Four-Wall Handball
Four-wall handball is a fast indoor court sport in which players strike a small rubber ball against the front wall using their hands. It resembles racquetball, but the hand is the “racquet.”
Questions you may have include:
- What is four-wall handball?
- How is it played and scored?
- Why is it challenging?
The court and equipment
The game is played on an enclosed court with a front wall, two side walls, and a back wall. Players wear gloves to protect their hands and hit a small, hard rubber ball.
How it is played
A player serves by bouncing the ball and hitting it to the front wall. Players then rally, taking turns striking the ball so that it reaches the front wall before bouncing twice on the floor. The ball may be played off the side and back walls, which makes for fast, angled exchanges.
Using both hands
Unlike racquet sports, handball requires hitting with either hand, so the ability to use both hands well — rather than favoring a “strong” side — is a major advantage and one of the sport’s distinctive challenges.
Scoring
In traditional scoring, only the server can score a point, and games are commonly played to 21. Speed, accuracy, and the ability to control angles off the walls decide most rallies.
Summary
Four-wall handball is played on an enclosed court, with players using gloved hands to hit a rubber ball off the front wall and rally using all four walls. Skilled use of both hands is key, and in traditional scoring only the server scores, with games typically to 21.