HOW TO PLAY TENNIS

START OF THE STRAIGHT DRIVE

The player should stand facing the ball with the weight on the right foot. Start the
racquet well back with the head above in the hand.
 HOW TO PLAY TENNIS
BY JAMES BURNS

NEW EDITION WITH A FOREWORD

BY ALLISON DANZIG

New York

THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1931

 Copyright, 1915 and 1930. BY THE MACMILLAN COMPANY.

New edition. Published March. 1930. Reprinted May, 1931

All rights reserved--no part of this book may be reproduced in any form
without permission in writing from the publishers.

Printed in the United States of America by

THE PEXEIS PRINTING COMPANY, NEW YORK

FOREWORD

Theories of tactics and strategy in lawn tennis may change from time to time, new
schools of attack and defense may arise, just as we have new systems in football, but in
its fundamentals, the basic concepts of correct stroke production, footwork, grips, etc.,
the game has changed little even since Major Wingfield gave Sphairistike to the world at
the Marylebone Cricket Club in 1874.

The appearance at this time, then, of a new edition of "How to Play Tennis" is just as
pertinent as was the book's first printing. The content of this work can be said to serve its
purpose fully as adequately and authoritatively as though it had been written yesterday.

The player of 1930 will find the principles herein laid down as to the mechanics of stroke
production, with all of its ramifications, entirely applicable. Mr. Burns lays the proper
empha-sis upon the position of the body and feet, the natural grip of the racquet, the
uniformity of the stroke, smooth and continuous from the back-swing through the follow
through, and the necessity for maintaining the proper bal-ance with the shifting of the
weight of the body.

It might be Tilden or Helen Wills Moody writing when he stresses the importance of
keeping the eye on the ball. When he states that the volley should be sent deep he is in
conformity with the practice of Jean Borotra, William Johnston and Vincent Richards.
His admonition to get all the length possible on the drive finds its practical application in
the examples of Tilden, Rene Lacoste and Mrs. Moody.

Not only in its treatment of fundamentals is the book up-to-date, but the author's advice
on tactics and methods is surprisingly in accord with the most modern tendencies. One
listens for Tilden's approving echo when he decries the tendency among young players to
hit every ball hard; to try to win with a single stroke forthwith, instead of fencing for the
opening and preparing the way for the coup de grace. Tilden has been holding up the
example of the French in this particular and explaining the reason for their success in
their abstention from the over use of speed and their thorough schooling in the
fundamental strokes.

In advocating the taking of the ball on the rise, once the player has mastered the
appli-cation of top spin, the author is again in accord-ance with the prevailing tendencies.
Henri Cochet is now the foremost exponent of playing the rising ball, and Tilden insists
that the player who hopes to beat him must emulate him.

These are only a few of the many examples that may be culled from this work to show
how thoroughly modern it is in every respect. The author is old enough at his profession
as a successful coach to be relied upon for the fundamental concepts he offers, and he is
young enough in spirit to have kept abreast--indeed, in advance--of the theoretical
developments of the times.

Allison Danzig.
March, 1930.
 CONTENTS

Foreword

CHAPTER

I Position and Stroke for Beginners

II Some Common Faults

III Net Defense

IV Baseline Defense

V Service and Return

VI Backhand Play

VII The Volleying Game

VIII When and How to Smash

IX Grips and Practice

X Good Judgment and Time

XI On Forcing the Pace

XII Getting Rid of Weaknesses

THE ILLUSTRATIONS

Start of the Straight Drive Frontispiece

Middle Point of the Straight Drive

Finish of the Straight Drive

Start of a Top Drive

Middle of a Fore Hand Top Drive

Position for Base Line Play

Finish of Fore Hand Top Drive

How Position of Defense Shifts from Center of Court.

Position for Defense Against a Ball Played from Side.

Wrong Way to Hit the Ball

Base Line of Defense

Beginning of a Back Hand Top Drive

Middle of a Back Hand Top Drive

Finish of a Back Hand Top Drive

Volleying Position at the Net

The Start of a Smash.

Hitting the Ball in the Smash

The Finish of a Smash

The Best Time to Hit a Ball

How to Grip the Racquet

Wrong Way to Finish a Stroke

 POSITION AND STROKE FOR BEGINNERS

HOW TO PLAY TENNIS

CHAPTER I

POSITION AND STROKE FOR BEGINNERS

A VERY important element in making the various strokes in tennis is position. A player
must face sideways to make a proper ground stroke. For a fore-hand stroke the left foot is
forward, but out to one side. The right foot is back. In all this discussion it is assumed
that the player is right-handed. The left-handed player needs only to reverse the
directions to adapt them for his use.

The reverse position holds for back-hand strokes. On a “follow through" stroke the ball
should be taken between the knee and the hips.

In meeting t ball above your waist a “topping" stroke should be used.

It is advisable for a beginner to learn his fol-11 low through stroke first. By follow
through stroke I mean hitting the ball squarely in the center of the racquet and finishing
out, i. e., letting the racquet follow on after the ball -- on the stroke. A player by using
this method first learns to hit the ball in the center of his racquet. Later, when he has
more control over the ball and racquet, is time enough to learn a topping stroke.

For the “follow through" start well back for the beginning of the stroke. In this way the
player gains in power. He should also re-member that from the beginning of the stroke to
the finish it is essential to have it steady and uniform, not jerky. Do not slow up or check
your stroke when meeting the ball or after you hit it.

The weight of the body is on the foot behind when starting the stroke. It passes on to the
forward foot when hitting the ball and in finish-ing out the stroke. Have the body go
forward with the stroke to finish out. The usual mis-take of players is that they do not
relax the body sufficiently while taking the stroke.

The best time to meet the ball is just as the racquet is coming at a rising angle.

In making returns the first essential is to get the ball over the net. The best height above
the net for the ball to pass is from one foot to two feet. This insures keeping it in court if
you have a good follow through and steadiness on the stroke.
 MIDDLE POINT OF THE STRAIGHT DRIVE
Be sure to swing well out from the body. Keep your
eye on the ball and hit it with the center of the racquet.

On the finish of the stroke the head of the racquet is about shoulder high on a follow
through shot, the arm well extended after the ball, the body relaxed. The arm and racquet
should point in the direction where the ball is placed. Many balls that go out of court
would have landed in if the player had finished out straight instead of coming in or
across.

A player having taken his position correctly, his grip should be firmly held, the racquet
well back, before starting to make the stroke. In making a return first be sure its direction
is correct; next its height, then be sure to give it sufficient depth.

On a return to you anticipate where and how the ball is going to bound. It is advisable to
stand for most opponents about three feet back of the spot where the ball drops. This
varies with the speed of the return.

Whenever possible use a drive in returning the ball. A follow through or a top stroke is
hard for an opponent to judge. Do not use chop strokes too often, as they are the easiest
balls to kill when the adversary is at the net.
A ball driven begins to drop when it passes the net, which makes it hard to judge. On a
chop return the ball rises as it crosses the net, and is easy to volley. Some prime points in
making simple strokes are these.

1. Face sideways in taking stroke, arm well away from the body. This improves direction.

2. Start well back for the beginning of the stroke.

3. Steady swing from the beginning to end of stroke.

4. Follow through on the stroke, racquet well extended.

5. Meet the ball just as it is opposite the body.

6. Position of the feet -- left foot forward for fore hand strokes, right foot forward for
back hand.

For the beginner and average player the best time to meet the ball is when it drops from
the top of the bound. Later when the stroke is mastered and the player learns to put a top
spin to his ball it is advisable to meet the ball on the rise of the bound, that is, just before
it gets to the top. By meeting a rising ball your re-turn is quicker; you force your
opponent more, and you have a better chance of keeping the ball in court.

