HOW TO PLAY TENNIS

Evening Star, Issue 20061, 29 December 1928, Page 6

HOW TO PLAY TENNIS

ESSENTIAL STROKES [By GKoimiKY Olliviek.] (Copyright.) The increasing popularity of lawn tennis is due to one cause alone. The game filled a want in our nature. Given the time to spare, nothing else is necessary but to know a player similarly placed. A “single” in tennis at its best, an opponent just too good, a pair of new balls, and nothing else matters short of a ’rainstorm. An hour or two hours can be spent in keen enjoyment, and at the end of that time, providing one is reasonably lit, sufficient exercise has been gained to invigorate tho system, yet without danger of undue strain or noticeable alter-effect. On the social side of life the game is of equal value. A racket in one’s hand is sufficient introduction in any towm and in any country. Providing one can play a good game, one can travel from ono end of the world to the other and bo welcomed anywhere. There was a time wdien the existence of

a post office, even if it was part of the village store, was proof of civilised conditions, but to-day it is the possession of a tennis court that is the first sign of civilisation. When Christmas or Easter comes round the tennis .player has no need to wonder how he will spend his holiday. He can stay at home and play in the local tournament (there is hound to he one) or he can go almost anywhere in New Zealand and find a tournament. He can play among the cracks in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, or choose the smaller towns where the opposition is, of course, weaker. Whether he goes his entry will he welcomed, and the bettor the player he is the more welcome lie will ho made, if lie has not got a partner an endeavour will be made to find him one. He receives equal treatment with the champion. Beyond expecting him to umpire occasionally nothing else is asked. Honorary officials cater for every need, and should he play well enough he can take a trophy home to remind him of a glorious holiday. THE TWO MAIN STROKES. So much for the game; wc will now deal with the strokes. The foundation of lawn tennis play is the two drives; forehand and backhand. Without these two strokes well under command a player can make little headway. The drive is the only reply to a service, and even witli a player like Borotra, who volleys more than perhaps any other first-ranker, it will be found that his drives, arc more numerous than his volleys. Take all New Zealand’s champions, past or present, their games are built on good driving. To learn the drive properly, the first practice should bo made without hitting the ball. It is not even necessary to have a racket, A ruler, a rolled-up newspaper, anything will do. Grip the object chosen with a fairly tight grip, and, with arm almost straight, but not quite, aim at an imaginary ball about waist-high. Suppose the path of the ball to be across the body, and then swing at it. This swing you must learn. It is all there is in driving. , Learn to swing properly, and your tennis will be as easy as it is graceful. , RHYTHM AND BALANCE. Bring the arm well back, continue the stroke as far as you can, preserving tlie balance, if necessary, by advancing the back foot. Make the stroke freely. Learn to feel the power of it. Practise the movement till it becomes a pleasure, so that you feci the rhythm, the perfect balance, and then you have "that rare asset to your tennis—a perfect swing. There is a reason why you should learn to swing without hitting a ball. Once you form a habit, be it good or bad, it will remain with you. If after you have learned to swing and you go on to a court and try to hit the ball, quite unknown to you certain cells in the brain co-ordinate, and, no matter how you try to make the stroke, you will find you have made the swing that ■you had previously learned. Learning solely on the court, you will hurry the shot. You will forget to swing back far enough or to follow through at the finish; but in your room, with nothing to distract your attention, you lay a good foundation. Bring the arm back slowly—well back. Make the stroke freely, and do not forget to follow through in the line of the ball’s flight. Do not stand flat-footed. Swing on your toes. When you practise, dance to vonr position. Ose little steps. The better you dance the better you play tennis. The effectiveness of a drive is in its grace. Tho co-ordination of the whole body should be in the stroke. Your feet "should preserve the balance, tho weight of the body transferred into the blow, the shoulder, arm. and wrist locked at the moment of impact. If the whole movement is right, you will know it—you will feel it is right. Not until you have mastered tho swing should you turn your attention to the playing. And even after you are a good player ten minutes or more each day in swinging your racket will be time well spent. (NEXT ARTICLE: 'THE RIGHT GRIPS')