Evening star., 1914-05-17
Greatest Players Seem 10
Favor That of Net as Be-
ing the Better.
STEPPING IN THE COURT
OUGHT TO BE AVOIDED
Many Have This Fault After Serv-
ing the Ball-0ther In
structions.
BY JAMES BURNS.

In the preceding chapter We took up
the tactics OF defense when you are
pla wing near the net. that is, between
the zone on the court marked in plate 4
as q danger zone and the net There
ar two distinct classes of defense play.
known as net play and baseiine play.
Great PLAYERS differ in their f2vortSm
as To these styles. Some great tennis
piayers are known to favor haseiine de-
rense out generally the greatest play
ers favor the net defense. l advise
cultivation of the net defense, ard the
use Of ii wherever possible, believing 1t
10 ne the best point maker. However.
il is certain that you will have to resort
at times to Il Uaseline defense. because
you will be forced u MAKE u return from
some point far back in the court. ana
your opponent will immediately come
forward and YOU will have no alternative
e,.cett a baseliEe return. So let us con-
slider wha. You Will do in these cir
cunstanceS.
Consider plate = You will notice the
points arranged across the court. \, b
G. u ard T. These strung across
thr cu,.rt JUST tack OF the service hne.
and tie principal points from Wnich
y,,tIf Opponent in returning DailS 10 Noi
can force yo2 to- continue az h&selihe
plav II ne getS 10 the back Of his coi:rt
YOU naturally would come forward 70
the net Therefore. II "e col5.aef zoe
friuc t,l. OF baseine PLAY on balls re
t,,rued from the points y. B, {. - and
Y vrtI Ui / have covered the ground Any
emergency arising different ron tte
roi7lts here shown YOU VIII understand
il you understand the principles shown
IN these
STARTING from y YOU viii ;;n9,iee Two
Straight lines along which, your op-
moment could send a bait III returning
20 YOU AMI still have that ball iand
Within co.Irt. 'Thos, two lines make the
angle Therefore. if he returns d ball
from 4 and Won are playing hasellae no
matte where YOU ere, don Ssahd thefe.
i,Ilt .t; back as quickly as possible TO
rhe point A To anticipate his return II
hts return is made from E. Hour de-
fensive point is e. II he returns from
e. YOUR defensive point Is e. ahd so aiso
u and T.. YOU taxing positions at ID ana
r. Thus YOU see as he is furthef to
your right. YOU work further to the left
ff he comes too near the net you. OF
course. would lob over him and force
him back iii hIs court. IN Which event
YOU would come up for net play. If he
manages 10 get close" To the net through
YOUR having made weak return YOU
still observe the principles OF the angles
for bSseire defense. as shown in plate q.
only YOU WI! have to play still further
back of the base line. but getting 10
the middle of the angle on the same
The further back OF the court you are
the higher and harder your return has
10 he in order 20 get over the net and
also TO keep Your opponent back. A
players first thought when running back
for a ball should he to make sure of
putting the ball back over the net. Get
all the depth possible TO Your return
You keep your opponent back by doing
So The bah should travel about two
feet above the ne; II is a low and
short return that gives your adversary
the chance TO come up to the net
When too far out of court lob. as IL
gives you chance to get in position
aRan. II is also serious mistake To
drive ball when away out of court in
stead OF lobbing. Your opponent, if any
kind of volleyer. would have YOU al his
mercy. On a lob you have some chance
to get the next return or. if your oppo-
nent misses his chance, to score. In long
returns try for sideline shots Don't
drive the bail back to the center of the
court one should take chances in ten
mis- as that is the only wav to gain CON
ftuenne in sideiine shots.
Stepping in Court.
Many player has this fault lie stems
about two feet into the court after serv-
ing ball He should either remain back
OF the base line or run up for net pIay
Some have the habit of standing near the
danger zone shown. plate while the
bah is in play my return with good
depth bS Eour opponent would drop right
at your feet at that part OF the court. l,
would force you to run back TO where yoI