Play

American handball is played on a court 12.2 metres long by 6.1 metres wide (40 feet long by 20 feet wide) with either a single (front) wall, three walls, or in a fully enclosed four-wall (the most common). The front wall is 6.1 metres (20 feet) square, and the side walls are 12.2 metres (40 feet) long and 6.1 metres (20 feet) high.

In the middle of the floor of the court lies the short line, dividing the floor into two 6.1 metre (20 feet) squares. Also along the floor is the service line, which is 1.5 metres (5 feet) in front of the short line. The service zone is the area between these two lines. The back wall of the court is usually 3.7 metres (12 feet) high, with an above gallery for the referee and scorer, and also spectators. A few courts have a glass back wall and/or glass side walls to allow for a better view of the match. In three-wall court handball, the court often has a front wall and two full side walls, or the front wall is flanked by two triangular wings.

Handball may be played:

• singles (two players against each other)
• doubles (two teams of two players)
• cut-throat (three players rotating one-against-two)

In "cut-throat" handball, one server plays against two receivers, until they are put out. Then, the left-most receiver serves, and so serves rotate in this way until one player scores 21 points and wins.

The black rubber ball, is 65 grams (2.3 ounces) and 4.8 centimetres (1 7/8 inches) in diameter (slightly smaller and harder than a racquetball), and is hit with the gloved palm, although informal games often don't include gloves.

The ball is "served" by one player/team standing in the service zone, by dropping the ball to the floor of the service zone and striking it on the bounce with the hand or fist so that it hits the front wall. The ball must hit the front wall first; it may then hit only one side wall; the served ball must pass the short line before the first bounce. It may be hit directly, or may bounce off the floor once before being "returned" by the receiver.

A legal return must either hit the front wall directly, or it may touch the back wall, the side walls, or the ceiling before hitting the front wall. When the served ball lands in front of the short line, it is called a "short." If the server gets two shorts in a row, they are out, and become the receiver. In doubles, the server's teammate has to stand in the service area with their back to a side wall in a service box, marked by a parallel line 45.7 centimetres (18 inches) from the side wall, until the ball passes the short line.

The receiver must stand at least 1.52 metres (5 feet) behind the short line, indicated by lines extending 15.2 centimetres (6 inches) from each side wall, while the server has the ball. They must then hit the ball either directly or after the first bounce so that it bounces off the front wall. The ball cannot bounce off the floor twice. Nor can any player during a r...