New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-27
COURT STARS TO COACH
Three American Lawn Tennis
Clubs Acquire Famous "ProS."
eol LOWING EUROPEAN LEAD
Haggett, Steers and Lamprecht
Likely to Improve Game
in This Country.

Ill \ ITO OOoAohy
iakjnE a leaf from the lawn tennis
,o,l which the Europeans have so sue
,essfully studied in recent years, the
continent clubs Of this country, and
more especially of this city, have In
.,olled professional coaches.
4, the West Side Tennis Club Charles
=, uageett began his work last week.
Another Englishman, John Steers, has
hosn getting affairs ready for the sea-
CON at the Crescent Athletic Club since
,ho erst of the month, while w. A.
,o,rnr,cht. the German, who has
heeu 'D this country for more than
voar. is to oficiate at the Seabright
ra,yn Tennis and Cricket Club during
,h. coming season. In the past James
Murray has held post at the Meadow
club at southampton, Long Island: Ste
phen Feron at the Rockaway Hunting
C1uh and James Bevan at the Nassau
country Club and the Heights Casino.
Although Americans who had made
lawn tennis pilgrimages abroad returned
homo filed with respect for the work
Europoan professionals were doing in the
way Of developing young players. the
sensational playing OF r. Norris Will
Jams last year really stirred the CLUBS
into action.
The perfect handling of racquet ana
hail and the wonderful strategic skill
of Williams was due to his having been
utored by the foremost professionals OF
switzerland, France and England. lie
flashed through the premier tournaments
like a comet, winning the national clay
court championship at the Pittsburgh
Athletic Association and taking second to
Mclaughlin in the New York State No. 2
on the ranking list.
Williams's performance stands unparal-
leled on American courts. 1t was sufii-
Gent to start the clubs actively scout
ing for professionals who could add the
scientific touches To the game. for.
strangely enough, with all of the athletic
coaching in this country there had never
been any effort heretofore TO secure pro-
fessional teaching.
Haggett is regarded as the best of the
professionals now in this country, if not
in the world. He was directly secured
for the West Side club by Edward {.
Moen. the old Harvard athlete, a former
president of the organization. Haggett,
who is a typical Briton. short and stocky,
but marvellously fast on his feet, has for
seven years had charge of the royal
courts in Sweden. While there he devei
oped the King into formidable player.
He has also held a post at the Duwich
Farms Club. where he had hand III
bringing out the famous Doherty BROTH
Arfh "a n
others who have appeared in Davis Cup
matches in this country.
Haggett is a bit Of a fanatic on the
theory of control of the ball. He argues
out the subject of angles. top and under
spin and position shots with all the
science Of a billiard player. In his opin-
ion lawn tennis is a sort of aerial bill
iards. with the court as the table. The
pet scheme in his plan Of coaching Is the
selection OF shots, and Haggett is mighty
nnicky on this point, as Raymond ID.
Little. Gustave F. Touchard and several
others found out during the last week.
There is a story told of how Haggett
got II. l.. Doherty, the famous little
Do" TO change his service. The EnShsh
champion would have it that his serve,
as he PLAYED IT, was strong as an onen-
siye weapon. Haggett, playing against
him contended that II was wrong ana
that a PLAYER VINO knew the trick of re-
ceiving it could smother the ball ana
Doherty. In order 10 prove his theory
Haggett won nine straight games, and so
convinced one OF the great amateurs VINO
lifted the Davis Cup from this country
Lamprecht. the German, is in marked
contrast with the Briton. He is tall ana
powerful. and fogs the ball at every
stroke, whereas Haggett is not given 10
tiresome hard hitting. Lamprecht Is
relatively more of theorist and teacher'
ut playing overbriliantly Haggeu
Yields the racquet even better than ne
expounds the science of the game which
has Of recent years taken the place OF
world sport. There is the prospect OF
professional match between the two on
home-and-bome courts about June / for
subscription purse made up by "es'
Side members.
Steers. the Englishman, at the Crescent
courts. at Bay Ridge. came 10 the clup
from Hawley. England. While ne mas
something Of a reputation as a player
his chief ability is said TO be In his pro-
ducing turf and caring for playing sur
faces so as to make them unequailed LOT
match and tournament competitions
Miles S. Charlock. the chairman Oh inc
Crescent Athletic Club committee mas
begun early this season TO get the neid
at Bay Ridge in trim for the New YORK
State championship, which is scheduieo
10 begin on Thursday. July 81. Not only
will Steers supervise the work on the
courts. but William Tucker has been en-
gagged TO direct the treatment of the turi.
Tucker will do similar work for the west
Side club and the Casino, at Newport