Tennis Notes: Rules Covering Net Flay And Some General Tips

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 26, 2 March 1948, Page 8

Tennis Notes: Rules Covering Net Flay And Some General Tips

(By “Service”) A rule that seems to cause a great deal of trouble and often many friendly arguments is that one that decides the legitimacy of a stroke which is played over or near the net. In the Rules of Lawn Tennis, Rule 17 contains the two following clauses: (i) A player loses the point if he or his racquet (in his hand or otherwise) or anything he carries touches the net, posts, cord or metal cable, strap, or band, or the ground within his opponent’s court, when striking at the ball, or at any other time when the ball is in play. (ii) A player loses the point if he volleys the ball before it has passed the net. Thus until the ball passes the net to your side you may not play it. Once it has passed the net however, you may play it as you wish provided you do not break Clause (i). A heavily “cut” ball may bounce back over the net into your opponent’s court; you are at liberty to reach over the net and play that ball provided once again you do not break Clause (i), and the ball has not hit the ground a second time.

Those “Sporting Shots” Far too many players in the Whakatane Club hit balls that are going out. The ability to judge and leave a ball that is going just out is one that comes only with practice, but no player should neglect to carry out this practice. You should obtain not only much satisfaction but also a point where you let a ball pass that drops out. Leaving a ball to win a point is just as good a shot as hitting a winner. Even in practice games leave the balls that are dropping out just to improve this phase of your game. In doubles you often have the opportunity of assisting your partner in this respect. Sometimes it is difficult for him to tell whether he is hitting the ball that is going out and it is then your duty to • call out “Leave it” or “Drop it,” or, if it is a shot that he can get back to say “Watch it,” when he should let it bounce and endeavour to still be in a position to play it if it should happen to be in. When you in your turn are told to leave or watch a ball, do as instructed even if you think your partner may be wrong, and even if he does make an error of judgment do not lose confidence in him.

Above all do not expect an umpire in a match to give you the point if you hit or catch on the full a ball that is out, even if you are standing yards outside the court — the ball must land before it can be given out. Do not underestimate the value of this advice—any good player will tell how valuable it is in winning matches.

Promising Young Player Among the younger players in the club who are making sound progress with his game is B. Print. He is stroking quite freely on either hand and varying his play quite well, while he chooses his time for rushing with very good judgment. His singles match against I. Wylds on Saturday provided many thrills for the many spectators who gathered ot watch the game. Although he was comfortably beaten by his more experienced opponent, the rallies ’were sometimes, very well-contested and sustained. Print should concentrate on improving his service which at present is not on a par with the rest of his play. He is not using his height to its full advantage, and should throw the ball much higher and hit it at as high a point as possible.