The Washington herald., 1914-01-18
SERVICE OF ONE
.BALLIMPRObAbLE
If Rule Is Adopted an Oppo-
nent Could Beat McLough-
lin Without Returning.
RULE WOULD KILL GAME
Norris Williams Probably the Most
Erratic Server in the
Country.
RULE WOULD KILL GAME

While the chances for a revision of
lawn tennis rules in this country, pro-
viding for the service on only one ball
instead OF two. is highly improbable.
il was suggested to the members of
the American Lawn Tennis Association.
To say that tennis with q one-ball
service would be radically changed is
putting the mildest construction on the
matter.
II the one-ball rule were put into ef-
feet the game would be entirely changed.
In other words, the receiver would have
the advantage and II would be seen that
the turning point OF set would hang
upon the winning of a game by the
s,rver instead of the receiver, as is the
case at present
Take, for instance. the service OF
Maurice E Mclaughlin. the man who
is admitted to have the greatest service
In America today. Mclaughlin does not
put more than two out of three balls into
the service court on his first ball His
crashing straight service Is truer than
that of any other player in this coun-
try yet he has to take two shots 10
make the place correctly twice out OF
three trials.
Would Lose Game.
Suppose, then. that the one-ball serv-
ice were required. what would be the
result OF that service on Mclaughlin?
II he continued to shoot the ball across
the net at the speed he uses now. he
would make two double faults out OF
every three trials. which would mean all
the receiver would have to do would be
to stand still and McLoughlin would
hand him the game in either four or
five points.
On the other hand, il Mclaughlin
did not use his fast service, his op-
ponent would Immediately have the
advantage, because. on account OF
the lesser speed put on the ball. the
server would not be able to take the
net as quickly as he does at present,
and, furthermore, the receiver would
have a far better chance of passing
him as he came in, inasmuch as he
would have an easy ball to handle.
But what would hapen TO McLough-
Inns game is small compared TO that
which would develop in the case OF
other players of prominence.
Uses Fast Service.
Bundy uses the fast service. His
first ball goes into the receivers court
not oftener than one out of three times.
In his match games he Is guilty of
many double faults, which pull his
average down to less than once out OF
five times for his first trial That
means that IL he had only one shot
at the receivers court he had just as
well give the time of his service TO his
opponents before starting.
Norris Williams is probably the most
erratic server of any ranking player
in this country. Time and again In
tournament matches he throws away
games on his service when be might
win with a little care.
The one-ball service would be death
to his service game, as he requires
two shots to place the ball good"
nine times out of ten.
Not only would the individual of this
country ruin his game II such rule
as the one mentioned were passed by
the tennis committee on rules, but the
American players would lose all chance
of keeping the Davis Cup in their pos
session.
At present foreign racquet experts
are far more skilled in service than
Americans. By that We mean that
they get more first balls in and serve
a far less number of double faults.