Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-15
TENNIS DOUBLES Is A STUDY;
WIDE DIFFERENCE FROM SINGLES
Rules Exactly the Same, But Good Team
Player Employs Strokes to Help
Partner as Much as Himself.

luseful when ones opponents possess
unusually deadly cross-court strokes
and are not so proficient at playing
them straight down the side lines. In
such instances with this formation the
net man Is in line with the angle Of
almost all cross-court shots. 1t some
times effectively breaks up the cross.
counting of the opposition. But on the
whole 1t is a freak of tennis.
In dealing with the reception Of the
lish or Australian formation to con-
| slider. Many teams in Australia re-
ceive their opponents service with one
| man on the baseline and another at
the net, and this fashion is popular in
England. 1t seems to me weak for
mat ton.
Must Take the Net.
| First, on returning the service the re-
ceiver must take the net at once. II
+, he succeeds in getting there without
being passed. well and good. but more
often he will be caught in an awkward
position by the servers partner who
already has the advantage Of being
at the net when he is coming in. Sec
ond. the return of the service must be
sure. we'll placed and kept low, for the
striker-out returns the service, follow
|
joining his partner already there. If
| his return of the service is low and
| well placed, his opponent must volley
up. and the striker-out and his part
! ner are given the down stroke on the
| next ball hit. But If the striker-out's
| return was high over the net,, the
down stroke Is Immediately given to
| the opponents with the corresponding
advantage.
third point is that. with this for
nation, the receiver and his partner
! must be adept. at the close-in style Of
volleying. There is no doubt that,
the style is very effective. as It brings
an added element of offense into the
play. But. as the opposition already is
| established at the net through the
medium OF the service, there is bound
to be call for close-in volley OF an
unusually fast and difficult description.
Also. there Is much acknowledging, for
which reason doubles players abroad
are more proficient in. this difficult
stroke than are American players.
Personally. certainly set more store
by the parallel method and believe
that the proper defense in doubles play
Is both men at the base line to start
with. But thereafter the receiving side
should overlook no opportunity to wrest
the advantageous net position from the
opposition. Bundy and use for the
most part parallel positions, and, Of
course. the follow-in to the net by the
and Alexander employ fha aan,e
methods.
NY partner ana do not NAV u;th
any set rule as to the handi,nrcF Ian.
The player who takes the lob Il the nne
in the hest nos,tion for - a. o.e
mentioned. the hard deen dr,v..s ~ =
singles are not nearly 40 effectiye IN
doubles. This in princinaIIv hecausA a
deep. fast ball has necessarily more
sustained and a straighter flight. and
therefore is the easter to voiiev In
order to score, the placement Of this
shot must be perfect. for the two vol-
levers at the net. with only an added
nine feet OF width over that or a sfnglea
court. combine to make ineffectual a
ball that would be well enough ulaced
to prove effective In singles.
J.
0u1ck-Oropptng Return.
-
al oous the Quick-uropping re-
turn with Its wide range of angles IL
more effective and useful in doubles,
| This Ia thu reaaos, for the fail,,r. az
nnanv h,r,,-r,. !. .,r.,.. ~ ..S.- =. -. :
| s..e's piAs sts IN en$
A0uI -iit IAN cams TneS are unapie 70
sumciently vary their stroking from
the customary depth to the shorter.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, A,,..-.,..
a ieaos al
nations IN doubles play. have seen
more good teams and examples of good
teamwork among the general run of
players down there than anywhere else
advance any good or obvious reason for
tions. '1e' 1s VS.. sa.oA - 'f'''1'-
last navs years srne or 9 ss ast
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