TENNIS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 270, 29 October 1932, Page 2

TENNIS

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME HINTS BY FORMER OUP PLAYER. NEED FOR GOOD GRIP OF RACQUET. In the following article the former Davis Cup player, J. 0. Anderson, gives a few valuable hints on learning how to play tennis, There are many different types of service deliveries, he says, and all are correct, but the service generally adopted is that which is more or less natural to the individual.

This stroke is one of the most important in teunis, being a means of opening up the game and getting the ball in play, he says. The majority of tennis players do not realise the necessity and importance of developing a service whereby they save themselves from utilising a lot of unnecessary energy. The plain, me-dium-paced, slightly sliced service is the easiest to control, and can be just as effective as any, if well placed. Gripping Racquet. The racquet h Held at the full length at the extreme end of handle as if shaking hands with a friend with the right hand. Grip the racquet below the shoulders with the left hand to act as a guide for the direction of the serving. WaP up to within half an inch of the baseline placing the left foot facing the intended direction of the delivery When this is done, to obtain perfect balance and stance, throw the weight of your body on to the left foot, raising the right foot off the ground while doing so. All tn Same Direction. The right foot automatically comes down on the ground, giving the desired stance and balance. The player will then notice that the racquet, the eye, and. the left foot are facing the same point of direction. Extend the racquet in front of the body to the full extent of the left arm, at the same time bending the left knee with the weight of the body thrown on it. At this juncture the weight of the body is transferred to the right foot and during the moment of impact with the racquet and ball, the weight of the body is automatically thrown on tp the left foot, and pace and direction gives the desired delivery. These instructions apply, of course, to the right-handed player. Opposite procedure should be followed for the left-handed exponent. Service Hints. Do not use excessive pace for the first delivery. It is essential to set the ball in service court placed to opponent’s weakness. Providing the first service is a fault, care must be taken with the second. Direct it from a different position near the baseline. Avoid serving the first and second delivery too quickly, M . this will tend to double-faulting. One foot must be on the ground as the ball leaves the racquet. conserve Energy. It does not pay to use freak services. Concentrate on the one that takes little energy out of your body. Always try to deceive your opponent by careful placements. It is far better to overhit the line than continually hitting the net. See that the ball is always thrown immediately above the head in front of the body before attempting to deliver. Foot-faulting can easily be remedied by taking more time and care, and the plain type of service will assist materially. Never cramp your reach by hitting with bent elbow.