Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-22
By MAURICE E. McLouaHL1N,
Americas Creates. Tennis Player.

Americas Creates. Tennis Player.
One of the most essential points that
occur to me in discussing the right kino
of practice Is never to play the game
when not in the humor for 1t. or "hen
IN state of partial physical exhaus-
ton. II player would only form the
habit of always stopping when there Is
still desire left for more, 1t would AID
him beyond anything else / can thlnk
Of. Playing too much tennis at one tune,
and too often, brings about excessive
heart strain. together with too great
physical tension generally. Even though
a player IS able to stand this strain, ne
will inevitably go stale. This Is the
greatest misfortune in tennis as IN All
other forms of athletics In the past
have had one or two very severe lessons
OF the kind, and ever since have been
esneeiallv careful in avoiding recur-
renee of staleness.
remember an instance few weeks
before the first Pacific coast champion
ship I ever won in 1907. My tennis
had gone hopelessly stale. Each day
that I went out to play the desire was
there, but no longer the muscular re-
Spouse that the game demands Al the
time I did not know what was the mat
ter with me and few days later IL SO
happened that We packed on 10 me
mountains OH short camping trip. rms
environment took ne,entIe!y ~. 10
the atmosphere OF tennis, and two weeks
later, on returning 10 the courts, pos
sessed an almost uhbounded enthusiasm.
With comparatively few days practlee
before rhe championship my game came
back to form by leaps and bounds. Wnlcn.
resulted in the best playing l had ever
shown up to that time.
Another thing that a great many play
ers fail to appreciate the importance OF
is the care of their digestion-especlally
during tournament season. Personally
am not an advocate of any rigid form
of diet. but I am firm believer in the
Importance of eating the more simple
forms of cooking, and, still more. In tne
combination of foods that are taken at
the same meal AS no two people are
alike il is difficult to state just what
these combinations are. Experience ana
self-analysis really decide this FOR eacn
individual. You may be sure, however,
that il the slightest thing is wrong with
the stomach 1t not only affects your eye,
but more, your entire muscular response.
Another important point is frequency
of play. This does not mean excessive
play. however. and it is the recognition
of the difference that causes one to
be beneficial and the other injurious. A
most natural tendency for one keen
about the game Is to play too mucn
at one time, as well as frequently. He
gradually, knocks the edge OF his game
in this condition: the tennis he plays
Is doing more harm than good.
Play Against Betters.
AS I have said. always seek. when
possible, to play against some one bet
ter than yourself or at least as good.
One finds so many beginners who by
preference play with others weaker
than themselves, to satisfy foolish
vanity for always being the winner.
Get out of this common habit OF let
ting the desire to win at all costs pre-
dominate in your practice games. You
will gain far more by paying atten-
ton to the practice of strokes, and
not favoring your best ones. either. or
course, do not mean that this should
be carried to an extreme, for 1t would
tend to eliminate the element of in
terest and fun in the game, and with
out this element no player will ever
get past the beginners stage. Go to
tournaments outside of your own town.
Do not be content just to play at home
against the same players. Never say
'Oh. l can't win and so be kept from
entering tournaments. Even II you do
not win, it will improve your game to
meet new conditions.
As to encouragement. almost every
player. especially one keenly ambitious
develops 1t Is at such times that the
player must get the frmest grip on
himself, and not allow this feeling to
pull him down. AS matter of fact, In
most cases, the feeling is without
foundation and entirely mental OBJ
session. The man is convinced that
months have passed with no sign OF
Improvement. Tn reality. an improve
conscious. Therefore, If he hangs on
with tenacity of purpose, he will sooner
or later be rewarded.
Let the average player form the
hatx NJ a&x,Ax -sv1rw It a<~ nI-4o ar1H
the results they are bringing. always
with the view of overcoming his weak
nesses. stroke that very aptly. IL
Illustrates that the above advice is not
generally followed is the overhead
smash. with which ] have already
dealt A countless number of players,
including those of frst-class ability.
are perceptibly weak in this particular
practice. In tournament play one
should form the mental habit of study
ing opponents as to their peculiar
weakness and strength.
AS to smoking and drinking. these
two most common forms of stimulant
certainly affect the player and his ten
mis-. Il now have in mind the player
who is getting ready for match play
and do not feel that the subject of
training need be dealt with at all in
connection with him who plays en-
tirely for fun with no idea of tourna-
nlent competition ahead) But take
should hesitate to advocate that he
necessarily entirely give up this habit
before a tournament. II he can do so
without feeling any undue reaction
from the want of the accustomed slim
ulaRt. 1t is far better for his wind and
condition II he cannot do so, II is,
at least, imperative for him to ma
terfslly cut down his usual amount of
smoking
In this connection much depends upon
The individual. the personal equation,
because the reaction varies with diff
ferent people when habitual smoking
or drinking is suddenly Iessened. Per-
sonallS. feel that my own condition.
ing for tennis match is made easier
by the fact that do not indulge in any
form OF artificial stimulant Copse-
ouently, the extent of my training, II
applied to player who does. might
fall short. However. I will relate one
or two OF the principal points about
training that ] look out for.
Diet a Simple One.
As already stated, my form of diet Is
very simple one, and care Is exercised
as to the combination Of food taken at
the same meal Owing to the fact that
the principal tournaments are played
In various localities, I ara always very
careful about drinking water. It is
not so much that the water at a given
place Is bad: much more Is II the