A top stroke (one that puts top or over spin on the ball) is difficult and dangerous for
beginners and average tennis players to learn com-pared to the follow through stroke. It is
ad-visable for beginners to learn hitting the ball full and straight (the follow through
stroke) before trying to put spin on the ball. The player who learns his follow through
first learns to hit the ball in the center of his racquet, next to make his swing steady; third,
to follow through well. He has the three most impor-tant points of a stroke and has an
advantage over the player who begins to learn tennis by topping.

If the player can hit the ball in the center of his racquet and follow through on his stroke
learning to top comes easy later. To go from a follow through stroke to topping, a player
when meeting the ball has only to roll his racquet over the ball just after the ball has been
met. It is a rolling motion of the arm from the shoulder, and during the rolling motion one
should feel the ball still against the racquet. The common faults of players when topping
the ball are:

I. Topping the ball too soon, i. e., making too sudden a turn over of the racquet. This
comes from turning it over with the wrist suddenly rather than slowly from the shoulder

2. Not following through after the top. When the player has the ball on his racquet ready
for the topping roll be sure that the return is high enough.

The advantages of a top stroke are:

1. The ball is more under the player's control on height, direction, and keeping in court

2. The ball travels faster after hitting the ground, due to the over spin of the ball.

3. A ball in traveling over the net begins to dip, which makes it hard for a volleyer to
return it.

4. The player can meet a ball on the rise of the bound, which forces the opponent more,
as the return is quicker.

5. Because of the sudden dip or drop of the ball on a top stroke after it crosses the net, the
return can be made at a wider angle and still kept in court.

FINISH OF THE STRAIGHT DRIVE

The arm and racquet should follow out in the direction the ball is to take.
CHAPTER II

SOME COMMON FAULTS

ONE of the most important things in tennis is to keep the eye on the ball. Nine players
out of ten lose sight of a ball shortly after it crosses the net. It is essential to watch it until
it comes in contact with the racquet. Most players, when they should be watching the
ball, are either looking at their opponent or at the spot on their opponent's court where
they wish to place the ball. The player who takes his eye off the ball, if only for the
fraction of a second, may in that short time miss the opportunity for hitting it clean, i. e.,
in the center of the racquet. This applies to every shot in tennis.

It is an excellent thing while playing to repeat to one's self over and over again:" Eye on
the ball," "Eye on the ball."

Many a volley and smash go out of court because the racquet has turned in the hand. This
happens because the ball has not met the center of the racquet. Even a tighter grip will not
prevent this. This difficulty is obviated by keeping the eye on the ball. Watch your ball
and you are bound to judge it right. By hurrying and losing sight of it you are bound to
misjudge it. Keeping the eye on the ball does not mean merely to watch it casually, but
to reckon its flight, also to judge the speed and depth of the stroke. By doing this the
player can tell beforehand where the ball is going to drop in court.

Another thing of first importance in tennis is to put the ball over the net. A player feels
disappointed and angry at a ball that goes out of court. He feels the same way when he
puts it into the net, for this has sacrificed all the chance he might have had of winning the
point.

Again you see many players take balls which if let alone would go out of court. In
doubles suppose you call "out," but still your partner takes it. If he returns the ball he at
least has his opponent guessing and trying for a return. Many times he will be in doubt if
he should take it, not knowing if the ball is going to be good. All this is that much more
strain on his nerves.

Notice a first class player while in a game. He is always putting the ball over the net and
at least two feet above it. The fault of the average player Is, that he plays his ball too fine,
putting too many into the net in consequence.
 START OF A TOP DRIVE
Begin well back, racquet held about waist high with arm well extended

In singles, because the opponent is more often playing deep, you should play higher
above the net than in doubles, where one or both op-ponents are likely to be near the net.
In gen-eral never play a return very low, that is, near the net on its way over, except when
the oppon-ent is close up. Playing a return deep and well above the net keeps the
opponent from coming to the net.

After making a bad return try not to get angry over your shot. Rather try to perceive at
once what your error was and to correct the fault. It may have been your position instead
of your stroke. Many a player blames a bad return on the stroke when really it was the
fault of his position. For instance some players keep putting the ball in the net. If they
studied their shots they would see that the thing to do was to get more height on the ball.
There are many little faults a player could correct by himself if only thought of at the
moment he makes them. Here are a few to remember and correct:

First -- Don't hurry; you have more time than you think if your position is the center of
the court.
Second -- Don't take your stroke so close to your body that you cannot make a clean
swing.

Third -- Don't try to kill a ball when an easy one would do.

Fourth -- Don't let your opponent find you out of position as a result of watching your
own return.

Fifth -- Don't take your eye off the ball, as it prevents you from making a clean stroke.

Sixth -- Don't fail to "finish out " on your stroke in order that you may get a " drop " on
the ball as it passes over the net.

All these little faults and many more which players have could be prevented if discovered
and corrected at the time they are committed. Many players complain that they have not
the time while playing to correct faults. One has more time in tennis then he is apt to
realize, and this excuse is not a sound one.

Many players have a very bad fault of trying to make a point in one shot. They cannot
seem to wait for a good opportunity or until they get their adversary out of position.
Some try to "kill " a ball when not set for it or when out of position for killing.

The player should keep on returning balls until his opponent is out of position. By doing
this he gets the practice and acquires steadiness on his strokes. Until one gets this
steadiness it is useless to try to hit the ball hard. You are sure to be inaccurate. Some
players have an idea that because an opponent runs up to the net he has to kill the ball to
make a point. It requires only steadiness on your stroke.

When your opponent comes forward you should try for side line shots. By doing so you
draw him out of position and make him extend himself for your returns. You also keep
him on the jump. Be sure to get good depth on the ball, as by so doing you keep your
opponent back in court.

When the time comes for you to complete the point your mind must be centered on the
stroke and the place you want the ball to go. Too many players hurry at this stage or take
their eye off the ball. Others are too snappy in the stroke. They imagine that in this way
they get power. To get power you need not be snappy, simply start well back with your
swing and have it uniform --that is, without a jerk. It is by snapping strokes that one
sends the ball into the net or out of court, as a snap prevents the player from following
through properly.

Do not lose your head because your strokes are not going well. Every player has off days.
Do not lose your nerve when your opponent returns a few lucky shots. It is an old saying
in all games that "luck goes with the winner."
One cannot have a good stroke without a steady swing on the follow through. From the
beginning to the finish of your stroke the swing should have the same steady motion
without a jerk in it. Through misjudging the ball many players start their swing too soon.
This forces them to slow up and then make a quick snappy stroke. This prevents them
from being steady on their swing. Judge your ball so that from the time you start your
stroke to the finish, your stroke is steady all the way. In this way you get power in your
stroke.

The player should always remember not to check his stroke as he meets the ball. Let the
stroke finish well out, the arm extended. Do not suddenly decide to hit the ball harder just
as you are meeting it. It has a tendency to make your stroke jerky. Steadiness in stroke is
necessary to serving, smashing, and all other shots. A player who is not steady on his
swing does not hit the ball in the center of his racquet.

Pulling up on the stroke is a fault many players have. They seem to think that unless they
pull up they will not get the ball over the net. Many do this unconsciously. Now by
pulling up on your stroke it stops you from finishing out. You finish up instead of out.

MIDDLE OF FORF. HAND TOP DRIVE

Meet the ball opposite the body and get the feel of it on the racquet before
starting the roll or twist.

If you have "pulled up " you have to get an extra over spin by a wrist movement on the
ball to keep it in court, and you generally fail.
The only time to pull up on one's stroke is on a pickup shot close to the net. Letting the
ball go too far back of you before hitting it is often the cause of pulling up. Try to meet
the ball just as it is opposite you.

Another cause of pulling up is taking the ball too close to your body. By judging your
ball better, so that it will not be too far back of you when meeting it and keeping the
stroke well away from your body, you can break yourself of the habit of pulling up.

