four-wall handball

Four-wall handball is a sport played in a walled court where players strike a small rubber ball with their hands, aiming to hit the wall so the opponent cannot return it. This game is one of three versions of handball, alongside three-wall and one-wall variations, and can be played as singles or doubles.1

The sport has ancient roots, tracing back to Roman baths and evolving through games like pelota in Spain and France, and fives in the British Isles. Modern handball developed significantly in Ireland around 1,000 years ago, with early championships played on large courts. Irish emigrants brought the game to the United States in the 1880s, where walled courts were built, and kicking was initially permitted.1

The game evolved with different ball types and court sizes. The four-wall game, particularly with a soft, gas-filled ball, gained popularity in the United States. Standard four-wall courts are 40 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 20 feet high. Players use only one hand to strike the ball, and gloves are worn to prevent moisture from affecting it. The objective is to score points by legally serving and returning the ball, with a game typically played to 21 points.1