The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-12
NJ J.. PARMLY PARET.

l
title Of Tennis as I Play IT, by Maui
rice Z. Mclaughlin. Is certainly we'll
done. II cannot be called a book of
Instructions. but it contains much that
Is helpful to the player, whether he be
a novice or a tournament competitor.
Mclaughlin makes no professions OF
being an authority and modestly dis
claims m Intention Of showing people
how to do things. On the contrary, the
Californian admits the errors that have
generally been credited to him. lie
frankly says: Il shall at once admit
the weakness OF my own backhand."
which is Just as well. as good Judges
will credit him with a better knowledge
OF the technique OF the game than II he
insisted that his defective grip and poor
swing on the backhand side were sound.
His running around the balls that were
served to his backhand by Brookes and
wilding in the internstionals last season
uncovered this weakness more notice.
ably than 1t had ever been shown up
before.
As to why McLoughlin's backhand is
weak. he seems to agree with the best
critics that his grip of the racket is
not the best and this contributes to
the weakness of his backhand stroke.
He says I'm regard to the use OF
thumb UP the handle. l do not employ
this grip personally. but from observa-
ton should be inclined TO advocate II II
II comes natural to the player" Yet
despite this. Douglass, the California
professional. who recently advocated a
return to the old fashioned method OF
using the thumb around the handle for
A. l -,tl ~ Attch-
lin as one proof OF the correctness OF
his theories. because Mclaughlin does
use his thumb in this way. But the
/ ex-champion does not back him up well
! In the new book.
#, The title Of the volume was we'll
chosen. for the California expert gives
a good description OF how he himself
4 plays the game. and this contains much
help for the beginner. Like the Dohertys
, and Wilding, his book IL an EXPOSE
: ton of one particular style. He does
not. like Myers. Dewhurst. Little or
Paret. explain how the game should be
|, PLAYED or how the strokes should be
I, made; rather how he personally exc
= cutes them. For instance, for receiving
: the service. he says, II endeavor to
Z take the service at the top or its bound.
. or lust before and describes his own
e style accurately. II Is sound tactics.
to be sure, but many players are un-
= aOle 10 90 tUlS, anu IL Is ~ ways
d the best way to handle some kinds OF
3 service.
i McLoughlin 10 admitted on all sides
to be one of the greatest. II not the best.
e master Of the American twist service
and his opinion or this part OF che
9 game 10 OF special interest therefore.
q Most beginners dc not throw the ball
9 high enoush or swing at all. They dan
8 at it. Naturally you will not begin
. with confidence enough for an ample
swing. but by all means begin to cul.
n tivate 1t as soon as you can, provided
a you foster your accuracy at the sanie
time" As to the use OF the extreme
= curve and break OF the ball from th'
ground which are secured by the tastes
u American twist service. Mclaughlin
takes the same position as the presen
writer. that they do not pay the average
N player. The American services arr
" splendid weapons in the hands OF tn
best trained tournament experts. bu
" they use up too much energy In tn
average player to repay the EFFORT
believe.
Opposite an Illustration OF one Of nj
own famous twists Mclaughlin says ~
6 this point II do not advise the aveias
player to attempt an extreme amour
OF break through the use OF the Ameri
% can service. From the position as show.
here the body. principally the ba IL
mus snap IOTWdru ds the ih'het 'oihc
onto the ball at the same time TN
8; must be accompanied with a twistin
motion which I have heretofore dc
scribed as tho rotation at the walls
III this creates a tremendous amount u
strain on the back muscles. one tina
.e very few players are physically capab!
OF long w~ithstanding."
The California Comet Is not a b.
r. lever in the soundness Of the Englis
In formation In doubles, with the partn.
TO Of the striker out at the net. but neithe
l. does he believe in the American positio
D. for attack In doubles. As to the niue
s. discussed centre theory McLoughli
~ recognizes its value and heartily III
at dorses It, but thinks II Is not Away
~ available. Against Wilding last Augu,
Id he says II was a great help to him, hi
e. gains Brookes he could not hnd tina
st 1t worked well at all.
ed Among the many excellent photf
ly graphs Of the author In action ana III
~ less valuable series OF posed picture
r. Mclaughlin reproduces the snapshot {
n a forehand stroke made two years ae
in practice that has caused n good de-
&C. Of discussion. Vale has reproduce
this picture In his recent book to prov
ia that the Caiifornian's form IL all wron
IN and at first glance 1t must be admit
Or. that the wrong foot Is onward. Il
at Mclaughlin contends that the poslciC
Oh tue tdtNCt hSoh eAo"S ''"N ~ 80
YER not yet begun the swing at the ball, al
DIG that IL the camera had been snapped
fraction of a second later 1t would ha'
ter found his left foot forward and Il
stroke being made in good form.
Tm The picture shows that McLoughl
md was stepping into the stroke. as adv
lip Gated by the Dohertys; that is. he VI
a., stepping forward to meet the ball.
this style of play the actual swing do
Or, not begin until the left foot comes fo
de' ward in orthodox style. The same
true of some of the pictures shown
Champion Williams, which have be
a. criticised for the same reason. WI
"a Jams constantly steps into the strok'
a, a habit he acquired from English pi
f~essionals on the Continent when he W
ny- learning thN game. and In some at lea
of these snapshots II is apparent
VS. was caught at the wrong moment. T
MS champions footwork Is defective, ! b
tho lieve, but this is not often the ca
1t. with Mclaughlin. Whatever may
hub said OF his poor grip for both foi
hand and backhand strokes his feet a
Try. generally well placed and his body swi
pr fine.
IN In McLoughiln's new book there
L. an INTRODUCTION by Williams, and Il
81, Is very fattering to the author, Wi
Jams and the Californian. 1t might
ri. explained in passing. are very Gle
friends. and their good feeling has he
n'' most marked throughout their ma