Another factor to consider is variation of pace. Too many players get the same distance
on all their returns. Pace can be lessened by slackening the grip, but do not forget to
follow through. This shot will look as fast as the others, but it will lose its speed quickly.
Be careful, however, in relaxing your grip not to let your racquet turn in your hand.
CHAPTER III

NET DEFENCE

PLAYERS should constantly study the "angles" of the court. By "angles" I mean the lines
of direction the ball nay take in being returned by your opponent from a given point to
your court. Knowing the angles reduces the ground you have to cover. Take the center of
the court for the dividing line in choosing your points of defense. The ingles of the court
change according to the posi-tion of your opponent.

If a ball is driven on the return from the cen-ter of the court, the best position for your
defense is also the center.

On forehand cross court shots, where your opponent is out of court on your left, your
position would be more to the left side of your court.

On a back hand return from an opponent who is far to the right your best position is also
to the right of your court. This applies when playing net against your opponent. If on a
return from an opponent well to the right you volley to the left of his court from a
position on the right of your own court the angle of your volley favors you and you are
less likely to be passed, even if he can make a return. There-fore it is a mis-take in such a
case to take a center line position instead of one to the right of the center To put it briefly,
opponent to your right, go to the right for defense; opponent to your left go to the left for
defense.
Of course in addition to the angles one must also know the speed, height, and drop of the
ball. But those points are considered elsewhere.

By the diagrams of the court shown herewith the player can see for himself the "angles"
of the shots. In these diagrams A shows the point from which your opponent is returning
the ball. Divide the line of the two widest possible re-turns that will not land out of court
equally and it will tell you the line on which to stand.

The line A-M in Figure I shows the widest return line your opponent at A can make to
your right. The line A-N shows the widest return line he can make to your left and still
keep his return in court. The line A-P is the dividing line of the angle and your correct
defensive posi-tion is somewhere on the line A-P.

The farther from the net your opponent is the nearer the net you can stand, care being
taken not to get so close that a " lob " will put you on the defensive. When he is nearer
the net your position is farther from the net, not so far, how-ever, as to leave too wide an
angle to protect.

The most frequent mistake of players is that they stand in the center of the court for a
return driven from the sidelines. Then they wonder why they are being passed. They
should stand in the center only on a return that is driven from the center of the opponent's
court. The thing to do is to edge to the side of the court on which you have returned his
ball.

Generally speaking, a player is "in position " when he has the center of the court covered.
One should choose whether he will play "up," i. e., at the net, or "back," i. e., at the base
line and take defensive position accordingly. Net play should be at a distance of about
fourteen feet from the net; base line play should be from approximately two feet behind
the base line. The positions are indicated on the first of the "angle" diagrams.

After hitting the ball jump for the center of the court. Too many people are lost in
ad-miration at their own shots and watch the efforts of their opponents to get the ball,
forgetting to make their own position secure against a possible return. The man who does
the most running is the man who is always "out of position." The average player will
edge over to the left side of the court to cover the weakness of his backhand. Let the
opponent place a ball on his extreme right and he must needs outdo himself to make a
return. But let him note that he is again "out of position" and that his opponent has an
excellent opportunity to make a "kill."

FINISH OF FORE HAND) TOP DRIVE

Weight firmly on left foot. Racquet turned over and well extended.

If a man expects to play a strong game it is folly to favor either his forehand or backhand
strokes. He should learn to execute one as well as the other. Remember always that the
center of the court is the strategic position. That is the basis of defensive operations. The
game of tennis requires alertness both before and after the strokes are made. If one is
never caught "out of position" the rest comes easily.
To illustrate, suppose you had to return a ball from the star marked B, Figure 1.
Immediately after your return hustle back to the center at the base line.

If your return was made from the star marked A after the return hasten back to the center
line about fourteen feet from the net. The shaded portion marked "danger zone" is the
place to keep out of after you have made a return. Keep ahead of it or back of it. In the
danger zone your opponent can smash the ball to your feet.

The ball is returned from point A, Figure 1. The average player makes his mistake in
defense by standing at point B, where there are twenty-eight feet to cover, fourteen feet
on each side -- more than he can cover. There he could easily be passed at right or left.
He should stand at X. Then he can defend either side by volley, for there are only twenty-
five feet to cover, or 121/2 feet on each side of him. Expe-rience shows that this width
can be pro-tected. In this plate A is on the left. If it were on the other side, or right, the
directions would be reversed, but the principle is the same.

A, Figure 2, represents a ball driven from a shorter distance from the net. Take note of the
X and you will see that your position would be about eight feet from the net, but about
two feet from the center of the court. No-tice the larger angle your op-ponent has to pass
you on your backhand, there-fore take posi-tion a little to left of center line. A in this
plate is on the left. If it were on the other side, or to your right, reverse the directions. The
principle is the same. Note this: At the point X you have only twenty-one feet to protect;
at B you would have twenty-four feet to cover.
A, Figure 3, represents a ball driven from as close to the net as a player would care to
place it. He has to be very quick, and active to volley a return from this part of the court.
Your position would be at X, but try to fore guess your opponent's intention as to the side
he expects to return the ball or as to his favorite shol from that part of the court. The point
X is the position to take, giving you sixteen feet only to protect. At B you would have
twenty feet to protect. The point B is too far back. The principle is the same if your
opponent is on the other side of the court. A volleyer should al-ways remember to volley
deep in order to force his opponent to the back of the court and give himself more time on
the next return.
 CHAPTER IV

BASELINE DEFENCE

IN the preceding chapter we took up the tactics of defense when you are playing near the
net, that is, between the zone on the court marked in Figure 1 as a "danger zone" and the
net. There are two distinct classes of defense play, known as net play and baseline play.
Great players differ in their preferences as to these styles. Some are known to favor
baseline defense, but generally the greatest players favor the net defense.

I advise a cultivation of the net defense, and the use of it wherever possible, believing it
to be the best point maker. However, it is certain that you will have to resort at times to a
baseline defense, because you will be forced to make a return from some point far back in
the court, and your opponent will immediately come forward and you will have no
alternative except a baseline return. So let us consider what you will do in these
circumstances.
Consider Figure 4. You will notice the points arranged across the court, A, B, C, D, and
E. These are strung across the court just back of the service line and are the principal
points from which your opponent in returning balls to you can force you to continue at
base-line play. If he gets to the back of his court you will naturally come forward to the
net. Therefore, if we consider the principle of base-line play on balls returned from the
points A, B, C, D, and E we shall have covered the ground. Any emergency arising
different from the points here shown you will understand if you understand the principles
shown in these.
 WRONG WAY TO HIT THE BALL
Do not let the ball come too close to you. Your stroke will be cramped and ineffective. Freedom and ease
are necessary for a good swing.

Starting from A, you will notice two straight lines, along which your opponent could send
a ball in returning to you and still have that ball land within court. Those two lines make
the angle. Therefore, if he returns a ball from A and you are playing baseline, no matter
where you are, don't stand there, but get back as quickly as possible to the point A' to
anticipate his return. If his return is made from B, your defensive point is B'. If he returns
from C, your defensive point is C, and so also D and E. you taking positions at D' and E'.

Thus, you see, as he is farther to your right, you work farther to the left. If he comes too
near the net, you, of course, lob over him and force him back in his court, in which event
you come up for net play. If he manages to get closer to the net through your having
made a weak return you still observe the principles of the angles for baseline defense, as
shown in Figure 4, only you will have to play still farther back of the baseline, but getting
to the middle of the angle on the same principles as shown in the diagram.

The farther back of the court you are the higher and harder your return has to be in order
to get over the net and also to keep your oppo-nent back. A player's first thought when
running back for a ball should be to make sure of putting that ball over the net. Get all the
depth possible to your return. You keep your op-ponent back by doing so. The ball
should travel about two feet above the net. It is a low and short return that gives your
adversary the chance to come up to the net.
When too far out of court lob, as it gives you a chance to get in position again. It is a
seri-ous mistake to drive a ball when away out of court instead of lobbing. Your
opponent, if any kind of a volleyer, would have you at his mercy. On a lob you have
some chance to get the next return or, if your opponent misses his chance, to score.

