Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-26

hand against the front wall. His object is
so to place the ball that it will rebound to
some point in the court where the server
cannot reach it. But should the server be
able to get to the ball he must again hit 1t
with one hand, and he again attempts to
make such a play that it will rebound
| beyond his opponents control. If it does
not the latter makes his strike with the same
purpose as before. This alternate play is
continued till one contestant fails to force
| the ball against the front wall IF this be
the player the first "hand" or round is con-
cluded and a score of one point, or ace, is
credited to the server. But if il shall be the
server who misses the ball, no score is made
by the player.
WHAT CONSTITUTES A GAME.
In the next hand his opportunity to make
the lace" is given, for the relative position
of the men is changed, the player becoming
the server and fhe server the player. In
this way no count may be made BY the
player, though the object of each man is al
ways the same-to put his opponent out.
This play is continued, the position of the
men being exchanged every time fiuke is
made until one man has scored 21 aces, when
the game is declared his.
When four men play the game is hardly
more complicated. The server and PLAYER
then each have a partner, and they occupy
the same positions relatively to the dividing
line. If, when it becomes the players turn
to make the strike, the ball rebounds to a
point nearer his partner than himself, the
latter makes the play, and upon the servers
turn to play the ball his partner assists him
under the same circumstances. Less quick
ness of movement and violent exercise is
therefore necessary in the double game, but
the elements of considering the plays of two
,ke aF ~ aI--s-
upon the judgment of a partner are intro
duced.
The game may appear rather simple to
the uninitiated onlooker and seem to re-
quire in the player little more than a tough
ened hand, a strong arm and moderate
amount of Judgment; yet between two ex-
pert players an immense amount of scientific
thinking and planning, beside the finest
muscular exercise is necessary to throw the
q aces to one man.
TRICKS THAT ARE VALUABLE.
As scoring is only possible when the
player is unable to return the ball to the
front wall after the server has struck, it is
apparent that the most skillful playing Is
to be done by the server in so placing the
ball that the player cannot obtain control
of it on the rebound. The most obvious
method of accomplishing this is, therefore.
is to go in one direction and then to send it |
in another. By assuming an attitude and |
holding the arm that the player will take |
his position in the vicinity where he calcu- |
lates the ball will fall, the striker may sud- |
denly change his front and knock the ball |
to a part of the court not anticipated by the |
player and so make his point. To become |
an expert player one must be quick reader
of the character and peculiarities of his op-
ponent and be of an inventive turn of mind |
to introduce plays that havenever been wit
messed before.
The interest in handball has increased of
late years in the United States. The best
known court this side OF the Atlantic is situat-
ed in Brooklyn, and is owned by yex-Alderman
Philip Casey. Hardly a day goes by in
which a game between experts may not be
in his place.
THE WORLDS CHAMPION.
Mr.. Casey holds the championship of the
world for handball playing, and it is large
ly through his efforts that the sport has
gained its prominence in this country. Mr..
Casey became the champion several years
ago upon the occasion of his defeating John
Lawlor, who was at that time the finest player
IN Ireland, the home of the game. His jbest
came from John A Keenan,, Syd-
ley, n. S. W., but Mr.. Casey's reply that
ne would play series of games for $40, 900
side elected no response from the Austria
ian, and since that time his right to the
title has never been disputed. Arrangements
ire now under way, however, which prom
se to result in double game between Mr.
Casey and his partner and two crack players
rom Omaha.
Brooklyn is the home Of some of the most
expert handball players in the United
States. Mr.. John Lawlor, the ex-champion,
-esides there. William Courtney and James
Dunn, two players of more than local repu-
alton, also live in Brooklyn. Besides these
gentlemen, Joseph Wager and John Nal
,olm, William Welch and James McAvoy,
Who play a rattling game, are often
een at Casey's court. Visiting players
make this club their headquarters, so