We usually think of boasts being played off a side wall, but of course the back wall can be used. And as a boast is a boast, this discussion of the back wall boast will employ the same assumptions and considerations applied to the side wall boast in prior posts. Which includes the idea of a boast travelling fairly, i.e. directly, to the front wall. And, this similarity of thought should not be surprising.

Rule 5 a iii is the pertinent rule, as it also covers the back wall.

This is good opportunity to review the rule but also to underline some of the key points. Though reproduced in previous posts, it is included once again in this one.

  1. Right to Play the Ball

a. Immediately after he or his partner has struck the ball, each player must get out of his opponents’ way and must:

iii Allow either opponent to play the ball to any part of the front wall or back wall and to that part of each side wall in front of the red floor service line. The Referee shall deny a Let to the striker when in the opinion of the Referee the striker could have played the ball SAFELY, but instead requested a Let to get out of an unfavourable position…

As with side wall boasts, the outgoing side must get of their opponents’ way to allow the striker to play the ball onto the back wall. The word used is “must”, so this is not a suggestion it is a direct command.

The directive to deny a let is often misunderstood. The intent seems to be to deny a let when it is used to get out of an unfavourable position. The directive does not say or mean that if the striker is in a favourable position with multiple safe options that the let should be denied. When a striker is in a favourable position to play a good boast, they are almost always in position to also play the ball directly to the front wall. The striker is entitled to the side wall boast as well as the front wall shot. The opponents must get out of the way for both shots.

Back wall boasts rarely involve ball flight interference. The striking position for a back wall boast is often close to the back wall.

Typical location of ball for back wall boast
(Figure 650a)
typical location of ball for backwall boast

For this situation, the striker would be in a position to strike the ball to the back wall and the ball then making its way to the front wall. It is not likely that an opponent would be in the path of the ball going from #1 to the back wall.

Which is generally the case for back wall boasts.

Example of path for back wall boast
(Figure 650b)
example for path of backwall boast

You can easily imagine a scenario where the striker has chased the ball to the back and unable to play the ball to the front wall, decides to use the back wall.

Getting in the way of that intended ball flight would be interference.

Example of 'no let' back wall boast
(Figure 650c)
example of no let backwall boast

Getting in the way of this intended ball flight would not be interference if the side wall boast standards, previously discussed, are applied.

The boasted ball would not go directly to the front wall. In this case it would be miraculous for it to ever get to front wall fairly.

Example of the 'triangle' for back wall boast
(Figure 650d)
example of the triangle for backwall boast

If a back wall triangle were drawn up as was done for side wall boasts, the triangle would be rather narrow, and it is unlikely that an opponent would venture into that no go triangle.

The two possible ball flights shown would reach the front wall at either front corner. Boasts directed outside the small triangle may reach the front wall fairly, but not directly. So, that small triangle is the no go zone. (Again applying the previously discussed interpretation for side wall boasts.)


Enough said about the back wall boast.