LAWN TENNIS HINTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 74, 20 December 1919, Page 11

LAWN TENNIS HINTS

HOW TO START. No follower of games will be surprised to learn that the wonderful play in the recent \ r ietorv Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon has boon the means of inducing a large number of peoplehitherto prejudiced against the game—to fry thoir 'hand at lawn tennis. Every season during recent .years an increasing number have become actively inter'ested, but this summer all records in this direction have oeen beaten. I am constantly receiving letters from peoplo unite unknown to me asking questions about the game and how to set about the task of learning it (writes Mr. M. J. G. Ritchie, the famous English player). 1 venture therefore to give a few plain 'hints to beginners.. When starting lawn ten Is, tho first requirement is naturally a racket. For this very important accessory go to any of the wellknown makers or their agents and ob-tain-one of the best, asking for a selection to choose from. The best rackets are most., economical in the long run, besides being helpful to yoiir game. For a man the weight should be Ho/., to l-1.'.0?,.; for wcpien and children, 13ioz. lo'lin/.. T would suggest an evenly balanced racket that is iteitlier heavy nor light in rlie headf tightly strung, with a handle that suits the grvp. The latter is important. Ail uncomfortable grip will always be a handicap- Tho handle should err if anything on tho small side, for if too large it is conducive to tennis elbow, a very nnpleasant and painful complaint. Buy half a dozen of the best balls, m order that they may be correct 'in weight and bsund. t have found "hard court" balls preferable for nlny on grass as well as 011 hard and covered courts. They wear better and are not so "feathery" to hit as the ordinary kind. Shoes, an important item,' can either be of buckskin or canvas. I find tho latter, with 11 golosh • sole (commonly called sand fJhoes), aro cool to wear and cosy to get about the court in. If the soles of tlirse shoes are of corrugated rubber so much the better, as it gives one a. <rrii> on the ground. A pair of "steel po-'jits" for grass in wet weather is also 11 good investment. You will also need a sweater to put 011 after playing. Personally,. T taujlit myself the game bv practice, which is. after all, the essential thing—when onco the foundations of the ?ume have been properly laid. The first strokes to practise are tho forehand and backhand drives and the (service. For all these a correct grip of the racket is essential. In the forehand tile bulk of the hand should be behind !]ie handle, to give force to the stroke, while in the back-hnrnl the grip mu<t lie nnirkly chanwl, the thumb being cxte'v'fvl up the back of the handle. Tt liuiv sound difficult to change 1 the grin quickly, but with practice it be-" colors easv. and T think is a sounder method than using the same grip for IIOHI forehand and .Jwck-lmnd. When making a stroke follow through with the racket, nnd <lnn't poke at the Ml. Following through is conducive to much greater freedom in hitting and more power of stroke. to mako tho strokes with a good swing, but do not overdo it. as this means a loss of energy. Tn all strokes the posiI tion of tlio feet is~6r*~vPtiil importance.