MODERN LAWN TENNIS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14242, 3 January 1912, Page 3

MODERN LAWN TENNIS.

By Aitthoky J , . Wildins.. ("Weekly Press and Referee.',')

11. ~ " ...J. tt ,.r. J So much has been' said and written about English style, grips/ pernicious, and otherwise, that I "hardly like to tackle the subject.

With regard to grips, there is undoubtedly a right and a wrong way to do everything. But a. player has to execute strokes .in so many,.. different ways that one stereotyped grip oP tho racquet cannot be too strongly condemned. Watch Norman Brookes closely for a few games, and you will see that ho uses an infinite variety of grips. Again, Smith, Gore, and Brookes all have, spendid fore-hand drives; but their strokes and grips all differ, some slightly, some greatly. Tennis is A a game , in which each player must necessarily have individual strokes. '

In tliis respect the colonial players appear to mo better equipped;' it may be that tho standard colonial grip; is better. But the back-hand stroke generally in vogue throughout Australia and Maoriland is not only weak, but is taken quite the wrong way: Among the rank and file of English players— the v University and county teams, for example—you do not find strong forehand and lamentably weak hack-hand play combined. On the contrary,. the hack-hand is often quite as effective as the fore-hand stroke. The English players take their, back-hand strokes with the opposite side of the racquet to that which they use in : executing ji fore-hand stroke. ■ This is contrary to the common practice in Australasia. Another distinction is that the English players, in taking a, back-hand stroke, endeavour to keep the head of the racquet as high above the wrist as possible ; while the Australians generally allow the head of the racquet to remain low, swinging \af, right-angles. A MODEL STROKE. '

H. A. Parker takes hie hack-hand shots in English orthodox fashion; and J.th's particular stroke of his appears to mc to be a very excellent model. Hβ can place it "equally well across the court or down the line and can conceal the direction until the last moment, making it very difficult to anticipate. In volleying keep the head of the racquet as high and elbow as low as you conveniently can. For short, ■sharp volleying it is an excellent practice slightly to cut the stroke, thus giving the ball a tendency to "keep low and "go away" a little, which, makes it very difficult to get up. Brookes is an adept in deadly stroke. A form of practice I have always gone in for and very strongly advocate is occasionally to confine your attention to practising strokes. Possibly you find great difficulty in making a back-hand 6hot down your opponent's side. line. Instead of always playing the usual three and four sets, spend three-quarters of fin hour practising this one shot and your other weakest points individually. This form of practice is the. only sure way to improve your game.' Once Set the right principles, and improvements must follow, however good or bad your form is. Take each shot individually and work it without having to worry about the score. Get the right principle as to the correct method of taking the stroke; then,- the moro practice, the more perfect must the stroke become. It is only enthusiasts who will take this troublo to make a study of a pleasure. But the study is really often more interesting and absorbing* than tho game itself. The easo and accuracy with which an expert player returns the ball is only attained by continued practice. Above HI things, and I cannot empiiasiee this too strongly, the young player should S«ard himself from wild, indiscriminate hard hitting. Let him work up from a comparative slow return to a return gradually increasing in pace. A brilliant return is no doubt a pretty sight to see, and will elicit rounds of applause from tho s p«c tators ; but in tho long fun it is sureness ot return

into your opponent's court that wins roost matches. It is lamentable to see how often a ball that is easy to take is nevertheless driven wildly "into the net or, it may be, into the nest parish.' Let your opponent make the mistakes. We all make mistakes; but it is the man who makes the fewest who comes out on top in lawn tennis— as in life. PRACTICE AND PROFICIENCY. Another excellent form of practice, though not so good as that I have just alluded to, is to play against a wall. The famous Ilenshaw, a chauipion of former. days, is said to have acquired his proficiency in this way. There are, however, some drawbacks to practising against a wall; for instance, length is of vital importance- for all strokes, and practice against a wall does not teach you length; and, again, it is not possible to get acquainted with the angles of the court this way. Certainly you have a line on the wall denoting the.height of the net, ->ut it is impossible to gauge-accurately the length you are dropping the ball. ■Notwithstanding these drawbacks, tin's form of practice is excellent for acquiring correct address and style, and jt also serves to quicken tho eye, and is very good exercise. ■ In England I consider too much attention is paid to- style. In many cases all individuality is sunk in slavish imitation of what is" thought to be the correct style. On the other' hand, in Australia not enough attention is paid to style. Whilst style is not everything, still, if the modes of tho best players may bo deemed to be the correct style, then young players may rest assured that tho correct style is the

most effective, and they would do well to study them accordingly. My friend, Dr. Poidovin, lias pointed out that players in Australia, have a-, very-.weak service. I am disposed to agree with him. Another weakness I would point out is the back-hand stroke.