In long returns try for sideline shots. Don't drive the ball back to the center of the court.
One should take chances in tennis, as that is the only way to gain confidence in sideline
shots.

Many a player has the fault of stepping about two feet into the court after serving. He
should either remain back of the baseline or run up for net play. Some have the habit of
stand-ing near the danger zone shown in Figure 1 while the ball is in play. Any return
with good depth by your opponent will drop right at your feet at that part of the court and
will force you to run back to where you should have been in the first place to get the ball.

By stepping into court after serving one is forced to cover twice the amount of ground.
He goes forward and then has to go back again.

On net defense your position is half way be-tween the service line and the net. On
baseline defense you should be behind the baseline. You will do less running if you are at
either of these two positions.

In case you run up for a short return it is advisable to make your return deep and then stay
up at the net.
 CHAPTER V

SERVICE AND RETURN

IT is essential to toss your ball well above your head in serving. The height varies
according to a player's style of service. It is important not only to toss the ball well up but
also to toss it the same way all the time and at the same angle. The player thereby gets the
correct timing of the stroke. Keep your eye on the ball.

Start the racquet well back for the stroke. The player's feet should be well apart, but not
far enough to disturb his balance. The grip for serving varies, but the fingers should
always be spread apart. Do not hold the racquet too tight, as it prevents you from having
free wrist play. The more wrist play, the better your chance of keeping the ball in court.

In serving a player follows through on his stroke, that is, the racquet is not checked when
it meets the ball. To get power behind the ball it is necessary to avoid having your body
and muscles tightened or strained. Undue tension destroys the uniformity of the stroke.

It is better to have your left shoulder face the net in serving, although many players face
forward. The standing position also varies, ac-cording to the kind of a serve the player
wishes to use. Standing sideways the player meets the ball over his left shoulder. This
produces more or less "cut" on the ball. For a fast, straight service the player meets the
ball more in front of him. If you want to make a fast cut service it is best not to toss the
ball too far on your left. Keep it more to the right and serve off your right shoulder.

In a break or twist service the player throws the ball well back, that is, more directly over
his head, to get under the ball. The player should feel the ball on his racquet the same as
in a topping stroke, before deciding to twist or pull down on the ball to cause it to "break"
when it strikes the ground.

Master one kind of service before starting on another, though of course to play a good
game you must use various tactics to confuse the opponent. But in learning take one at a
time.

When serving a hard straight ball do not forget to place it, but do not show beforehand
where you are going to attempt to place the ball, or your opponent will be there to meet it.
A hard straight service is considered easy to re-turn if the opponent knows where it is
going to be.
 BEGINNING OF A BACK HAND TOP DRIVE
Go well back for the beginning. Keep the weight on the left foot. Watch the ball.

The first service, well placed in court, even if not hit hard, is generally better than even a
good second. The server has the striker guessing on his first ball. On the second the
opponent seems to gain more confidence for the return.

Try to place the ball so that you will have the advantage and force the opponent to make a
weak return. Study your opponent's weakness in returning. If he is weak on backhand,
for instance, keep playing to his backhand, and so on.

Try to catch the striker off balance when serving. Make him extend himself to return your
service.

Practice makes perfect. There is no reason why a player cannot get his second serve in as
hard as his first. It requires only patience, confidence, and will power.

Knowing that there are hardly two services alike, players should learn to judge their
opponents' services. One should judge beforehand where the ball will bound before
deciding to take a certain position to receive it. There are twists, breaks, cuts, and shoots
on the ball which players have to judge. Many players seem to stand in the same position
to return all the different services. For instance, they receive high bounding ball as they
would a straight ser ice that bounces low. If the receiver has quick eye it will be advisable
to receive a high bounding service about three feet inside the base line. Meet the ball on
the rise and return it with a top. It also can be chopped back, by the first method is
preferred, as a player can go more depth to his ball, while in a chop stroke he only gets
placement.

By standing three feet inside the court an meeting the ball on the rise you have the
advantage over your opponent, as the return is much quicker.

In case your adversary has a "break" to his high bounding service hit the ball very hard In
hitting a "break" service ball too easily it spins off the racquet. Hitting hard kills the spin.

On a straight, fast service it is best to stand back of the base line and be sure to return the
service with good height and depth. A low cut service, however, should be chopped back.
This kind of a service bounces too low to drive high and still keep the ball in court. If a
player can outguess where the service ball is going to drop he will worry his opponent
considerably, and it discourages your opponent in serving when you invariably get the
ball back. In time this counts.

In returning a service the first thing to be cer-tain of is to keep the ball in play instead of
put-ting it in the net or out of court. A number of players make the mistake of trying to
"kill" a service ball. Never do it. It is easy to volley a fast return. The only time to hit a
service ball hard is on a break or twist, when, as ex-plained before, it is essential to offset
the twist. It is usually harder to judge and return a service ball than a ground stroke. A
service ball takes freak bounds and awkward shoots; besides, your adversary has you
guessing as to where he is going to place the ball. Players seem to have more control over
their service than their other strokes. The consequence is that they get more speed than on
ground strokes. If you can guess where the ball is going, the kind of a bound it will make,
and are set for it, you may "kill" it.

Many players have a bad habit of throwing the ball up carelessly. They do not throw two
balls up alike. One throws too far forward, another too far to one side, and sometimes
they do not toss the ball high enough. Many also toss up their second ball too quickly,
and while off balance from the first serve. To get a good serve it is necessary to toss the
ball always to just the right height above the head.

Always take time on the second serve in case the first is a fault. How often one sees
players serve their second ball when their first ball has not yet left the opponent's court.
One cannot expect to correct the first mistake by playing the second ball hastily. If you
can throw your ball the same height and distance every time you can see your mistake
and correct it.
A few players have the fault of pulling down on their serve, saying they want to get a
"break" on the ball. One should be sure of putting the ball over the net before he attempts
to do this. The least pull or jerk sends the ball into the net or out of the court.

Try to get the second service ball in as hard as the first. Players are too much afraid of
losing the point by double faulting. Why not take a chance as you are likely to lose the
point anyway on an easy second service? By getting in a good second service you keep
your adver-sary back, take him by surprise and he has less confidence in his return.

In the first few games start by hitting the first service easily, as getting them into court
gives you confidence. Then work up your speed. Some players have a fault of moving
while serving. One should stand perfectly still when about to serve, that is on the balls of
his feet.

MIDDLE OF A BACK HAND TOP DRIVE

Stand well away from the hall. Do not let it get past the line of your body before hitting it.

Throwing the ball too far forward on the tossup makes you lean forward and puts the ball
in the net. Take note of your racquet some time when leaning forward, and you will see
that it would be impossible for you to put the ball over the net as the racquet is coming
downward.

Tossing the ball too far to one side puts you off balance. Not throwing the ball high
enough makes you jerky in your swing. Be sure always of having a steady follow through
on your service swing. A service is a "follow through" stroke, only it is made overhead.
In serving have the body go forward with the stroke. Always be on your toes for your
adversary's return of your serve. Do not be caught flatfooted.

The higher you must meet the ball the more angle you have to the service court.

Where is the best spot to place your service? Down the center line to your adversary's
backhand, if that is his weakest point, or if he is standing too far to the side of the court.
This gives you less ground to protect on the return.

If the server is good on his backhand volley-ing, it would pay to serve to the opponent's
right as thus you put him out of position. He then naturally drives the ball to your
backhand, and you have the whole court to his left in which to volley the ball. In the other
court, serve well to his left. He then is likely to drive the ball to your forehand, giving
you an easy volley to his right. However, do not stick to one plan. Try to have your
adversary guessing at all times where you are going to put the ball while serving.

