Fives

Fives is a British sport believed to come from the same origins as many racket sports. In fives, a ball is propelled against the walls of a special court using gloved or bare hands as though they were a racquet.

Background

The name may be derived from the slang expression "a bunch of fives" (meaning a fist). The game has also been known as hand-tennis and historically was often played between the buttresses of church buildings in England. There are links between Fives and the Irish and North American handball games and indeed, in recent years, British clubs have begun to establish ties with clubs in those countries.

Fives is not the same as Long Fives, which is played in a real tennis court.

There are two main forms of the game Rugby Fives and Eton Fives. Eton Fives is played competitively as a doubles game, whilst Rugby Fives is played as both a singles and a doubles game.

Fives Media

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  Fives wall in South Petherton, Somerset

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  This is a photo of listed building number 1186836.

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  A buttress at the High Elms Country Park Eton fives courts

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  Rugby fives court in Retford, Nottinghamshire (Grade II listed)

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  Fives court at Warminster School

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  A woodcut lithograph of a game of Fives in progress found in A Little Pretty Children's Book.

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  A modern pair of Fives Gloves with standard leather match ball.

Other websites

• Eton Fives
• Rugby Fives Association (UK)
• Cambridge University Rugby Fives Club Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
• Executioners (A London Fives Club) Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
• White Rose Fives Club (A Club based in West Yorkshire) Archived 2007-12-03 at the Wayback Machine
• Old Merchant Taylors Rugby Fives Club Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine