The Washington herald., 1909-05-02
DROP STROKE FOR
TENNIS BEGINNER
Adpce of Expert on Serving ''KHLing" and the
Net Game
Net Game.

When She vogue Of golf was at its
height many proclaimed the death OF ten
MS. As matter Of fact. the two games
csnnot. be compared. one might as wei
NY 10 compare clay pigeon shooting ard
archery TIE writer. q welI-known tennis
expert. knows the game thoroughly. and
has watched It's growth from its first
years In this eo5Htry, when the contest
ants PLAYED in knickerboekers and wore
striped blazers 70 It's present splendid
status from Canada 10 Mexico ana from
Maine TO California.
Lawn tennis possesses many advan-
tages over baseball. chief Of which Is the
tact that a small number can play il. and
a small lot is sufficient for d single court
But the game seldom reaches a high
plane On these private courts. It seems
to require che rivalry incidental 10 club
playing TO raise the standard OF play. A
man IS always anxious 10 get out Of his
class unless he Is willing 20 he classed
with the has-beers- or never wiIl-bes. -
and Is satisfied 10 remain there
Lawn tennis requires a good eye. good
wind. nerve controi, and splendid physi-
cal condition. But very few ever become
!irst-ciass PLAYERS. OF cracks" some very
good double men are poor single players.
and vice versa. Temperament has a great
deal TO do with It, too
The single game IS the more difficult
Zach player IS required 70 guard space
50 feet deep and 2 feet wide The net is
feet high in the center and about feet
inches ar the side lines. The youngster
who would become q champion must re-
member that to be caught IN the middle
Of the court is fatal II must he either a
net game OF bacK-court game. This
also IS true Of the double game.
The service should be Of moderate speed
and absolutely accurate, and should faH
deep, and asjonally be played straight
down the middle or along the side line
Smashing. or 'rkiilihs- ball with an
overland swing before Il drops is another
hsrd piay 10 master. Absolute accuracy
Is essential az all times.
The net game Is the most aggressive
ana the most difficult IN gaining the net
It is usosHy best 20 make a straight drive
down the middle of the court. following
Il to the net The net may also be gained
by bobbing over your opponents head. A
EkeaE many eAseELS 0Elt6 70 the tolIf6fS
before gaining the net, but this makes
the angle too great. and makes it easter
f0r an opponent 10 accomplish a pass.
In addition 70 the above suggestions.
the writer viii give his method Of per-
fecting the shovel stroke.
The great stroke IN lawn tennis Is ad
r1ittedly the drop stroke. some call II the
iowford. "landsdowH. shovel or
crop As matter CT fact. Il bears the
same relation 20 tennis that a drop
shoot does 10 baseball and 8 follow
shot does to Billiards It is simply the
overtwist of the bah that draws Il back
t. earth before il flies out of bounds
How to perfect The drop stroke. as prac-
ticed by the writer.
Place the end Of your racket in the
palm of your hand and voiley the bah
asainst a smooth vail or fence at a line
Of three feet high
(, DO net strike the bah with fat surface
Of the racket. but draw the racket for
ward, meeting the slantiag surface Of