If the server does not come up to the net be sure to get height and depth to your return. In
case he does come up on his service keep your eye on the ball (not on him) and return the
ball close to the side line. Make your opponent extend himself for your returns. The only
time to drive a ball directly at your opponent is when he is so close that he has no time to
get his racquet in position to meet it. A fast ball is easy to volley if the volleyer has time
to judge it.

In singles serve from the center of the court-In this way one protects both sides of the
court equally on the return. Take for instance a player who stands at the extreme right of
the court to serve. He leaves a big opening on his left unprotected. In case a ball is
returned to his backhand, near the side line, he has to travel four or five extra feet. The
reverse holds true when serving in the opposite court. The center of the court is the
dividing line for your angles. He who keeps that position at all times does less running.
One can get his ball in court from the center as well as from the extreme right of the
court.

In doubles, where your position is covering only half of the court, it is always best to
stand between the center service line and the side line of the single court. It takes a good
player to pass you from that angle on a cross court shot. In case he does it is probably due
to your part-ner not being up to the net.
CHAPTER VI

BACKHAND PLAY

IN making a backhand stroke use the oppo-site side of the racquet from that used in
forehand shots. This avoids the need of turning the wrist over, which loses time. Some
players use the same side of the racquet. By using the opposite side of the racquet a
player is forced to make less change in his grip and it can be made more quickly.

Running the thumb up the handle of the rac-quet for backhand shots enables one to guide
the strokes better, but in that grip there is a slight loss of power. I find that by leaving the
thumb around the grip I get more power in the stroke. But one should get used to all the
different grips. In gripping a racquet, players should spread their fingers apart slightly.
This gives better control of the racquet and a free wrist play.

To make a proper stroke the player should see that he does not take the ball too near his
body, and also take it just opposite him, not too far in front and not too far behind.

For those who can time a ball accurately the most effective stroke to use is a "top" (see
top stroke in Chapter I). Let the racquet follow through as far out as the arm can stretch
toward the point where the ball is to be placed. Otherwise the racquet has a tendency to
go up and to come in or across, which sends the ball out of court. See that your body does
not turn in making the stroke. This will send the ball in court. In extending the arm on the
follow through, do not let the racquet come across the line on which you want the ball to
go.

Start well back for your stroke. In case the player misjudges the ball a short back stroke
prevents the forward stroke from being uni-form.

Players will find it a good plan to step for-ward and meet the ball just as it is opposite the
body. By doing so one meets the ball higher in its flight, the return is quicker and has
more chance of keeping the ball in court. If, how-ever, a player must meet the ball when
it is well back the weight should be on the foot behind and one should lean back with his
body. Leaning back helps the player to avoid having the ball too far back when he strikes
it.
 FINISH OF A BACK HAND TOP DRIVE
Let the racquet follow well out on the line of flight of the ball. The weight shifts to the right font as the
racquet swing through.

After hitting the ball do not check the stroke, but let the arm well out after the ball.
Following through gives the "drop" on the ball. All through the stroke, both before and
after you meet the ball, the player should maintain the same steady swing without check
or jerk. Let the wrist go forward after meeting the ball in-stead of down or over. The
above refers to forehand strokes, also.

In backhand work players are prone to let the ball go far behind before hitting it. This is
the cause of many weak returns in backhand shots. It is important to have a good
back-hand method, as all players put the ball to you on that side at times. Always face
sideways in taking backhands. To have a good backhand players should meet the ball the
same as in forehand strokes, that is, opposite the body. Keep your elbow away from your
body so you can follow through on the stroke. Keep your eye on the ball every second.
By so doing you are bound to judge the ball correctly and hit it in the center of your
racquet.

In making a lob always lob high, as it gives you time to get a good court position.

Do not hit the ball too hard if an easy one will score the point. Get dept and pace to the
ball, as it prevents your opponent from coming to the net. It is your short returns which
give him the opportunity to come up.

No advantage is to be gained in hurrying your shots, and a hurried shot always reveals
just where you are going to place the ball.
After you have made a return note where your opponent must receive it and get into the
proper court position at once, as explained in the chapters on "angles."

Try for every shot, as that is the only way the player learns to judge and anticipate future
ones.

In returning the ball make your opponent extend himself, that is, put the ball to some part
of the court where he has got to move to get it. By so doing the balls are not returned to
you so quickly. In volleying do not wait for the ball to come to you, but step forward and
meet it sooner and higher. By meeting it higher you have more chance of getting it over
the net and keeping it in the court. The angles are larger also for a return to right or left.
CHAPTER VII

THE VOLLEYING GAME

THE volleying stroke is more of a push than a hit. In the pushing stroke you meet the ball
and come forward at the same time. The wrists and joints are kept fairly stiff. There is
none of the loose swing of the ordinary stroke. Meet all your volleys about waist-high or
above. Any ball of shoulder height should be volleyed. Above that a ball should be
smashed. The harder a ball comes the less push you have on your stroke; the stiffer you
meet it to let it bound back off the racquet. On easy returns you push the ball more.

Players should not be afraid of stooping for low volleys. Don't remain upright. Bend your
knees and meet the ball body high at least. By bending you get under the ball.

For stop or block volleys you suddenly check the racquet as soon as the ball comes in
contact with it.

Good depth is needed on the return in volley-ing. Short volleys, except wide, cross court
volleys, are poor, as the adversary can pass you. Do not cut or chop the ball in volleying.
One should cut the ball only to shorten depth on a cross court volley. In volleying always
keep the head of your racquet above your wrist, and even more on your backhand volley.

If caught off balance, that is with no chance to make even a push, hold the racquet tight
and the force of the ball will return it on a rebound. In volleying be careful not to bring
the racquet too far around to cross the line of the shot, or it will be out of court. Try
meeting the ball the same distance from you at all times. The higher you meet the ball the
less you have to worry about putting it over the net. Many players prefer meeting a volley
low, but it is a harder stroke to execute. The higher you meet the ball the more angle into
the other court you have. You are only coming down with the shot, while on a low volley
you come up on your stroke and still you have to keep the ball in court.

Be very careful not to alter your grip too much while at the net. Many are at fault in
taking volleys with the body too stiff. Do not be afraid of bending your knees and
keeping on your toes. In taking volley strokes your body should be slightly sideways
rather than facing directly forward. After the volley is completed you will have turned so
that you are facing forward.

Half way between the service line and the net is the proper place to stand for volleys.
Crouch down and be on your toes when waiting at the net. Grip the racquet firmly and
keep your eye on the ball as it leaves your opponent's racquet. Watch the ball more
strictly than at any other time, because it comes to you quicker when at the net. On a
volley stroke you finish out about three-quarters. If you have made a short return don't go
up to volley. The angle is greater for your opponent to pass you.
Don't make the mistake of chopping in a volley stroke. A chop stroke is not the best
volley. On a chop the ball often spins off the racquet and goes in the net. Push, don't
chop.

Never volley a ball short unless it is a cross court shot with speed. Such a return does not
bound high. A short volley is likely to bound high. A deep volley does not. Deep volleys
keep your opponent back. By keeping the ball low your opponent has to pop it up, which
gives you some chance.

On stop or block volleys players should learn to keep the ball from bouncing high. A
little "cut" will do it.

Do not volley too often to the center of the court. Take chances for sideline shots, as that
is the only way to learn your angles. A ball volleyed in the center of the court is not half
as effective as one to the side lines.

Many players choose the wrong moment to go to the net. Many a point is lost through
this mistake. It is folly to go up to the net when your own return is short. When your
adversary in taking your return comes well up to the net it is not difficult for him to pass
you if you come up too. Do not come up except when you have made a deep return.

If you want to come up on your own return make your return deep but higher, so that it
will be slow and give you time. If you hit the ball hard it will be returned before you get
up to the net. Getting good height as well as depth on the ball gives you plenty of time to
be in proper position to volley.

