History of Fives
The story of Fives, from English churchyard handball in the 1700s to forty courts worldwide today. Eleven milestones and the original shot book.
Key Milestones
- 1700s — Handball played against church walls in English schoolyards
- 1840 — First standardised court built at Eton College Chapel; every court since is modelled on it
- 1877 — Rules first formalised
- 1930 — Eton Fives Association founded
- 2026 — 44 courts across 5 continents; World Fives Day held annually