The New York herald., 1875-12-09
H.lNDBALL AND RACKET. ;
DescriptiOn Of the Games and the Courts m.
Which They Are Played. ~
FINE PLAY YESTERDAY.

the interest occssioned hythe annov-nceruont that
Racket and HAndbal Court costing E9ore than $780,
soO il apprcsching completion .A0n me corner OF
Twenty street s.d Sixth. avenue stiI continues
among the experts IN and friwnds Of the game. The
many meu had gathered witpess games between
me Un,ed States champion Philip Casey his brother
James; lhe Ncouades Rerke. champion Of PhiladeL
phia and others have1ddod much the in the
growth of the game.
rEcuIIARrns rHR GAAK
Mr. Phaip Casey the American champion in the
game In reply 70 Questions BY HERALD reporter, made
che following statement concerning racket and hand
ball courts the pccuarties Of the games their IN
nuence the health and physical condition OF those
occupied in sedentary employ ments:-
The court here IN Brooklyn Is very fair sample Of
the courts in other cities other States and countries
lt is old well Ked game for the development or the
bodies Of those whose calings do give them sufh
cient physicaexercise health rating Eng
hand and Ireland years ago, the best exercise
&nown TO civilization.
RRPoares-How many courts for racket and hand
ball arc In successful working order, Mr. Caseyf
Mr. CAssY-ln Dublin, London, Manchester and else
where England and ireland there are . very large
number, and they nearly all used by the better
class Of young who students or who are con-
nned TO desks aud But presume you have
interest in the courts Of the United States and
will give more particular Information regard 20
them In Brooklyn there ie this court, known
mime and some others This, you win see. is
constructed Of brick mainly, and lighted rom the
roof and sides II "A feet wide "a high, 81 feet
an depth, and, IN the gallery has seating room ior
about 200 Then there Is another in Centre street,
between Smith and Court streets, in which some
good games have been played IL is owned oy fhomAs
Courtney and is the oldest IN Brooklyn, having oeen
there for twenty i've years Then there Is another ~
Hunters Point built last summer and II very ihr
court
IN SEw YORK
there s may say, the new grand courts on the cor.
OF Twenty sixth and SIKH avenue but they
for the private OF large company Of gentle
men, and viii not be open 70 the public generally.
Then there is McQuade's Court No 404 Madison street
PHILADELPHIA
there FIVE different for both racket and hand
balm SAMSON street Carpenter street and elsewhere
then there two new ones N progress OF consrnc
the Centennial grounds for the Of players
during the Centennial Exhibition
In Chicago there four very nne courts and
another al place called Bridgeport three miles from
Chicago, and they are all dong we'll Among the Chi
cago players the nrst the list s Alderman James
O'Bren, then William Foley, James Feron, John Hull
Alderman Powell and John Carmody
In Troy there is a very line court
Mr. CASEY contn ued The ball used and known
ahe regulation ball Two ana a. quarter inches IN
diameter made somewhat like base ball, except in
size Its base rounded cork, which rubber is
rolled; then there coating OF fine worsted thread,
and then over all covering OF kid calfskin the
ferred the less rubber is used In the West .
dead ball The favorite though here the quick ball is
preferred
The floors Of the OF wood heavy and
arm a ships deck The front wall on which the
ball Is served, ls OF smooth brick, and is generally
hagged for the first ten feet the object being
greater durability and continuance OF smoothness
The sidewais are generally OF brick wainscotted for
the first six feet 70 better surface
against when accident occurs
On the front wall for racket q line Is drawn about
eight feet from the floor and all vng OF balls
be over that line, and also the line
foor which Is about thirty feet from the 'front.' say
half way Of the depth Of the court In racket al
plLl pun nf flarp iC n rEadn and fba
servcrFmust have one foot IN 1t and one loot outside
when serving the balls
In handba the stand wherever he
peases inside the ace-line. Al the outer end OF the
sourt there gallery for the judges referee marker
and spectators 80 that the court y Kept clear Of all
mcumbrance 70 the players Ten feet or the Of
ihe gallery is Of brick that balls may strike
Tebound and be hit again. HandDa and racket are,
N the main the same the exception being that racket
played with bat fat and oval at end, while the
Dther game, as us name implies s played with The
hand
REpoRrKR-How 70 the men who play and their
preparation Tor itl
Mr. CAsKY-To excel in playing either game requires
about the same physical training for racing
ing When entering for play IN q professional game
Ihe players usually appear IN tights, They then
Tor fret hand and II the match be- four hand the
winning side only has leading hand At the start
The game IS usually p points, aces, and when a
purse - played for the match the best IN IN I
m in9.
The ball served against the front wall making i,
bound the ace-line, before noted or falling
DO so three times, The server u counted out The
servers opponent strike the served ball either
ihe ny or after the nrst bound, failing do which be
loses one and the loses In the after
Ihe ball has been hit successfully by his opponent
Goodness, keen eyes and Judgment the requisites
iD play When the well matched they
watch keenly the positions taken by each other the
court the main point being deceive
your opponent Is 70 where YOU design landing the b.n
whether II is 70 be high a low one corner one
askew ~ have him far or position for IL
n possible when IL come from the wall
When u has been made by either the calls the
game and the judge decides 70 whether Il has been
taIrly won provided there be any dispute.