SPIKED SHOES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 150, 31 December 1928, Page 14

SPIKED SHOES

PERMITTED IN WET WEATHER (Special to "The Evening Post") AUCKLAND, Tins Day. With the courts gieasy and tieacherous tor the opening ot the New Zealand Lawn Tennis championships, the old contioversy has ciopped up: "Should plajcrs be allowed to wear spiked shoes'" Mr. D. Jliuiay Kean, secietiry of the New Zea land Association, said there is a clause m the New Zealand rule book, which says plajers in wet weather may wear spikes, if pcimission is obtained fiom the Tournament Committee. Players at Stanley street were allowed to use spiked tunning shoes, but only Malfioy took the oppoitumty. At the piesent time, most of the playeia aie using nets over their shoes, but these rip the surface of the courts very badly, and even with this piovision skids are fiequent Some otthe competitor pulled big woollen socks o-i er their shoes, but when these got damp they were by no means non skid. Mr. Kean said he would f,u sooner see players usinc spikes than nets He maintains that spikes do less damage to the courts than -.umbeisome nets, which aie made of stung, and often badly knotted. He says that spikes slightly over a. quarter of an inch in length would be excellent. .There is no reason at all why playeis should not use spikes when the courts are in their present condition, but I would certainly not allow spikes m fine weathci " said Mr. Kean...