Tennis Notes

Northern Advocate, 9 December 1936, Page 2

Tennis Notes

Bad weather last Saturday again interfered with the Inter-club Competitions organised by the North Auckland Lawn Tennis Association. All matches set down were postponed with the exception of the Springfield C v. Manders Park, and Hikurangi C v. Mairtown Cl games. In the first of these the players braved the elements in an effort to complete the match which had already been postponed from the previous week. No very good tennis resulted in the wet conditions but the players enjoyed the afternoon, which,' after all is the main consideration. Manders Park won the match with II sets to 3.

At Hikurangi the Mairtown Cl team were .not good enough for the Hikurangi combination, the latter team winning with 10 sets to 4. Here the rain did not bother the players, all of whom thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon. Some players particularly mentioned the value of the competitions in providing means for such an enjoyable trip, and the association has thus undoubtedly achieved one of its main objects in launching the scheme. Several adjustments in the competition have been necessitated by the withdrawal of Kamo from th B Grade and Mangapai from ' the C Grade. Their places have been filled by the regrading of the Bargain Store team to the B Grade, their original place being taken by a second Bargain Storeteam which will replay the match against Maungatapere C already Played by the first team. The place of the Mangapai C team is- being taken by a second team from Mahders Park. It is good to see the clubs co-oper-ating in the way of entering lurther teams when desired, and is an indication of the tremendously increased interest being taken in the game since the introduction of the competition play. NOTES ON THE LOB. THE HALFVOLLEY AND THE DROP-SHOT. Besides the forehand and backhand drive there are three other shots made off the ground which you will have to learn to play if you want to obtain a complete equipment. The first of these—the leb—has as its intentions the gaining of time iu

defence. A lob consists in hitting the ball high, in the aim so as to pass over your opponents head if he is up at the net in a position to volley, and drop at the back of his court. The obiect is to make your opponent' drop back from the net and enable you to get there yourself, or in some cases to give you a moments rest when you are being run all over the court. THE USE OF THE LOB.

There are two ways of playing the shot. Firstly very ■ -high—commonly known as the high toss —which is really the defensive stroke. Secondly comparatively low. just out of reach of your opponent, who will have great difficulty in getting back to return the bail. . You will also have difficulty, however, in judging l the height and speed of the ball so that it will be out of reach of your opponent but will fall into the court. The second shot is more of an attacking stroke a very valuable weapon of atat which to aim either stroke is your opponents’ back-hand corner.

The use of the lob is overlooked, sometimes with* a certain amount of scorn, by many players today. A clever player can. however, make the stroke a very valuable wapon of attack. For one thing it is an easier stroke to play than a drive intended to pas? the man at the net. especially when you yourself are at the middle of your base line. The lob is also a stroke which will drive any opponent, however good, away from the net. Take the example of a player, who rushes in after a service in order to volley. It is very often possible to throw such a player off his game by good lobbing. If he lets your return drop you have a chance to get to the net. If he endeavours to smash the shot then it is quite posible he will put the ball out more often than in, because few players can smash well from the back of the court. Sooner or later he will tire of continually watching the fall nl the ball and putting a lot of energy into his strokes, and when his eyes have become accustomed to the sky and not the ground you have an excellent opportunity for a fact drive.