TENNIS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 26 September 1927, Page 3

TENNIS

STUDY OF COURTCRAFT. BETTER POSITIONAL PLAY. It is most essential that positional play should be mastered by aspiring champions as early as possible so that in time it becomes natural and not an effort, writes Charles Read, the English professional. With tennis as with all other games it is necessary continually to concentrate, and court tactics need jpst as much concentratoin as the actual making of strokes since the one will not bo perfect without the other. MOVE TO THE CENTRE. In making strokes from tne angles of the court one should always endeavour to take up a position in the centre as soon as possible, for by doing so the maximum space of tho court is covered and your rival ’a chances of returning a winner lessen ed. There are often times, of course when one has to dash to the side o» the court, being forced there by a good shot, In this case I advocate that the defending party should al ways go out for an attacking return even thought the odds are that the point will bo tost. This may sound curious, but it must be understood that there is always just a chance of passing your opponent with a fat return, whereas by making a weak shot you will only put up a nail for your opponent to kill with a smash. This applies more in rases of singles games. The player in singles should always make a point of following up a good ball either after a service shot into the corner or a straight fore or back-hand drive down the centre of the cuort. But never, under any circumstances, should he approach towards the net after making a soft short return. PLACING SHOTS. 1 wonder how many players of average abaility know the best spots to place their shots? Week after week one sees players putting the ball back to the same place though their oppon cuts show no marked difficulty in deal mg with the ball Move about the court with disnecion. Keep on the move and when an opportunity is presented put a ball down the centre at your opponent’s feet. Nine times tffit of JO it will prove an outright winner. In any case it will keep him well on the defence, and should he make a return it is almost certain to be an easy one io “kill” Should the receiver succeed In getting back a hard drive at any angle it will be in the nature of a lob, and in doing this it is most necessary to pay attention to placing. Drop the ball in such a spot that you force your opponent to run -for it. 'This is difficult when one is on the defence, and has little time to think of length, Always remember that when a player is standing in the centre ef the court it will have to be a very fine diagonal shot to pass him. FALLING BACK. When once a player has gone up to the net ho should do his utmost to keep that position. 'Che only time a player should fall back is when he is lobbed by a good ball. Even then he should make every effort to rise and smash. it is must more effective to make a winning stioke at the net than to lose time and position by tunning back. Watch your opponent. His every action ehould tell you what he will do next and by this you will be able to anticipate a lob and commence falling back almost before the lob is maue, thus taking it before bouncing. In driving a good length ball should always be the object of the piuyer. A “loose” ball should be treated the same in tennis as in cricket. Court tactics in singles games are naturally different from doubles games and it is not unsual to find a good singles player hopelessly at sea with a partner.

Tennis is becoming one of the most, popular of outdoor games, but unfortunately the lack of courts are always a drawback. The Hastings West Committee who are raising funds to lay down courts at Ebbett’s Park are making a move in the right direction. Private courts are springing up like mushrooms, and I have seen some very fine ones in and around Hastings, which goes to show the popularity of tne game. While lam on this subject I would like to point out the folly of laying down an todVsuzeti court, of course there are occasions when one has to cut his suit accoro Ing to his cloth, that is to say for the want of space, but where one has the ground to spare it is a wise policy to lay down a full sized court with plenty of length for run back. The court should at least be one hundred feet in length and forty-six in width and possibly more if the space can be spared.