The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-24
WIDER COURT ONE WAY TO
CURE BIG ILLS OF TENNIS
serving Side Now Has Immense Advantage on It's
Opponents-Not Enough Room to Drive
Ball Past Net Man.

scored seem also to hang on the indi-
vidusl br!lliance of one or both of the
teams using the play. particular H. on
their skill in low underhand volleying,
which IL an essential 20 It's success.
Certain 1t ie that there are not half a
dozen players in America who can volley
u%uderhaud we'll enough to win from the
service line.
\ more recent development Of the
doubles SamH IN this country mas been
the dse Of what hes bee. colleG the
American formation. This is used
only BY the setvtr's side. but seems 10
have distinct advantages. II consists In
varying the customary position used
fcr the servers partner AZ the not. hev-
ms him otand at the centre rather than
TO one side, and the server himself run
up d~!asonaliy 10 ITS volley ine position
rather than straight. The advantage OF
this Ia that II shuts III me usual dag
1nal return OF the s.rv!oe across the cen-
tire OF the not. which 10 ohe strongest
return that most players can mskA
This stroke has the Advantage Of
crossing tho 10 at ~ lowest point
the net "a three tsct in the centre
and three and one-half feet AZ the
s'dos). and therefore can be hit lower
and faster than when X n 10 pass
ak inches nigher 20 cross the barrier.
Coming dagonaly q II Is a harder
stroke 10 handle FOR the rushing server
nan II 1t comes straight at him. fol-
lowing the Nde ines dow tho court
II the server stands pretty close to
he centre OF the base line 70 make
his service his run TO the net Will be
very n,tle d~tGzoral r he viii not
AVE - travel moro than n few feet
further Than II ne ran straight Up The
play d~'sconccrtF the adverssries. wen
when II T. expected. and generally forces
rhe striker out 10 make a weaker return
of tie x, rvlce thar the other forina-
ton permits one weakness II has Is
the danger Of lobbing owe the net
ANS head, FOR this Is more dangerous
than a similar lob over h net man
in the customary position.
Beals Wright. one OF the fret users OF
this formation, calls attention in the
new tool TO what he believes to be
he error of using this position all The
time. Wright believes that Il shout
be used Only when the server has his
forehand toward the ALLEY" that is.
only when IL risht handed server liz
serving 20 he right court or a left
and server to the left court. In
the opposite courts the regular for
nation should be used. according to
Wrght's theory
But. any way you o at ", this
DEVELOPMENT works IN favor ~ the serv-
ing side, moi against II, and II may he
necessary scou 20 strengthen the striker
out and his partner by altering the
rules. as the other eide Is steadily
growing stronger every season. Ward
and Davis's effort 20 stop the advan-
tage ny lobh!ng was ruined by better
smashing, but there Is nothing in sight
to-day 70 prevent the server from win
ming nearly all tho time, IA he does
now In doubles
Three schemes have been suggested
and are being talked over by the play
ers. any Of which soon may crystalline
INTO n movement TO alter the rules
rewhurst has advocated shortening the
service court by a foot or two 70 curb
the server another scheme fathered rs
n cool many experts would limit the
server 20 one ball IN doubles, but what
! believe is the best OF all 10 20 widen
the alleys OF tho doubles court from
four and onc-halt to six fest on zach
side.
This would not affect the singles game
In any way, would not upset fixed
standards ~ length or methods Of ser
vice, hut by adding three feet TO the
width Of The court for doubles. II would
help the strikers-out materially in their
effort TO dislodgs the serving side az
the net and mako the battle for the
not position, into which all modern lou
bles at once develop, a nearly Eve
affair, with a reasonable opportunity for
either side. whether serving or not. 20
drive the others out or pass them.
In singles a player Ia able to oover
with about even M for success.
twenty-seven feet OF the net. but In
doubles each partner now need cover
only eighteen feet Of the net. II the
court were wtdened as suggested, each
man would have TO protect twenty feet
and the doubles game would be more
nearly on an even basis with singles
than IL Ia now.
The scheme u worth a serious trial. at
any rate, and possibly Il Will have one
this season.