Talk:Fives
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In common with many school boys I was taught fives with bare hands not with gloves: it teachs you to time things better
Fives is also popular in some New Zealand schools, notably Otago Boys' High School, where I attended school. There were three proper fives courts (three sided, similar to the Eton rules, but without a step) and a number of other variations, including roofed courts and ones with gaps in the side walls. At any given lunchtime, probably fifty of the 1000 students would play Fives, although there was no organised competition. Also, no gloves were used and the ball was small (about squash ball size) and quite solid. Hughbacca 09:25, 10 May 2006 (UTC)
The starting paragraph seems to suggest that fives is variation of handball, as far as I know (and I am happy to be corrected) Eton fives (I am less knowledgeable about the others) was started by boys trying to find a way to amuse themselves and is unlikely to have been influenced by American handball. Possibly someone who knows more about the history of fives could clarify this point.
Also the balls used in Eton and Rugby fives are very different (with Winchester fives balls being the same as Rugby fives balls), neither being particularly like a golf ball in any respect bar size. Eton balls appear to be made of a mixture of cork and rubber, which is then covered in a white or yellow paint to make them more obvious when travelling at high speed. This means they are quite light, soft to hit and slightly bouncier (all when compared to Rugby fives balls). Rugby fives balls come into two kinds, both are heavier than Eton balls and have differences between themselves. The differences in balls mean differences in the styles of play, in Eton fives control over placement is key, whereas Rugby the speed of the ball has a greater importance over precision.
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[edit] two main types?
the article currently says:
"There are two main forms of the game, Eton Fives and Rugby Fives. Eton Fives is played competitively as a doubles game, while Rugby Fives is played as both a singles and a doubles game. The rules for Eton and Rugby Fives were both published in 1931, and Rugby Fives had an official varsity match from 1925. The ball in rugby and Winchester Fives are fairly hard and so the gloves are thicker. In Eton Fives the ball is softer and lighter, and the gloves are fairly thin."
I thought there were three main types - Rugby, Eton and Winchester - but I only ever played rugby fives and I was never clear on the differences. Is Winchester not a meaningful variation? Whether it is or isn't, the above para is the only reference to it in the article and is not helpful as it stands. Harry R 19:39, 18 March 2006 (UTC)
[edit] okay and what are the actual RULES?
!!! -- Alfakim -- talk 02:11, 22 May 2006 (UTC)
[edit] General description needed.
Could a general description of game play be added to this article? I can't figure out what the actual game is. It is a handball game played in a three?-sided court with one or two players? Are there points? How do you tell which team wins? Is the point to bounce it off one of the walls or hit other players or what?
- The reference to Real Tennis should be linked.
