The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-28
Best Place to Stand is About
Three Feet Back Of Where
II Is Going to Land.
GAUGE 1T IMMEDIATELY
Begin TO Judge II the Moment
It Leaves Racket Of
Opponent.
TENTH CHAPTER.
BY JAMES burns.

EoR hrst class players anticipating or
Judging n ball comes as second ma.
ture. But how many average ten
mis- players can anticipate or Judge where
the Dali VIII drop In court on their oppo-
nents return To anticipate q bail the
mind has got to work with the eye. The
best place to stand in meeting a bail IL
about three feet back OF where the ball
is going to land. This varies a little
with the pace OF the ball. Not only must
player have his eye on the ball. but he
must have his mind centred on the stroke
that he wants TO play. II Is always ad-
Nlsable when judging n ball to first notice
It's height second its speed and third
where the ball will land In court He
thereby will know in Just what position
TO got to meet the ball TO make a proper
return stroke
Tho time to begin to Judge the ball is
when It leaves your opponents racket
Learn TO watch your opponents racket,
az by doing so a player can tell before
hand the direction In which the ball IL
going to be placed. Very few players can
change "A stroke once the mind has been
centred on the kind of n stroke they wish
20 play For instance " your opponent
meets the ball directly opposite his body,
II Is TO be expected that his return will bs
straight down the side line as his swing
Is straight and directly out. In case his
racket meets the ball sooner or a little
more In front OF him. his return would DO
more for n cross court shot.
On overhead strokes only can the player
conceal his direction before hitting the
bail.
Why is ii players let the ball get too
far back OF them on their backhand shots
before returning IL? 1t is because one
does not Judge his bail as well on back
hand q he dOaS mn his nj kat 49,
what makes the backhand shots so diffi-
cult for many players to make. It's tho
player himself that makes II n harder
stroke by not anticipating where the ball
Is going to drop so he could be in proper
position to meet II. by being In proper
place to meet II one gets power in his
swing.
Start well back with your swing. Just
as you do on your forehand stroke. Time
u 80 you hit II the right moment. that is,
just as the ball Is opposite the body.
Another reason backhand seems harder
to execute is because players do not face
the ball right. on taking forehand shots
you are faced little to the right The
reverse is true when taking backhand
shots
A forehand stroke should he played of
your left foot, /. a., the left foot In ahead.
on backhnnd shot one plays of his right
foot
'N'hi'h''i At al tlluts gbuT
turn to again face the net sauarely.
Here Is another thing that often causes
q weak backhand Players seem to favor
their forohand more. and 10y doing 30
they are facing II little to the right when
waiting to see what tho opponents shot
IL going to be. That prevents him from
getting quickly into backhand shot posi-
ton and prevents also judging the ball
right on his backhand. The ball 10 on
top him before he knows II.
on paper IT IL hard to explain your po-
sitlo1s. but take note when you arc re-
return "a ball on your backhand. Players
your backhand while you are faced to
tho right. Your position In wrong be-
cause Il favors your forehand at the ex-
facing TO tho right OF the court, which pre-
your backhsnd. Reverse your position in
facing and you will find your forehsnd
stroke will seem Just a. hard rs your
buckhand. Your eyes should Mt all timer
bc facing the ball squsrely. Then one can
judge the ball on either side.
by facing sideways. however. before you
make your hackhand stroke you will find
II an easy stroke That Just shows you
II is not your stroke, but your position,
that makes n backhand shot hard to
should remember to do tho same as on
his forehand strokes. That is:
I. Your position should be correct.
g. Meet the bail the same height and