Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-07-02
TEIVyISBACK.
HAND PLAY IS
VERY TRICKY
sy JAMES BURNS.

over, which loses time Some play
ers use the same side of the racquet.
But using the opposite side OF the
racquet the less change player
makes on his grip and IL can be made
quicker .. +:
Running the thumb up the handle
Of the racquet for backhand shots en-
ables one to guide the strokes, better.
but i'm that grip there is a slight loss
Of power | find that by leaving the
thumb around the grin il get more
power in the stroke. But one shonld
get used to all the different grips.
In gripping q. racquet players should
spread their fingers apart slightly. BY
spreading the FINGERS the control of
the racquet is better, and it gives q
free wrist play. H..
To make o proper stroke thG PLAYER
should see that he does not take the
ball too near his body. and also to
take It Just opposite him, not too far
in front. and not too far behind.
For1thCse who can time bali ac-
curately the most effective stroke to
use is a top" Let the racquet follow
stretch toward The point where the
ball is placed Otherwise the racquet
has a tendency to go up, to come in
or across, which sends the hall out
of court. See that YOUR body does
not turn in making the stroke. This
will send the ball in court. In extend.
ing the arm on the follow through do
not let the racquet come across the
line on which you want the ball to go.
Start well back for your stroke. In
case the player misjudges the ball a
short back stroke prevents the for,
ward stroke from being uniform. =
Players will find il good plan in
meeting the ball to step forward and
meet the ball Just as it is opposite the
body. BY doing so one meets the ball
higher in its flight. the return is quick
err and has more chance of keeping the
ball in court IL, however, a player
must meet the ball when 1t is well
hack the weight should be on the foot
behind, and one should lean hack with
his body Leaning back helps the
player to avoid having the ball too
far hack when he strikes IL 49,
% Not Check Stroke. =.
After hitting the ball do not check
the stroke, but let the arm well out
after the. ball. Following through
gives the "droD'' on the ball. All
through the stroke, both before and af.
ter YOU meet the ball, the player
should maintain the same steady
swing without check or jerk Let the
wrist go forward after meeting the
ball instead of down or over. The
$bove refers to forehand strokes.
In backhand work PLAYERS are prone
to let the ball go far behind before
hitting it. This is the cause Of weak
returns on backhand strokes. It is
important to have good backhand
method. as all players put the ball
to you on that side at times. Always
face sideways in taking backhands.
To have a. good backhand, PLAYERS
should meet the ball the same as fore
hand strokes; that is. opposite the
body. Keep your elbows away from
your body so you can follow through
on the stroke. Keep your eve on the
ball every second. By SO doing you
are bound to Judge the ball correctly
and hit it in the center of your rae,
Quet. ~. r. -A...-
In making a lob always lob high. as
it gives you time to get good court
position. - .... 49,.
, Do not hit the ball too hard if an
easv one will score the point Get
depth and pace to the ball, as it pre-
vents your opponent from coming to
the net. It is your short returns which
give him the opportunity to come up.
No advantage is to be gained in bur
rying your shots. and hurried shot
always reveals Just where you are
going to place the ball.
. After you have made a return note
where your opponent must receive it
and get into the proper court position
at once Ill. 49,.
Try for every shot, as that is the
and anticipate future ones. ~.
In returning the ball make your op-
nonent extend himself; that is, put
the bali to some part Of the court
where he has got to move to get it, BY
doing so the balls are not returned
to YOU so quickly. In volleying do not
wait for the bah to come to YOU, but
stem forward and meet the ball sooner
and higher. By meeting it higher you
have more chance of getting the ball
over the net and keeping it in the
court. The angles are larger also for
a return to right or left.
Many players have a bad habit of
throwing the ball up carelessly. They
do not throw two balls up alike. One
throws too far forward, another too
far to one side. and sometimes they
do not toss the ball high enough. Many
also toss up their second ball too
and while of balancfe from the
first serve. To get a good serve it is
necessary to toss the ball always to
lust the right height above the head.
Always take time on the second serve
In case the first is a fault How often
one. sees players serve their second
ball when their first ball has not vet
left the opponents court! One can
not expect to correct the first mistake
by playing the second ball hastily.
II you can throw your ball the same
height and distance every time you