HINTS TO BEGINNERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 263, 6 November 1929, Page 18

HINTS TO BEGINNERS.

For the first few weeks in the season this column will conclude with a few words of advice addressed to beginners, concerning some particular.aspect of the game. This week the topic is "Singles Tactics." ' It cannot be too strongly or too often stated that the doublesand singles games are 'entirely different; and in each of them different strokes,'. different positions, and different tactics are found to be successful. In singles it is the good length ball that is the key to ■ success. The strokes should aim at travelling the full length of the court, landing on or just inside the base.line. Learn then to drive the ball the full length of the court, for the good length drive is the hall mark of a good singles player. The service may be either straight or angled, but-should in either case be deep; a short service will soon be severely dealt with by your opponent. The next most important point to remember is to keep in the correct position on the court. In order to play your strokes to the . best advantage, it is essential that you should be 'in the correct place to start with. The standard position in singles, when awaiting the ball in play, is about six feet behind the centre base line; indeed there is only one other permiSsable standard position, and that is at. the net, about six feet back from the centre, when it is desired to play a volleying game. As soon as your stroke has been played, you should at once try to get back to one or other of these two positions, and the usual one will be the base-line position. Do not stand upon or inside the base line, but about six-feet bahind; for if you stand in the court a good length ball will land right at your feet, where it is almost impossible to return it. Drive hard the full length of the court, and do not bo afraid to hit for the side-lines, for it is only by courageous- tactics that matches jean be consistently won.

Slimming up: Length is tho key to singles play, and equally important is your position on the court. Watch all tho time- to see that you are in the right place, for more games are lost through bad position than from any other cause.