Cool Cochet

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 779, 27 September 1929, Page 12

Cool Cochet

FAMOUS FRENCH TENNIS STAR PROVIDES INTERESTING STUDY IN COURTCRAFT 1 • ' HALF-VOLLEY AS ATTACK From an actual playing point of view, writes D. M. Greig, Henri Cochet is demonstrating more this year than ever the value of taking the ball as soon as possible after it has hit the ground. More than ever has he used the half volley as an attacking stroke. By taking the ball very early, he returns it over the net a fraction quicker than the man who takes the ball later. Even if he docs not hit the ball hard, his opponent lias less time to get the ball than he has against other opponents. It makes a great difference. Always Cochet’s opponents seem to have to run much farther than he docs, while he is nearly always in

position, coolly waiting for the chance to register a “kill.’* AN OBJECT-LESSON Remember this point, and try to take the ball as it is rising from the ground. Don't wait until it is falling, as in so doing you give your opponent more time to get in position. You want to hustle him. Again, it was an object lesson to watch Cochet, at Wimbledon, making his openings. He would gradually work his opponent out of court before delivering the coup-de-grace. He does not try to make outright winners unless he has the opening very definitely there. Of course, when his opponent forces him out of position, then you will see Cochet going all out for the risky shot: but in the ordinary course of events. Cochet takes care to reduce his errors in a serious match to a minimum. Some people watching Cochet might

say that the essence of his game is taking extraordinary risks, which come off. This is not so. It is true he will play half volleys and volleys, which to the ordinary player would be very risky shots. To him they come as naturally as the ordinary fore or back hand stroke of most players. CONCENTRATE ON EASY STROKE Lacoste, in this way, is the same as Cochet. You do not see Lacoste missing the easy stroke in an endeavour to do too much with it. He returns the ball With deadly accuracy, and is content to await his opening before he goes for the winning stroke. The main difference between the two, I think, is that Cochet goes far more often to the net directly he has got his opening to kill the ball outright; while Lacoste prefers to make his winning strokes off the ground. The point, 1 think, we can gather from them is to concentrate just as much on the easy stroke as on the more difficult one, so that unnecessary errors need not be made; and, also, when you have your opening, go all but for it. FLOUTING ST. ANDREW’S The fact that Coombe Hill and Sandwell Park, Birmingham, have passed a rule that steel-shafted clubs may be used in their respective competitions, is a direct flouting of the authority of St. Andrew’s, and is to be great regretted (says an English golf writer). St. Andrews has placed a ban on steel shafts, and while it is in existence no British club should act in defiance of the law, otherwise chaos and confusion is likely to arise. lamin a position to state that there is no prospect of the Royal and Ancient Club lifting the ban at its forthcoming meeting. Whether steel shafts are an advantage is purely a matter of personal taste. The fact that Mr. Bobby Jones used hickory shafts during his last triumph in America, rather suggests that he can obtain better results with wood than steel. Hagen always uses woodenshafted clubs, and he appears to be at no disadvantage when competing in the British championship. SUCCESSFUL HOCKEY TOURNEY

TN a report made to the New f Zealand Ladies’ Hockey Association after the Gisborne tournament. Miss H. A. Kitto, who represented the association, and who is also one of the selectors of the South African team, said that the tournament had been an unqualified success. The total amount received at the gates was about £626. the expenses amounting to only £216, thus leaving a balance of £4lO. Of this latter amount. 25 per cent, goes to the Gisborne Association. 10 per cent, to the New Zealand Association, and the balance is divided among the competing associations. The only matter in which there was any dissatisfaction was on the appointment of referees, many of the competing teams being dissatisfied with women referees. The management took a firm stand in regard to the matter and, after the first day no further complaints were received.