LAWN TENNIS AND HOW TO PLAY IT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3775, 20 July 1926, Page 77

LAWN TENNIS AND HOW TO PLAY IT.

By

Suzanne Lenglen.

(Copybight.—Fob the Witness.) VI. The Service in Lawn Tennis.—What can be done and how to do it.—What can’t be done—and why not to do it. There is only one service nowadays, even for girls. The underhand service is practically dead, although it is used in one or two cases, even in first-class tennis. The service is far more than a mere stroke with which to start a rally. It is a real weapon of attack which may govern the entire game. Not many players, it is true, even in the first class can hope to win many points straight off with their service, although Mr Patterson and Mr Tilden, both ex-champions, and last season the American, “ Cannon Ball ” Casey, have shown us what can be done with it in this way. Casey’s fastest service, as even my own countrymen found, champions though they were, was practically untakable. That, however, is a height to which the ordinary player cannot very well hope to rise.

All the same, you must remember that the service is an attack and not a defence. But here, perhaps, a word of warning. You have two chances in the service. If the first ball does jiot go over the net there is a second; consequently, chances can be taken with the first, all the speed possible being put into it, with the second served more slowly and surely. One of the greatest errors which beginners make, however, is this. They blaze away at the first service, hoping it will get over somehow at express speed, and they keep on doing so even though 19 out of 20 of their first services go into the net. Then they have to be extra careful with their second, with the result that they send over a slow ball, which, if their opponent is wide awake, can be dealt with very severely. Thus what is an advantage can easily be turned into a disadvantage. It is very annoying, too, in doubles if you have a partner whose first service goes continuously into the net. It is no good your being up if the second service is just going to be lobbed over, somewhere into the middle of the service court. If it bounces high your opponent can drive straight at you, and you have very little chance. Two moderately fast services, one of which is practically certain to go over, are far better than one lightning service into the net and one weak-kneed affair which wouldn’t beat a baby. You could practise the service, as you can practise the other strokes, against a wall if you have a backyard of any size. It is surprising what this wall practice will do, always provided there is enough room in front of the wall for half a tennis court. And now how to get the best results. I have insisted so often in this series of articles that practically, every lawn tennis stroke is played sideways rather than square to the net, that it will come as no surprise to you when I say that the service follows the same rule. Stand sideways, with your left toe pointing down the court, no more than 3in or 4in behind the service line. >lany players, particularly girls, stand, for some reason, a yard or even more behind the service line. Surely they realise that they lose power and speed, and that the ball sent from this extra distance goes slower to their opponent. They find that they make fewer faults in this way; but .that is a lame sort of reason anyway. It is only a matter of practice. You are standing, then, with your left side facing the net, left toe pointing down the court* right foot drawn back some distance. In your left hand you have two or three balls, according to your choice. As you throw up the first ball the whole body is swayed back, and the racket falls behind your back. The height to which the ball is thrown differs with different players. I throw it about 6ft above my head, which, I think, is high enough. It must be thrown high enough to meet the middle of the racket as it comes forward when the arm is at full stretch. As your racket comes forward the right shoulder swings in, and the whole weight of the body from the toes, right up through shoulder, arm, wrist, and hand, works like a machine to expend all its force on the ball as it meets the centre of the strings—the only correct place to strike it, of course. The force of the body coming forward carries you into your stride for the next stroke, and, if the service .is good, follow it to the net. It should Btrike the ground within a foot of your opponent’s service line, or else it is too short. Of course, occasionally on a soft wet ground, when you have been serving at full speed, it is just as well to drop in a short slow one if your opponent is getting too far back. But that is only by the way. Just one or two tips. The ball should go rather over ytrir head than over the right shoulder. It is very useful to practise throwing the ball up, even without a racket, in order to make sure that you can get it in the right place. I once saw a world champion whose service had gone wrong for the moment quietly practising in a quiet corner by himself at Wimbledon. They never know too much to learn more, the best men and women, you seel

The smash, of course, is just the ser* vice taken from another part of the court, with the ball coming towards you, instead of down. In both the service and the smash tho old rule must come first of all—you must never take your eye off the ball until it has left the racket. Make up your mind where you want your service or smash, to go, and then, as far as direction is concerned, that must suffice. Don’t forget, also, that follow-through here is just as important, perhaps more so, than in any other stroke. You see some players’ rackets stop within a foot of striking the ball. Really they ought to finish with a wide, graceful sweep, across the knees or down by the right knee, according to the sort of service which has been sent over. Never -be satisfied until your service goes over mechanically, almost without fault. It should be just a rhythmical movement from start to finish, and the more rhythm there is in it the less effort will be needed. Don’t be satisfied, either, until you can place it either straight down the centre line or in the opposite corner,, just as you wish. A decent service will always make you a desirable partner in doubles; while a weak, futile one will cause you to be severely avoided by tho best players. They don’t appreciate having their heads knocked off by a smashing return of a service that has only crept about as far as the service line of tlieir opponent’s court.