TENNIS ETIQUETTE AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3609, 5 March 1927, Page 4

TENNIS ETIQUETTE AND NOTES.

(By Net). Ax with other games tennis lias certain unwritten laws which is is well for every young player to learn, in fact there are many players with years of play who have failed to grasp the simplest of these unwritten laws. RETURNING BALLS. The first thing a young player should learn, is to return the balls to the server correctly; that is that each ball should bp returned separately to where the server is standing; so that he does not have to run after them. The correct way is to bowl the ball along the ground, either by hand or by a stroke from the raquet, with sufficient foreje to reach him easily, ibut not as such a rate as will make it difficult for him to stop it. To' slash the! balls back anywhere over the court, or to the back fence is an unpardonable breach of tennis etiquette.

If one of your balls should roll on to an adjoining 'court do not make any attempt to get it whilst the players on that court arc actively playing; hut wait until a point has been scored, and then ask permission to secure your ball, and when you have secured it, tlrank the players on that court for their courtesy, and return to your own court as quickly as possible, so as not to delay their game. On the other hand if a ball comes on to your court, from an adjoining 'Court, do not return it to that court if the players there, have their other ball in play, for if you do, you will probably distract their attention and cause annoyance. If you have not time to wait to return it to a player, roll it gently along the ground to the hack of their court. GROSSING A COURT. .

Do not walk about or cross behind players while they jiave a hall in play,, for moving objects behind a court are determined to the players at the other end of the court. If a ball comes in line with a mov-

ing object, the sight of the time

flight of the hall is interfered with and will probably 'clause the player to misjudge the ball. It is also annoying to the nearer player to know that people are moving about near him and he cannot be certain but what his run back will be interfered with. Always wait until the ball is out of play'and then cross quickly, before the server has time to serve. BALDS. Every player should provide a good pair of balls and should offer the use of same to> the set in which he is going to play. Old or dirty balls, show a very poor appreciation of the game or the players with whom you expect to play. Good, but dirty balls can always be cleaned by rubbing them on a door- • mat. MAKING UP SETS. If there are no 'Courts vacant and other players are sitting out, it is

very bad taste for you to call on some of these players to make up a set without first ascertaining whose turn it is to play. Unfortunately, some players expect to go straight on to a court, whilst perhaps there are some who have been waiting a considerable time. This leads to dissatisfaction.

Junior and indifferent players will be wise not to invite too advanced players to make up a set. Always let the invitations come from the better player. Good players always look for a hard game but they cannot get this with players who are in a lower grade than themselves. If they played hard, the indifferent player would look foolish and' his enjoyment would be spoilt, and 1 if lie does not play hard there is no fun in it for him and very often lie is put off his game for some time afterwards.

Some players consider that good players should play with them, in ord'er that they might improve; this is very selfish and is detrimental to the interests of your club. Let all your good players get all the good play they can so that they can improve themselves, whilst you, whilst pegging away at your ladder games can reach the position your play entitles you to and your games will be much more enjoyable and interesting. When you have the opportunity watch the games between good players. You can learn more in this way than playing with them. RETRIEVING BALLS. Wfhen playing in a combined double the gentleman should, whenever possible, retrieve the balls. In doubles each partner should retrieve the halls on his side of the court, ca'cih doing his or her share. The player who expects his partner to do all the retrieving is courting Unpopularity and will soon find that players arc not anxious to play with him. Do not blame your partner tor making a mistake, or even for losing a game, for probably your partner’s mistake was caused by your bad placing or misjudgement, POACHING. Poaching is never excusable. When you poach you get out of position and also force your partner out of position. It is purely selfishness on your part, for you want to monopolise the play yourself and it shows you have no 'eionfldence in your partner. It lias a demoralising effect and unless your opponents are very weak, they are hound to win. When your game is finished thank your opponent, and if yon have had an dmpire, don’t forget him. There are more dogs than children in the Isle of Wight.