Markers

The players can, as in lawn tennis, score for themselves. But, as some of the other pages have shown, to remember the score correctly requires effort and to mark a chase accurately requires skill. For these reasons a marker who shelters in the box adjoining the net is a great help. Originally the "marqueurs" were apprentices to the "paumiers" or ball-markers.

Today the markers are the court professionals. There are at present about 50 professionals in Great Britain and about 30 professionals in other countries, or unattached touring professionals. The continued existence of the game is largely to be ascribed to their efforts since they train successive generations of players. Furthermore they have been leading exponents of the game and often world champions.