Always go up when you have your adversary under difficulties, that is, chasing after hard
returns.

Many points are lost by attempting volleys from the wrong part of the court. The
positions for volleys are about four feet inside the service line.
 VOLLEYING POSITION AT THE NET
Upper picture shows position for fore hand. For low volley crouch well down and keep racquet head above
hand. Lower picture shows back hand position, with racquet even higher than for fore hand. Do not
attempt to stroke the ball in this shot. Place for the corners.

To volley a ball that is returned from the center of the court your position is the center of
the court. On cross court returns the volley position changes to the side of the court. To
return a cross court from your opponent's fore-hand one should be at the left of the court.
The reverse holds for a return from your op-ponent's backhand. This enables you to
protect the full angle of your court.

Briefly, if the opponent is to your right your volley position is also to the right (of the
center). If he is to the left you also work to the left.
CHAPTER VIII

WHEN AND HOW TO SMASH

BEAR in mind just where you are in court before smashing wildly. If near the net come
down more on the ball. If farther back you must get more out on your stroke, more like
the service stroke. Don't make the mistake of hitting the same length and kind of ball
from all parts of the court. If near the net it generally pays to hit cross court, with speed
on the ball. Bear in mind, too, that the net is higher by six inches at the ends than in the
center.

Don't try always to "kill" the ball. A ball does not have to be hit hard if one hits in the
center of his racquet. A little placement is all that is necessary. There is no need to hurry,
as a person smashing has the advantage over his adversary.

The smashing stroke is the same in principle as the overhead service stroke. Try always
to meet the ball the same height and distance from you; that is, be always under the ball
for smashing. Many try to smash when not up on the balls of their feet or when not yet
under the ball. Misjudging a ball comes from hurrying or not keeping your eye on it.
Have a steady follow through on your stroke without a jerk from start to finish. You
follow through on smashing as you do on your ground stroke.

Many players stand too stiff in making a smash. Do not have your muscles too tight.

Many spoil a smash by looking at the oppo-nent or where they expect to put the ball
instead of looking at the ball.

When taking a smash the weight is on your right foot and passes to your left while
finish-ing out on the stroke. In this it is just as in serving. Here are a few pointers to
remember while about to smash:

1. Keep your eye on the ball.

2. Meet the ball always the same height and distance from you.

3. Take time, don't hurry, as one thus has an advantage over his adversary.

4. Get good depth on the smash.

5. Never try to "kill" the ball if an easier, well placed shot will do.

6. Be prepared for a return after you smash. In serving and smashing players are wont to
pull down on their stroke. This tends to destroy the uniformity of the stroke. The least
pull or jerk prevents a good follow through. Furthermore, when you pull down, your ball
is likely to go into the net. There is not so much danger in case you are close to the net,
but if in the middle of the court for smashing or back of the baseline for serving, a pulled
down stroke will send the ball into the net.

THE START OF A SMASH

Get well under the ball and start with the racquet well back and down. Keep the eye on the ball.

Again, take notice that when pulling or jerk-ing down the face of the racquet is coming
down. Many players imagine that in this way they get more power on the stroke. Others
think they get a break on the ball by pulling down on their service. Power in the stroke
comes from hit-ting the ball clean with a steady stroke, not a snappy one. To get a
"break" the player puts a "top" on the ball when the hand is still overhead with a quick
wrist movement, but the hand does not pull down. It stays high till the stroke is finished.

In serving or smashing start well back for the beginning of your stroke, get under your
ball and watch it in order to be sure to hit it at the right moment with a steady uniform
stroke.
If players realized how much time they really have in tennis they would not hurry. The
only time to hurry is to get into court position after a return and when running back for a
ball a player should take more time when running for ward than when running back. How
often do players overrun--that is come too far for ward. This is due to hurrying. Then,
being in cramped position, it is impossible to have a free stroke. Other players when
running for ward meet the ball when it is still too far am too directly in front of them
instead of to one side.

To have a free swing and power in the stroke it is necessary to meet the ball to one side
just opposite the body. Meeting the ball in front of you forces you to make a short return
in the opponent's court, as you have no power behind your stroke. By taking more time
when running forward you can judge your ball better and keep well away from it so as to
have a free swing.

By hurrying you show your opponent when you are going to put the ball. By taking time
you have your opponent guessing. For in-stance, the fact that your opponent leaves an
opening exposed to you does not signify that it is compulsory to put the ball there. Say,
for instance, on his left. It does not follow that that is the best place to return it. If he goes
toward that spot, put it behind him. You have time to change your plan according to his
movements if you do not hurry. If you hurry he sees where you are going to put the ball
and is there to meet it.

In playing tennis take time, think every sec-ond, judge the ball correctly, and you will
have less running to do.
CHAPTER IX

GRIPS AND PRACTICE

GRIP your racquet firmly, so that it will not turn when the ball comes in contact with it.
There are various grips. Different players have different kinds of hands; what suits one
may not suit another. Use a grip which gives confidence, but of course it must not be one
that is going to be awkward to change for different kinds of shots. The less change one
makes in his grip the better. Adopt a style of grip that will enable you to use the opposite
side of the racquet for a forehand from that used for a backhand shot without having too
much shift in the grip. Many players turn the face of the racquet completely around when
taking backhand shots. By doing so they hit the ball on the same side of the racquet as on
a forehand stroke. This method wastes time when time is peculiarly valuable.

In changing from forehand to backhand, hit the ball on opposite side of your racquet,
turn your hand toward your body and it falls into position for the backhand stroke and the
ball will be met on the opposite side of the racquet.

Some players run the thumb up the handle for backhand shots or volleys. This serves to
guide the stroke. More power, however, is obtained in a backhand by leaving the thumb
around the handle the same as in the forehand. This also applies in volleying.

On the volley, keep the head of the racquet a little higher than the wrist. Your grip
changes very slightly for volleying.

In driving, let your wrist down, as you have less weight on your wrist in holding the
racquet.

On a high bounding ball, to hit it with "top," you cannot drop your wrist.

While waiting for returns have your left hand support the upper part of your racquet on
the handle. This relieves your playing arm and increases your quickness and effectiveness
in volleying.

In smashing, your grip is about the same as in serving. One uses the wrist more in
smashing, to get power in the stroke and to get "top" on the ball.

In gripping a racquet the fingers should be well spread. This makes the control of the
racquet more uniform and the balance more dis-tributed to each finger of the hand, and it
also gives free wrist play.
 HITTING THE BALL IN THE SMASH
Meet the ball at the highest point possible. If close to the net ball can be played with considerable drag
down. If farther back play it much ,is in serving.

Lobbing may look easy, but it is not. Very few first class players have it down to a
science. To play a good game of tennis it is essential to learn to lob well. But there are
different ways to lob, and varying tactics in the use of the lob. Lob high and deep to get
yourself in posi-tion when you are out of court. When the adversary is at the net a little
short lob just over his head is very effective, but be sure it is out of your opponent's
reach, as it would be an easy "kill" for him if he gets his racquet well on the ball. In fact,
he could smash it like a service shot. He cannot get under a short lob, as it is not high
enough. In case he lets it drop, the ball bounces away from him.

Of the two lobs, however, the high lob is more often useful. It gives one time to recover
position in court.
The lob is a great help when under difficulties, such as being out of court or too near the
ball to have a swing at it, or when you have no chance to pass your opponent and wish to
get him back.

In lobbing players should direct the stroke upward. To keep the ball in court it is
necessary to finish "up" on your stroke and not "out."

To improve in tennis players should practice their strokes. Learn your strokes properly
from the start. After you have control over the ball is time enough to begin to play games.
By practice one is drilled in choosing properly his position in court for different shots He
gets ball after ball which he might not receive in play. A player pays more attention to his
stroke and less to points and has a chance of correcting faults. When playing he is after
points, and so thinks less about his weak strokes.

