- [Short line](https://handball.theperfectship.com/short-line.md)
- [Ball](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ball.md)
- [Hand-out](https://handball.theperfectship.com/hand-out.md)
- [Ace](https://handball.theperfectship.com/ace.md)

How this rule changed: [wording in every rulebook](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/clause-history/code-fourwall-american/6.md)

## Relationships

- Short line relates to Ball: mentioned together in 4 sub-rules.
- Short line relates to Ace: mentioned together in 4 sub-rules.
- Ball relates to Hand-out: mentioned together in 7 sub-rules.
- Ball relates to Ace: mentioned together in 9 sub-rules.
- Hand-out relates to Ace: mentioned together in 3 sub-rules.

Rulebook: [Spalding Four-Wall Rules, 1886](https://handball.theperfectship.com/rulebooks/spalding-fourwall-1886.md)

Source: "Hand Ball", in [George H. Benedict, comp.], Spalding's Hand Book of Sporting Rules and Training (Chicago and New York: A. G. Spalding & Bros., 1886), pp. 45-46 (Library of Congress copy, LCCN 05029206; Internet Archive spaldingshandboo00bene); reprinted, numbered and abridged, in the Houston Daily Post, 13 March 1898, p. 15 (sn86071197). Public domain.