TENNIS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 27 December 1924, Page 10

TENNIS.

COMING EVENTS

New Zealand Championship^—December 26 to January 1, at Auckland. Marlborough Championships—Deeem_ her 25, 26, 27, at Blenheim. North Otago Championships—December 25, 26 ; 27, at Oamaru. Southland Championships—December 25, 26, 27, at Invercargill Rotorua Championships—December 25 26, 27, at Rotorua. East Harbour Championships’—Dfecem- , h ei \ 26) 27, 29, 30, at Eastbourne. South Wairarapa Championships—• December 26, 27, 29, at Martinborough. Canterbury Open Tournament —Decem- _ 26, 27. 29 j 30, at Christchurch. SaiKoura Championships December 27, 29, 30, at Kaikoura. Wanganui Championships—January 1, 2,3, at Wanganui. South Canterbury Championships— Jan. uary 1,2, 3, at Timaru. Taranaki Championships—January 6 to 9, at New Plymouth. Auckland Handicap Tournament—January -1, 2,3, at. Auckland. Hastings Championships—January TO 12, 13, at Hastings. ’ Wellington Championships January , 13, 14, 15, at Palmerston North. Rotorua Junior Championships— January 15 and 16, at Rotorua. Daimevirke Championships .19, 20, 21, at Dannevirke. v\ airarapa Championships ■ — January , _ 22, 23, 24, at Masterton Waipawa Championships.—January 26 27, 28, at Waipawa. Chief interest will centre round the Dominion Championships, but there are others to attract the lesser lights m districts to the North, South, East and West, and each will attract a coterie of players. The Taranaki meeting will be held from January 6.

h°r three weeks it is unlikely there will be any club matches in. Hawera on account of the number of players away on holiday. Should the weather be good there are likely to be many players practising on, the various courts, and probably there will be many visitors who will enjoy games there during the holidays. ’ The constant rain of late has robbed players of the opportunity of the regular practice necessary for those who are to take part in the various tournaments held during Christmas and New Year.

In view of the fact that. there is usually »’ considerable amount of rain during the season, and in order to ensure play when grass courts would be unusable, it might be A wise move On the part of committees""'to consider the formation of one or two asphalt courts fpr use during bad weather, and also perhaps during the winter. The Suggestion, is made that arrangements bright be reached With the bowling club to have the rise of the old tonriis courts, iiow lriid down iri vegetables, for putting down hard courts, either rinder'the control of the Hawera Club or as a separate body. A iiotable event in the Taranaki tennis world will be the - tournament at New Plymouth. Entries, which close ori, Jariuary 2nd, promise to be very good. They include most of the Wellington players, arid also some from Auckland who are competing at the Dominion championships this Week. The prospects for a successful meeting are decidedly good. A tew players from Hawera have expressed their intention cf going to New Plymouth, and it. is hoped that many others will take part iri the tournament. .

An enterprising firm,. Which specialises in industrial arid edueatibrial films,, has taken a remarkable “sldw-motion” film of J. O. Anderson’s strokes.

THe ordinary moving, picture of the player making a particular stroke is first shown: then follows the “slow riiotiqn” film. First you see’ the grip of tlie racquet for this particular stroke ; theii the player is seen getting ready to meet the ball; then, With the graceful rhythm peculiar to “slowriiotibri” pictures his racquet meets the absurdly slow‘ball; the muscles are speri working, the. fodt-work is plain; the ball reluctantly leaves the racquet and then the rilost interesting part cOhies —the perfect follow through. Golfers lay great stress upon the fol-lo-W-through; but it will be a revolution tpthe toiriris player to notice how beautiful arid how necessary the fol-low-through is in every one of the strokes.

. All .through the screening the player is delivering a lecture ori .the film. Iri plain lettering he (Anderson) lays dowii the chief essentials—eye on the ball until it leaves the racquet ; \feotwork; timing; the right; grip; the playirig for a definite spot; the concentration necessary for even the simplest of-'.shots. Valuable hints are displayed for all to read. In practice a player must play seriously ; he should always go for his shots. Better, two sets' played seriously, than eight played carelessly. There is. more irierit in a 'Well-placed serve thari iri spin, or speed or swerve. The well-placed gives the server a control of the ball, that is riot got iri apy of the fancy serves. ) In none of these shots is the player seen, with both feet off the ground at the moment when tlie hall makes contact With the racquet. There are none photographed; the expert has always pf the sensational leaps that are often one foot ori the ground at tlie riiaking of a shot, arid usually, two. . ‘ ‘Lawn tenriis is not a' school game. It can only be indulged in as a recreation.” That was the effect of a statpriiferit riiade by the Rev. E. C. Crosse, of Christ’s College, the other evening.

Talking of. tennis player Noman Brbqkes, ah Arnerican gives a hint to those who can take a hint Possession of the right form in sport will direct an d thereby add power to the. vitality, of youth, arid, wilt ' protect the waning strength of the veteran. „