The Play & Scoring

The players take turns hitting the ball against the front wall (referred to as 'rallying'). The ball may be volleyed (hit on the full) or hit after its first bounce. To be considered 'good', the ball must reach the front wall below the 'out' line and above the 'board', before touching the floor. The ball may also be struck against any of the other three walls before and/or after reaching the front wall. Shots that are first played off the side or back walls are referred to as 'boasts' or 'angles'.

The rally continues until a player is unable to return their opponent's shot or makes a mistake, (for example, hits the ball 'out', hits the ball after its second bounce, or onto the floor, 'board' or 'tin'), or a 'let' or 'stroke' is awarded by the referee for interference.

In the 'traditional' English scoring system (as adopted in 1926), a point is scored only by the server (when the receiver is unable to return the ball to the front wall before it has bounced twice). When the receiver wins the rally, they are awarded only the right to serve.

Games are usually played to 9 points (alternatively, the receiver may opt to call 'set two' and play to 10 when the score first reaches 8-8). Competition matches are usually played to 'best-of-five' (ie. first player to win 3 games wins the match).

Alternatively, in the point-a-rally scoring system (referred to as PARS or 'American' scoring), points are scored by the winner of each rally, whether or not they have served. Traditionally, PARS scoring went up to 15 points (or the receiver calls 15 or 17 when the game reaches 14 all). However, in 2004, the PARS scoring was reduced to 11 for the professional game (If the game reaches 10 all, a player must win with two consecutive points with the serve).

In the 'international' game, club, doubles and recreational matches are usually played using the traditional 'English' scoring system.