Have some one play to your weakness. In learning to volley stand at the net and have
some one drive balls to you. Do the same to him until you find it monotonous. .When
tired of practicing smashing have your practice partner lob to you. Then reverse and lob
to him.

Practice your ground strokes for half an hour a day. The trouble is that players have not
the patience for this, but it is the best and quickest way to improve one's game. For
instance, in playing net, you are lucky if you have one or two volleys to return. In
practice one has ball after ball. A player is bound to improve with that practice. But do
not practice until you are tired out. Get variety by play-ing a set for a change. Then
practice a little more where you discovered weaknesses.

One can practice serving by himself. To get a second serve in as hard as your first one
requires practice, determination and confidence. Take a dozen balls and serve each one as
hard as the other. Then cross over and serve back. The same may be done on ground
strokes by dropping the ball and taking it on the bounce.

Foot positions are of great importance. They are easily understood by some players, due
to experience at different athletic games, such as baseball, football or gymnastics. You
will find that these players are always on the balls of their feet.

The feet should be placed properly before taking your stroke. If the player is in position
the stroke is not so hard. Many a point is lost owing to faulty foot position. The most
frequent mistakes of players are these, as to position:

1. Being off balance.

2. Being caught on the flat of his feet instead of " on his toes."

3. The weight being on the wrong foot.

4. The player being out of position.

5. The player executing his stroke off the wrong foot.

Players should be on the alert before and after the stroke. Correct foot movement enables
the player to shift into other correct positions easily and quickly. The balance should be
preserved at all times. After the player returns the ball his position should be thought of,
while watching the ball.

In starting forehand strokes the right foot should be back of the left. The weight is on the
right foot at the time a player begins his stroke. It passes to the left when meeting the ball.
The reverse position and weight on the legs holds good on a backhand shot. The player
who does this is on the balls of his feet for the next return.

In volleying stand on your toes, to be ready for a return in either direction. There is no
excuse for being caught on the flat of your feet.

Many players find themselves off balance through taking a backhand stroke. It comes
from allowing the ball to get too far back be-fore hitting it.

Before smashing a ball the position of your feet should be thought of. The right foot
should be back. The weight is on the right foot while waiting for the ball, and until the
ball is over you. On the smash the weight transfers to the left foot just at the time the
player hits the ball.
 THE FINISH OF A SMASH
Bring the racquet down well forward of the body with body relaxed forward. Play for placing rather than
speed if a choice must be made.
 CHAPTER X

GOOD JUDGMENT AND TIME

FOR first class players anticipating or judging a ball comes as second nature. But how
many average tennis players can anticipate where the ball will drop in court on their
opponent's return? To do this the mind must work with the eye. The best place to stand in
meeting a ball is about three feet back of where the ball is going to land. This varies a
little with the pace of the ball. Not only must a player have his eye on the ball, but he
must have his mind centered on the stroke that he wants to play. It is always advisable
when judging a ball to first notice its height, second its speed, and third where it will land
in court. The player will thereby know in just what position to get to meet the ball to
make a proper return stroke.

The time to begin to judge the ball is when it leaves your opponent's racquet. Learn to
watch your opponent's racquet, as by doing so a player can tell beforehand the direction
in which the ball is going to be placed. Very few players can change a stroke once the
mind has been centered on the kind of a stroke they wish to play. For instance, if your
opponent meets the ball directly opposite his body, it is to be expected that his return will
be straight down the side line, as his swing is straight and directly out. In case his racquet
meets the ball sooner or a little more in front of him, his return would be more for a cross
court shot.

On overhead strokes only can the player con-ceal his direction before hitting the ball.

Why is it players let the ball get too far back of them on their backhand shots before
returning it? It is because one does not judge his ball as well on backhand as he does on
his forehand. That's what makes the backhand shots so difficult for many players to
make. It's the player himself who makes it a harder stroke by not anticipating where the
ball is going to drop so he could be in proper position to meet it.

Start well back with your swing, just as you do on your forehand stroke. Time it so you
hit it the right moment, that is, just as the ball is opposite the body.

Another reason backhand seems harder to execute is that players do not face the ball
right.

On taking forehand shots you are faced a lit-tle to the right. The reverse is true when
taking backhand shots.

A forehand stroke should be played off your left foot, i. e., the left foot is ahead. On a
backhand shot one plays off his right foot.
Remember at all times after your return to face the net squarely.

Here is another thing that often causes a weak backhand. Players seem to favor their
forehand more, and by doing so they are fac-ing a little to the right when waiting to see
what the opponent's shot is going to be. That prevents them from getting quickly into
backhand shot position and prevents also judging the ball right on their backhand. The
ball is on top of them before they know it.

On paper it is hard to explain these positions, but take note when you are receiving a
service how awkward it is to return a ball on your backhand. Players could score many
an ace by serving to your backhand while you are faced to the right. Your position is
wrong because it favors your forehand at the expense of your backhand. Your eyes are
facing to the right of the court, which prevents you from judging the ball well on your
backhand. Reverse your position in facing and you will find your forehand stroke will
seem just as hard as your back-hand. Your eyes should at all times be facing the ball
squarely. Then you can judge the ball on either side.

By facing sideways, however, before you make your backhand stroke you will find it an
easy stroke. That shows you that it is not your stroke, but your position, that makes a
backhand shot hard to make. To have a good backhand one should remember that the
essentials are the same as on the forehand strokes. That is:

1. Your position should be correct.

2. Start well back with your swing.

3. Meet the ball the same height and distance from you as one does on his forehand
stroke.

4. Keep a steady swing all the way through.

5. Follow through on stroke.

The success that will follow your efforts on backhand strokes if made with these points
observed will give you confidence, without which you cannot do anything well in tennis.

Do not let the ball drop too low when about to return it. It makes a return more difficult
and harder to keep in court. A ball is too low when it is below one's knees. The higher
you meet the ball the less height you have to get on it. Furthermore, on a high ball you
have more angle for cross court returns or placing. Many wait for the ball to come to
them instead of stepping forward and meeting the ball higher. The right height for a
follow through stroke is a little above one's knee. Anything about waist high or above can
be "topped." When meeting ball knee high one makes a good return by putting it about
two feet above the net, for at that height it will still have room to drop in court. By letting
the ball drop too low you also give your opponent more time to come up to the net, or to
get in position for your return. If you have time always step forward and meet the ball
sooner. The higher you meet the ball the quicker your return is going to be, which forces
your opponent more. It also gives you more chance of keeping the ball in court.

The remarks on the fault of letting the ball drop too low also apply in volleying. When
about to volley don't wait for the ball to come to you, but meet it higher if you can. The
lower the ball is volleyed the harder it is to re-turn. The higher one meets the ball on a
volley the less he has to worry about putting the ball over the net or putting it out of
court, because you can hit it downward more.

Figs.-- The best time to hit a ball is on the rising bound -- or at the
top if not too high. The diagram shows how waiting carries you back in your
own court and increases your opponent's com-mand of the situation.

Never hurry! I mean don't let your mind hurry. You may have to move quickly, but if
you are under mental control this is not hur-rying. It is simply moving fast. One has more
time in the game than is generally thought. Even when your antagonist is at the net you
should take time. Take time, watch the ball and not your opponent after his shot is made
and drive the ball down the side line or wherever you decide to put it to make him extend
himself, but do it with deliberation.

Hurrying always betrays the direction in which you expect to put the ball, while if you
take your time you have your adversary guess-ing where the ball is going to be driven.

For example, let us take smashing. How often players miss chances of scoring points
through hurrying a smash. One imagines he has to return a smash in haste to make his
point. Always remember the person smashing has the advantage over his opponent, so
why hurry?
 HOW TO GRIP THE RACQUET
Top picture shows hack hand grip with thumb around instead of up the handle. This gives power, although
thumb up handle is a little more accurate for inexperienced players. Middle picture shows how fingers
should he spread to insure firm holding of the racquet. Lower picture illustrates extreme turn of racquet in
topping stroke. This is likely to put the hall into the net.

