Eton Fives
Doubles wall-and-hand sport played on a three-sided court with a stepped ledge — the quirkiest of the three fives games.
👥2 per team🌤outdoor
What is Eton Fives?
Eton fives is a doubles-only wall-and-hand sport played on an asymmetric three-sided court modelled on a buttress of Eton College Chapel. Players wear gloves and strike a small hard ball off the walls with their hands. The court's stepped ledge ("pepper pot") creates unpredictable rebounds. The sport is played at a handful of British schools and colleges.
Quick facts
Category
Racket & Paddle Sports
Type
Team sport
Players
2 per team
Where played
outdoor
Country of origin
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Estimated origin
1830s, Eton College (against the chapel wall)
Olympic
No
Popularity
niche
Sources & provenance
Last verified 2026-08-24.verified