I do not think many people, have any idea of the great and increasing popularity of lawn tennis among the continental nations. I should say as much tennis is played in Germany as in •England. The standard of play on the Continent is undoubtedly improving in a marked degree every year: I think a British representative team would have to extend itself to its very utmost to hold its own against France and Germany and some of the other continental teams. It is not only in Dreadnoughts that we have to fear Germany! I have spent very many happy months playing tennis in

Germany, and have found ' the Germans good sportsmen, and very hospitable; and in.no way the ferocious, war-loving ruffians whose one object is to build ships to squash England. International sport is doing, and will do, a great deal towards bringing all races together into mere friendly relations with one another. TENNIS ON THE CONTINENT.

At present I am glad to say lawn tennis is the most universally international game played. On the Continent there is practically no cricket; this leaves a blank for the summer

•which is yell filled by lawn tennis. On the Continent all, bo they schoolboys, students, or in business, work much longer hours than their more fortunate brethren in England Mil] tho colonies. Lawn tennis is tho ideal game for a busy man. Again, all over the Continent, Sunday is the day of days for tennis. Every club is open, and the finals of any tournament iii progress are always decided on that day. It is only quite recently that members at Queen's Club and at "Wimbledon have been allowed to take advantage of Sunday play.

. On© more point about tennis on tho Continent. The game is played and encouraged by tho most influential people. To give only two examples: tho German Crown Prince, is a very keen and a really, good player, and the of Sweden-gives tennis the place of honour ; as his favourite game. Ho has built at Stockholm two of the finest covered courts in the -world. AIJ the appointments are splendid; and such perfect electric lighting has been installed that the light for play is, equally : good by day or night. The continental tournaments are the most enjoyable in the world. People do not wear that serious, I might say funereal, expression often, prevalent at English tournaments. Everyone is out to enjoy themselves, and even if you do get handsomely beaten it is soon all forgotten.

Perhaps Nice, where the championship of the South of France is played, used to be the best and most enjoyable of all continental tournaments. Here tho Dohertys, Ritchie, divers Americans, and nearly everyone else of note in the tennis world appear. Tho play is generally good; but, whilst earnest, it has not (that seriousness which often mitigates a player's pleasure. The round of the Riviera tournaments, to whatever class in the lawn tennis world you belong, is worth doing; and anyone, having the opportunity should make a point of • playing, at Monte Carlo, Nice and Cannes. The Russians are becoming great tennis _ enthusiasts; ' and I have played against many of them on the Riviera and at other tournaments. In fact, on the Riviera you play against Spaniards, Italians, Frenchmen, Russians, Germans, etc., indiscriminately; and all are really good sportsmen.

The Primrose at Bordeaux is one of the most delightful clubs I ever played at. They have a beautiful club house, possessing splendid club and a Ijallroom where everyone dances when it.gets too dark for tennis. Another very picturesque club ground is that of the Budapesth L.T.C. Here the courts are situated on an. island hi the middle of the Danube, the town Buda on one side and Pesth on the other. The courts are excellent. 'At the continental tournaments tho banquet and dance to visiting players rank in importance a shade in front of tho final of the open singles. The courtesy and hospitality extended to all visitors by the members and ooininittebs of these continental gatherings has to be experienced to be appreciated. THE WIMBLEDON MEETING. The championship at Wimbledon is yearly gaining in importance. All tho seats are booked months before the tournament commences; and as the climax is reached with matches such as Brookes v. • Doherty, with an international flavour about them, thousands have to be refused admission. The Wimbledon meeting is admirably managed by Mr G. W. Hillyard, the old Leicestershire cricketer; and the accommodation is both good and extensive. At Wimbledon no player can be made to play more than one match in a day, thus taking away any excuse he may have of undue fatigue. This rule is a very sensible and fair one. Tho centre court at Wimbledon is probably the finest in the world. It is entirely shut in by very high green, stands. Australasians have very many great advantages over their British brethren of the racquet. Better courts, "and play under good conditions all the year round, are advantages not easily overestimated; and Australasia ought to bo able to produce better playera than men who have tho opportunity of playing only some five months in the yeaa-j and then often under shocking conditions. Lawn tennis played by experts must i always appeal to the public as a spec- ! tacular pastime equal to any other \ game. All the elements calculated to \ appeal to people with sporting instincts ! are thercy-skill,* physical efficiency, selfcontrol in all its spheres, a climax! and a definite finish. And, lastly, but not the least, both sides are "straining every nerve to win.