Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-31

There is very great diversity OF
opinion as to the value of the Amerl-
can twist service in modern lawn ten
mis-, writes Parmley Paret in the New
York Sun. In the hands of such a mas
ter as Mclaughlin there can be no
question that it is a great weapon OF
attack, and this stroke alone has done
more than any other to make the Cali
fornia comet the great player that he
is. Without his wonderful service NC
Loughlin would hardly rank above the
second ten, for his backhand is Woe
fully weak and his forehand stroke
made in bad form. He would have to
rely largely on his volleying ability to
win If he were not so well armed with
a service that is probably the most
difficult in the world to negotiate.
But Mclaughlin is one player in a
lthousand-yes, one in a million--and
one cannot judge all players by the
standards he has set. There are num-
Der of others who have cultivated the
twisting break in their service that has
made it difficult to return and 1t has
repaid many of them for the effort of
learning the stroke. But 1T is always a
heavy strain on the physical resources
of the player. In long hard match,
particularly in hot weather, this strain
sometimes turns the match against the
user of the American twist, and 1T is
safe to say that many matches nave
been lost through this play. though
possibly not so many as have been
won by it.
Worth the Effort.
For a tournament player who is con-
stantly keyed up to high tension, who
practices steadily and is always in good
playing form ana physical training, I
am inclined to the opinion that the
American. service is more than worth
the effort, but for the average player
whose efforts are confined to playing
once or twice a week on Saturdays and
holidays it is very doubtful If it is
worth the effort. Whether this service
pays the average player or not is one
of many questions that were recently
put up to all of the crack players of the
country, and 1t is surprising to find
that the majority are against it.
Out of thirty-two experts consulted,
including Parke and Dixon of the
British international teams, sixteen did
not believe that it would repay the
average player to use it, twelve thought
it did not pay and four answers were
of indefinite character. This is only
one of forty or fifty doubtful points of
play that were. put up to the experts,
and it is very interesting to read the
different opinions that are expressed
on these pOlHIS. Inc dHSWeTS are De-
ing published in a new book on the
game that is to appear next spring.
The greatest advantage of the Amer
lean twist service lies in the break or
false bound of the ball. rather than its
curve in the air. The ball shoots from
the ground at such an angle and car
ries so much spin, that it is difficult to
hit fast and accurately. If the server
follows his delivery rapidly up to the
net. as does Mclaughlin, for instance,
the strike-out is in trouble right from
the start To pass a rushing net server
It is necessary to hit hard and low and
accurately toward the side lines so that
any twisting of the ball Is great
nearly every player eases up little
in the speed of his strokes and also
takes fewer chances of error by play
ing a little higher over the net and a
the court, tts
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