Again, suppose you wish to get to the net. First make your return deep, then come to the
net. You will have plenty of time. It is a mistake to suppose one should go up at the same
time he hits the ball. A player should first be certain of making a clean stroke and a
forcing one before he starts to go up to the net. It is your short returns in court that make
one hurry to go up. If players are careful to get depth on the ball they will have to do less
hurrying.

A player should hurry only to get in position after his returns, and that is really not
hurrying, which is a mental fault; it is simply moving quickly.
 CHAPTER XI

ON FORCING THE PACE

A FAULT that beginners and average players have is to hit every ball hard and to " kill"
too often. Players should first learn to master the correct method of making strokes and
acquire control over the ball before beginning to hit hard. To put speed on the ball the
player has to time his stroke to hit the ball squarely in the center of his racket. If one has
judged the ball correctly and is in position for a proper stroke then he can hit the ball
hard. How often you see players not in position to return a ball try to hit it hard to make
an ace.

When a player decides to "kill" the ball his mind should first be made up on the place he
is going to put the ball and not shift it. He should be very careful and not hurry when
hitting the ball hard.

An easy ball well placed will score many a point or game if used at the right moment.

These remarks on hitting a ball hard refer to all strokes in tennis. In volleying how often
you see players try to kill impossible shots. Two out of three players try to kill lob
returns. It is much better to hit the ball with good depth and good placement. In case your
opponent should return the ball it does not follow that you should kill the next. You have
him on the run, so take advantage of it and place your next return.

Most players start hitting the ball hard too soon in the game. Hit the ball easily for a time
and when sure of having it under control begin to hit it hard. One should gradually work
up to his speed and hitting power. Some reply that if one started in by serving easily his
adversary would kill the ball and have the jump on him. Remember your opponent started
to play the same time you did. He is not warmed up enough to start killing the ball. If he
starts "killing" too soon it is your advantage.

The person who begins killing the ball early puts more balls in the net and out of court.
This fault is common more with beginners and average tennis players. A first class player
tries all his strokes before he feels that he is ready to play. When he is warmed up and has
control over his ball he begins to hit harder.

To have your strokes in working order you should have confidence in them. Many have
off days, due to lack of confidence, and lack of confidence will be bred by mistakes in
hitting early in the game. A player cannot start in from the beginning and expect to make
perfect returns. Then they become angry and lose control over the ball because they start
forcing the play too soon and this gives their opponents the advantage.
Do not work with the arm and elbow too close to the body. Try to keep them well away.
It prevents you from getting a free stroke and hampers your follow through. If your elbow
comes in contact with your body it stops the stroke. It puts the player into cramped
positions and off his balance. Getting the stroke in close makes one lean to one side to
hit the ball. This prevents him from making a clean shot and a steady one. One cannot
finish out on his stroke when the arm and elbow are so close to the body that it stops the
stroke from going any farther. A player can hit the ball, but he is prevented from getting a
good "drop" on it. To get a good drop one must start well back with his swing and finish
all the way out, the body going for-ward with the stroke.

Many are too stiff in their body swing. The weight should pass from the backward foot to
the forward one with the shot. By having your body work with your arm one is bound to
finish out better.

Many players make the mistake of turning their wrist over when hitting the ball instead of
having it go forward with one's racquet. By having your wrist turn over your racquet is
facing downward. That sends the ball into the net. Quite a few players imagine a topping
stroke is done with the wrist. The turnover or arm roll is more from the shoulder in
put-ting "top" on the ball. One should be sure the ball is going back high enough before
he puts any arm roll over on his stroke.

Be careful of using your wrist, as it guides your stroke. If you turn over your wrist too
sharply for a cross court shot it will send the ball out of court. Turning your wrist down
too much is likely to put the ball in the net.

This fault of turning your wrist over too much is made mostly on your backhand shots.
When the ball comes in contact with your racquet your wrist seems to turn over at once.
One cannot expect to put the ball over the net doing that, as the ball is going downward
from the time it leaves the racquet. Your wrist should go forward with your stroke.
 WRONG WAY TO FINISH A STROKE
Do not finish with your arm too close to your body. It is impossible to give
proper direction in this way as there is no room for a free follow through.

In returning a low bounding ball one must turn over the wrist sharply and one must also
on this shot hit harder to keep the ball in court. The hard hitting gets the ball past the net
before it takes the drop from the wrist turn over.
CHAPTER XII

GETTING RID OF WEAKNESSES

TO improve your game do not play against the same player too often unless he is the
better player. Vary your opponents. By playing against the same man too much you soon
learn each other's weaknesses and do not improve. The strokes are the same all the time
and each one knows where and when the ball is coming. If you play with different
players, you will meet new strokes, fresh tactics, and varying temperaments. Play as
much as possible against men who can beat you. Beating will do you good from the start,
as you will know you are getting good practice.

When you know that you can beat a man, you will not be forced to your best, which
makes you careless in stroke.

If one could remember to practice his weak strokes when playing against a poor player it
would do a world of good. Do not be content to give him a bad beating.

For example, if you have a weak back-hand, leave openings in your backhand court for
your adversary to put the ball. He being out to beat you will keep on putting ball after ball
there. Thus you can get good practice. The opponent, being a poorer player, gives you
more time, and is not forcing you on your strokes. You thus get time to correct your form
and improve your game. If one's net game is weak he can get good practice by go-ing up
on practically every ball. Against a good player he would not dare go up so often.

The easiest way to learn strokes is to take a dozen balls on the court. Stand a foot behind
the base line. Drop the ball so it will bound about knee or waist high and to one side of
you. Judge it so you have a free swing and drive it over the net. Start well back with the
swing and finish out your stroke. Keep this up until you send all the balls into the other
court. Then go in the other court and return them. Do this for a half hour or so a day. In
this way you are not hurried on the stroke.

The trouble with beginners is that they like to play instead of practice at the start. Then
when they play they return the ball "any old way," so long as they get it back. Thus one
acquires faults and bad habits. Learn your strokes well first; you have a life-time in front
of you to play. You cannot learn your strokes and play at the same time, for the reason
that your adversary is out to beat you and is forc-ing you on all of your strokes. Some
faults and habits that a beginner acquires through playing before he has learned his
strokes are:

1. Covers his weak strokes instead of playing them.

2. Does not learn to anticipate where the ball is going to drop and hence cannot judge it
correctly to hit at the right time.

3. Hurrying his shots, which makes him overrun the ball.

4. Not taking proper swing.

If a beginner would only have the patience to practice more from the start, he would learn
to make his strokes correctly, to judge the ball, and to meet it at the right time and
distance from him. His stroke is also corrected, as he is not being hurried. He soon gets so
he can put the ball in any part of the court he wishes.

He also learns the angles of the court and has better control over his ball. When one gets
so he can put the ball into any part of the court, that's time enough to begin to play.

In playing one has to anticipate where the ball is going to drop. Judge it so you are in
good position to return it. Take it on one side of you so you have a free swing.

For volley practice have some one drive balls to you. Have a boy throw balls up for you
to smash. Serving you can do all by yourself.

The reason I recommend dropping the ball and putting it over the net instead of
practicing against a wall or in a squash court is that one learns to get the right height on
each shot and to put it over the net instead of against a wall at any old height. He learns
the angles of the court better. He learns to place his ball. He can see if his return is good
or bad.

It is very good practice, however, for ex-perienced players to try strokes against a wall or
in a squash court. I would not advise this for beginners, as they would acquire a squash
stroke, more or less, instead of a tennis stroke. From my experience of squash and tennis
the strokes are not alike.

*THE END*