LAWN TENNIS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 249, 20 October 1937, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

BE CAREFUL ON THE COURTS (By A. N. Campbell.) Such ball games as hockey and football can be dangerous to the participants, as can cricket, but few regard tennis in that light, yet it pays to be careful, as can be seen by the following examples. Any stray ball lying on the court should be removed for if a player steps upon it, it can result in a sprained ankle, leg, or a nasty fall with serious consequences. Furthermore, if a ball in play strikes a stray ball the point is against the person upon whose side of the court it is lying.

When your partner is serving or smashing an overhead shot behind you, watch him, as it is very easy to get hit in the small of the back, with dire consequences. When running lift, the feet wen and be watchful of falling. On an asphalt court, gravel rash and blood poisoning will probably be the result, or at the least nasty flesh wounds that are very painful. Hardly a big tournament ever passes without accidents such as torn ligaments, sprains, bruises from falling, cramp (which can be very painful) and other minor happenings. Muscles m both arms and legs should be supple and exercises should be continually used to keep them in order. Sprains and torn ligaments should be bandaged, preferably by a medical man, and a course of pa ssage at a later stage works wonders.

Just watch your step and don’t bt careless and always walk round or under a net, and leave spectacular leaping to fools, who surely one da> will come the proverbial “cropper.”

At Caius Club on Saturday I had some very good tennis although a high wind made things slightly unpleasant at times. J. Foster, C. Foote, Mailman, M. Pniwell, Lowe, Hird, and Adamson form a very strong team, strong enough to enter an A team in th<-» Wanganui Association competition such play would give the members the necessary practice besides making the competition, which seems restricted, in the city to Wanganui and St. John’s teams only, more open. The ladies in this club are not as strong as they were two seasons ago, but the club is fortunate in possessing several young and keen players who will no doubt improve with practice. During the week-end I had the privilege of playing on the grass courts at the Wanganui East Club and I found them playing excellently, and in the best condition I have ever seen them. Considering that the courts were opened early they were exceedingly fast and with one exception were very true. The suroundings of this club are really beautiful and the club members have certainly put in hard work to make the gardens so pre-

sentable. If the club had sufficient money to expend the court surroundings could be made a beauty spot for Wanganui East and they would be worth while visiting for the shade and the grandeur of the palms. I New members, and there are enough of them, are being well catered for, and their tennis is receiving the consideration of some ot the club’s leading players.

Often we have heard the remark “He has a good eye for tennis,” but very seldom have we asked ourselves what a “good eye” really is and do we posess one.

Out of curiosity I interviewed a local oculist last week and he informed me that many people have subnormal distant vision. In many cases a player’s tennis could be greatly improved by the use of spectacles. Visual errors do not account for all cases, but muscular eye trouble can cause as many mistakes in tennis.

“Any unbalance of the muscles controlling the eye will interfere with the power of watching a moving object,” said my informant. “If these movements cannot be made at the same speed as the ball, there must be a spot where the eyes lose sight of it. They have to jump to the position where it is assumed the ball will be, not exactly a perfect situation in a. fast game. Certain exercises have been designed which will regain muscular balance.

The foregoing is merely a prelude to a suggestion which certain players may think worthy of consideration, players who, with a good style and eflicient courtcraft, find themselves left standing in their efforts to play better tennis. They may find they cannot concentrate on games above a certain speed. They know what to do and how to do it, but they canno<. just get there. That a spectacled player is at a disadvantage is a fallacy. Some spectacle lenses do reflect light into the eyes and so cause temporary blinci spots. Any optical prescription can be made up in lenses which do not have this fault.

The half volley is defensive in principle, but it can be very useful during an attack on the net, as shown by the extensive use made by experts. When learning to make this stroke it is well to realise that it is neither a drive nor a volley, but that the ball is stiuck just as it leaves the ground. Th? knees are bent and the back and forward swings are very short. If jou are going to attempt the stroke make it definite and don't ne half-hearted about it. * • • • The boys of the Marist Bros. Schoc 1, Wanganui, are very much tennis minded. They possess four excellent courts and the neadmaster. Brother Oswyn gives the boys every encouragement. The boys have formed their own club and control their own affairs with great success. If tennis is to prosper it is most necessary that it be fostered in the schools. I am glad to see tennis courts under construction at the Intermediate School as this institution has long been without tennis facilities.