The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-09-25
TENNIS RULES
ARE DISCUSSED
Difference of Opinion Exists
Among Stars of Game

New York. Sept. 25.-Two matters of
lawn tennis legislation-the use Of
spikes and the application of the serv-
ice or foot fault rue--are receiving
great amount of attention as the
courts draw to close. For the time
being they almost overshadow the
matter of the ranking list upon which
the committee, consisting of Miles :.
Charlock, chairman; Charles NJ. Bull,
Jr., and George 4. Adec, is securing the
data.
spiked shoes have been a matter Of
dispute and contention FOR several
years past, and even in the recently
decided Davis cup matches at VIM
blcdon Harold ~. IIackctt, the cap
tain OF the American team, and George
". billiard, the English representa-
tive, debated the matter. 1t has now
become a matter of official knowledge
that previous to the time of the AM
crican team sailing for England Rob
crl -. Wreun, the president of the
United States National Lawn Tennis
association, cabled as to whether or not
the use of spikes would be permitted.
The answer was returned: Certainly
not
The fact remains, however. that
there being no provision in the Davis
cup regulations covering the much dis
putcd point of steel. the Americans
stood upon the ground that they wer"
optional and wore them or not, as they
saw fit. Maurice f.. McLoughlin, haV-
ing had special shoes constructed, with
soft, spongy rubber soles, did not Weaj
spikes, but r. Norris Williams, md
and the others of the tenn did.
Rule Often Violated.
rs the rule stands i'm this country
ID reads: In all tournaments sanction
ed 10y the association the use OF
spikes longcd than one-eighth of al
inch is prohibited" While no one TOOK
the trouble to measure the spikes worn
i'm the tournament at Newport, Long
wood, the Crescent Athletic club an,
southampton, it is certain that nae
would have been much closer to haIi
an inch. than the onc-cighth allowed
The feeling among tournament com
mittees and players is that either th'
spikes should he heightened or doh'
away with entirely. McLoushlin WI
liams. Niles. Tom i5updy, Raymond u
Little. Theodore Roosevelt Pen an'
Joseph Barrett, the superintendent
the Casino at Newport, are anoni
those who champion the use of lonse
spikes
ON the other hand, such experienced
PLAYER as Wallace l.. Johnson, VII
liam j. Clothier and Dean Mathcy ar
of the opinion that the eighth "f al
inch spike fulfills its mission. 1hefe
certain. however to he some lcSisia
tlon upon this moot point before an
other season. as the application oi III
rule was not at all successful this ycal
The Foot Fault.
The foot fault that l.. " Naile III
English critic. called against Touchai
in his sensational match win Niilia'''
in the second round of the all-cohncr'
will 20 down in lawn tennis histor
as the spark that started purh"'
controversy as to what constitutes
foot fault Beals Wright characters
tically summed up the application
the FOOT fault rule when he explainc
IL in this way
SO many people are ignorant vi '"
rule of serving that it is not oul
place to state that what loot i"u
amounts to is this: At the tlihc u
racquet strikes the ball both fcet mus
be behind the base line. The diiiicui'
ol deciding whether a service ~ II iV'
fault on not lies in the fact that W
foot may be raised. But the ui'n'u''
is not a serious one The conscieh''"'
umpire has merely to satisfy hiii'se
that at the time the ball Is STRUCK
the racquet both feet are behind -
base line. Even if the raised ioot
u fraction of an inch over then IL 10
foot fault
Must Enforce Rules,
Again. IL lawn tennis Is worth pa
ms at all it is worth, playing srl''
To- rules. Those who stand u! oilo .
low, without protest, the hao'','
lreaking of an important rule are "
ing the game poor service. AS MAJ
sin through pure ignorance. the "e
explanation of the rule should stop