Evening star., 1914-04-26
BY JAMES BURNS.

In all this discussion it is assumed tina
| the player is right-handed. The left
handed player needs only to reverse thu
directions to adapt them for his use
The position is very important in taking
tennis strokes. A player has to face
sidewise to make a proper ground stroke
| For forehand stroke the left foot is
| forward but out to one side. The right
foot is back,
The reverse position holds for back
hand strokes. On follow through
stroke the ball should be taken between
the knee and the hips.
Meeting ball ab0ve your waist a top
ping stroke should be used
1t is advisable for beginners TO learn
his fellow through stroke first. BY fol-
low through stroke mean hitting the ball
squarely in the center of the racket and
to finish OUT. e., let the racket follow
on after the ball-on the stroke 4
player by using this method first learns
to hit the ball in the center of his racket
Later. wien he has more control over
the ball and racket. is the time to learn
a topping stroke.
For the follow through start we'll
back for the beginning OF the stroke BY
starting we'll back the player gets power
in his stroke. The PLAYER should remem-
ber from the beginning of the stroke to
the finish it is essential to have it steady
and uniform. not jerky. Do not slow UP
or check your stroke when meeting the
ball or after you hit it, The weight of
the body is on the foot behind when
starting the stroke. 1t passes on TO the
forward foot when hitting the ball and in
finishing n Ike
body go forward with tie stroke to finish
out. The usual mistake of players is
that they do not relax the body suffici-
emily while taking the stroke.
The best time to meet the ball is Just
as the racket is coming at rising angle
In making returns the first essential is
to get the ball over the net. The best
height above the net for the ball to pass
is from one foot to two feet. This in
sures keeping it in court If YOU have a
good follow through and steadiness on the
stroke.
Finish of the Stroke.
On the finish of the stroke the head of
the racket Is about shoulder high on a
follow through shot. the arm well extend
ed after the ball. the body relaxed. On
the finish of a stroke the arm and racket
point in the direction where the ball is
placed Many balls that 20 OUT of COURT
would have landed in if the player had
finished out straight on the stroke instead
of coming in or across
\ player having taken his position cor
rectly. his grip should be firmly held. the
racket well back, before starting to make
the stroke. In making return first be
sure its direction is correct. next its
height. then be sure to give it sufficient
depth
On return to YOU anticipate where and
how the ball is going to bound 1t is ad-
visable to stand for most opponents about
three feet back of the spot where the ball
drops. This varies with the speed of the
return. Whenever possible use a drive in
returning the ball. \ follow through or a
top stroke is hard for an opponent to
Judge. Do not use chop strokes too often.
as they are easiest balls TO kill when the
adversary Is at the net. a ball driven be-
gins to drop when it passes the net, which
makes it hard to.judge.- On a chop return