TENNIS HINTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 11 October 1926, Page 9

TENNIS HINTS

an instructive lecture Tennis gives pleasure to both young and old, and it offers opportunity for clean, healthy sport. Needless to say. il is increasing in popularity. To those who hope to make a success at it some good advice has been handed out by Mr E. ,T. Murray, of Christchurch. In the course of a lecture last, week, Mr Murray, who is president, of the Avondale Tennis Club, said that a lealure iff’ club tennis was lack of confidence. This should not be. for if the iiicquel were held correctly, easy shots would mil go Hying out of court. In addition to 1,1 le correct ’racquet';-,grip, good footwork was essential. The. only proper position for making a ground shot was parallel with the net. II this were done, a good shot should result. But of what value was a splendidly-exe-cuted shot- without ‘■punch”? The pre-sent-day drive, as used by the masters of the game, carried body-weight. It was the big factor in modern tennis.

Mr Murray next referred to the importance of timing, which was necessary before hodyweight could he thrown into a shot- (reports tiie “Sun’). It had been slated frequently by leading players that a person, when making a shot. should see the ball on the racquet. That was rubbish, and in fast tennis tie challenged anyone to watch the impact of the ball on the racquet and then make a successful shot. It was an impossibility. Imagination was required to hit at something not in the immediate vicinity. Yet it was the only way in which to play the modern game, to hit the ball on the rising bound. ' “I have seldom seen a player hit too soon, hut I have watched thousands hit too lale.” said Mr Murrav.

When a shot was made and the weight of the body was thrown behind that shot, the head of the racquet should finish in the direction in which the bull was intended to go. Tin’s was known as driving with tho head of the racquet, and largely was responsible for the. terrific speed attained by the leading Australian and American players, whm driving from the hack court. ‘‘There is but- one way to treat a highbounding ball from the baseline.” said Mr Murray, “and that is to h-it and follow through on a level with the hall, at the same lime bringing the right font, up from behind. Do this, and the high hounding hall will hold no terrors.” Mr Murray then demonstrated the stance for backhand shots down the line ß and across the court. ‘‘Attack with the volley, never defend,” was his advice, when referring to the volley. The shortened grip was advocated in volleying, thus enabling a stroke to lie played with power and direction.