Tennis For Beginners

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21416, 7 March 1935, Page 5 (Supplement)

Tennis For Beginners

(By Crosscourtj

In the preceding articles we have discussed the strokes on which the game of tennis is built up—the service, the drives, the volley, and the smash. There are many other strokes, but they are all closely related to those so far described and are really only variations of them. Two of these, however, deserve special attention because of the important part they plav in the game. They are the lob and the half-volley.

The lob is not used as frequently by most players as it should be. Some players are inclined to look upon it as purely a defensive stroke, but it can be used very effectively in attack in both singles and doubles. The same rules of footwork as those laid down for the drives apply to the playing of a lob. The lob is, in effect, a drive played slowly and with the face of

the racket tilted at an angle into the air. One of the chief causes of failure in lobbing is watching the ball. Because the stroke is played very slowly i , re ls a great temptation to look away and see what one's 1S doing " A g° od through is as necessary in lobbing as it is in driving. Now, as to the use of the lob. In singles its chief value is as a» trouble-saver. A ball tossed deep bacla into the court in reply to a nard shot by one's opponent will allow one plenty of time in which to recover position. It should be used, too, when the opponent follows into the net after a good drive tor in such circumstances it would probably be very difficult to get a ball _ past him down the sideline. Again it can be used to win points in conjunction with the drop-shot —a ball chopped short just over the net—or a short, angled drive. Either of these shots will bring me's ODDonent u» to the net, it 1

LOBS AND HALF-VOLLEYS

is obvious that he is going to I* in difficulties if the ball is Mat back over his head into the ißp area of vacant court behind ilB. Iti doubles, the general tactics fef which will be discussed later, ft* lob is usi d to drive opponents«W from t!ic net —the conUMOflSf position in the cairt for doAfci play. Now for [he half-volley.' stroke i. piaved to a ball . Wt bounces almost level with tta Sj*4" or up to a y aril or so in front X* bail is f-iruck with the new*fraction of a second after it W lelt the ground—just like a «#"' kick in Kuahy football. K shot that should seldom be *» deliberately. because it Is vtf? licult to contrel. It generally to be u.-ed wta-:i one si CZ'&l&l**of position half-way up ti»® when one able neither to W the ball imi' tw drive it

The stroke is made in » ®»rjj very similar to the _ described last week. «S| ner should not swing «**. the ball should be blrcfcef *9s Lacer he or she rna>' le j <"W» it back with that spin" tha. makes the fl, into the court after . ,nf™ net. The- chief things to are that the racket sh< V a lb *ii' parallel to the g rou ?_. jgfft <g body should be that the eye is close lha « tar flight of the bal!. right-hander the le.flj ,;jKg| advanced for the f mJh vol lev. and that for the right foot should £ As with all Other stroke is transferred smoo hirt foot as the ball . haJJ must be allied on t meets the strings of rfjjl accompanying P CffS Edna Rudkin. last y« g ym bury champion, show iM" hand half-volley shoulc « '