Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-10
Putting Ball Over Net.


The thing of first Importance in tennis
IS to put the ball over the net 4 player
feels disappointed and angry at a ball
that goes out of court. He feels the same
way when he puts ball into the net,
for by hitting the ball in the net he
loses point at once. BY putting the
bail over the net he has some chance.
again. YOU see many players take balls
which if let alone would go out of the
court
In doubles suppose you call out" but
still your partner takes it. II he returns
the ball over the net he M least has
his opponent guessing and tryisg for a
return. Many times he will BE- IN doubt
u he should take il. not knowing if the
ball is going to be good All this is that
much more strain on his nerves.
Notice a hrst-clasS player while in
game He is always putting the ball
over the net. The ball while travelling
over is at least two feet above the net.
The fault of the average PLAYER is he
PLAYS mis- ball too fine while sending IT
over the net
In singles. because the opponent is more
often playing deep. you should play high
above the net than in doubles. where
one or both opponents are likely to be
near the net In general never play
turn very low. that il. near the net on its
way over. except when the opponent is
near the net Playing return deep and
we'll above the net keeps the opponent
from coming To the net.
Generally speaking. a player is in
position when he has the center OF the
court covered. One should choose whether
he will PLAY up i. at the net. or
back" |. e, at the base line and take
defensive position accordingly. Net play
should he a distance of about four
teen feet from the net; base-line play
should be t. ON approximately two feet
behind the base line. The positions are
Indicated on the first of the angle
diagrams
After hitting the bali jump for the
center of the court Too many people
are lost in admiration at their own shots
and watch the efforts of their opponents
to get the ball. forgetting TO make their
own position secure against possible
return. The man who does the most
running is the man that is always 'ont
of. position The average player will
rdge over TO the left side Of the court to
-over the weakness of his backhand. Let
the opponen; place ball on his extreme
right and he must needS Guido himself
to max. return But lei him note that
he is again out of position and that
mis- opponent has an excellent opportuniir
10 make kill II man expects 10
play = strong game it is folly 10 favor
>ither his forehand or bacShand strokes.
lie should learn 10 EXECUTE one as well
as TIL other Remember always that
ne center of the court is the strategic
position That is the basis Of defensive
opera tons. The game of tennis requires
alertness both before and after the
strokes are made II one is never caught
out OF position the rest comes easily.
To Illustrate. suppose you had TO return
bail from the star marked b lmme
stately after your return hustle back to
the center AT the base line.
# YOUR return was made from the star
marked A after the return hasten back
10 the center lin. about fourteen feet
fyom the net. The shaded portion marked
danger zone is TIL. place TO keep out OF
after YOU have made return. Keep
ahead of il or back of il In the danger
zone YOUR opponent can smash the ball to
YOUR feet