New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-14
BY J. PARMLY PARET,
BACKHAND STROKES OFF THE GROUND.

handed player. they are strokes MAJ.
when the ball is played on the left ,id.
Of the body.
In order 70 avoid the Ves.ne. =,
p.ay,ng with the arm ross in fr,,,
Of the body. which is Al unnatural
vas 20 hit the bail. the position +,
turned around side toward the net. a
that the p,aying shoulder is brosyt.
out In fro7t and clear % the bosv
which permits an unobs,ructed swing
Instead Or having The power benin.
the ball. az in the forehand stroke. n.
arm is somewha; ahead Of the ball, ard
ne stroke becomes more OF pull thar
a push shot Because Of this peeulia,
position. inc oackhand strokes are On.
o. the greatest -tumbling blocks o.
every beginner, and NOR errors an,
made in this play than IN any Ct the
others.
The methods OF gripping the rscs.
which vary distinctly foT this stroke
from all the others. have been fuiy
covered m previous chapter on the
grips. ard the general elements Of good
form. referred 20 before. also bear
strongly on this troke But, In add.
ton - these. there are a good Dsry
DO ats. winch apply OIL % bcshar1
-t-okcs. that the beginner should s,li,
carefully before going deeper into i-s
play.
As in the forchsnd strote tharr A..
the ,ame options regarding The 6sr
way Of hitting the ball and the eKsc'
amount o. twist 70 ut on n. One car
play the ball nearly straight. Tts
4 little or no twist. b. using a perfectly
/ straight foiiov-through; ne can pg'
J top-spin on the ball and 2 ve 10 the sane
dropping tendency already recommend.
ed for the iorehand stroke, or he ca
use a chop-strohe that VII make -
bail spin backward in ne fight throgg,
the air.
The last Of those will be covered II
the next chapter on twists and e.,
s,Yokcs: but Of the first two styles. ~
.drop-stroke IS considered prefera5'.
and will be described here IS the bss,
for the beginner 70 learn. The san,
motions and the same style Of hitting
the ball are good for both the straight
hit and the top-spinning ball. the only
differences being in the upward move.
ment Of the racket as - meets the ba
and the finish Of the stroke, which endi
the swing Of the racket much higher
For the best backhand strokes. hoT
ever. the body should be turned vel
around, with the right SIDE ard shou..
der for a right-handed player tovsri
the net and the chest presented toTsri
tho ball as n is 70 be hit OF A. ~
ief. side. The right foot must % Tor
ward or toward the net. and the or
behind il in line with the bal Aighi
As already explained IN earlier chap.
ters. the bail should he given plenty o.
room so that the clbow sh; p roi become
crsmped: the players We CIR carried
we'll ND on the toes. With srees ee1'
and the hody bent forward 20 ih,'
he can lean toward ana JUMP A. ~
bal a. he hits h..
As the ba approacncs. long beifH
Il is time 20 strike, even before r'
ball touches the ground. no raeN
should 10 drawn back - fu.l arms
length until 1t reaches the limit Of NJ
reach. and then bent by elbow and Vrr
around behind the head and over h
left shoulder. See illuetrationl
The weight - gradually shifted I"
the racket swings oaci NATL if ~ ca
ried All on the left foot. First the Boa
from the hips and finally the Shoulders
are turned 10 increase the reach OF no
arm until three quarters o. me hacs =
presented toward the oncomlng BAL
and the head looks over the playing
arm 10 watch the bail approach. ne
right foo. becomes almost die ~ ~
end Of the back swing and rises on 'h'
toe as the body bends back with ne
shoulders.
There il generally slight pause a.
the extreme back Of the preliminag
swing. when the player steadies himself
and times his stroke 10 meet The d.
a. the right point and with the gresi
est amount Of power. Perfect UNIT.
is the highest art I'm making q power
ful tennis stroke. for b. makes ne
racket meet the ball Vhen carrying
the greatest amount Of momentum a
first most beginners time their strok"
badly. and even full swing produc"
little speed.
When the forward stroke begins n'
wrist does the first work. starting n'
racket and bringing the head u,
line 10 meet the ball. The elbow 70
lows. pulling the racket still faster q
It's way, and when the arm hnsi
brings IL around and straightens o..
for the final blow the JACKET shou'
have accumulated good deal OF spec
The swing Of the shoulders as ths.
straighten out. and finally the weigi
Of the BODY shifting from the leit ioe
% the right. both add their additions
energy to the momentum until u
racket is travelling AZ me maNlmp'
speed when the ball rs met. b.
Now. IL very important ths'
forward motions and the baessa.
motions. 100, for that matter m
lesser degreel snail Dc In me saw
plane. That j.. the arm and racket "a.
die should be kept as nearly stray
IN thp'r swing as possible ne W.,
and elbow must bend backward and iof
ward AZ they swing. but they shoyle
not bend 40 and down. go that w
power shnil not bc transmitted tnroos'
a bent rod
Many English players prefer = io.
/elbow for the backhand stroke, by Wv
style carries with it a sharp angle s.'
tween the wrist and the racket han.
which is one o. the drawbacks OF w
ENGLISH method Of making me stroHs
study the accompanying i'lu'tf,s,uo
no. . OF this series and sou 1911 -ss
the point that Is intended 20 be broys'
0ut here The ROVER OF Tho Ar"
transmitted through io'nted rod co
sisting Of the upper and lover arm arm, ~
wrist. hand and racket handle. an q,
them very rea~ly In the same plane
force. and the result Is more power -.
more direct blow that can oe hs,.'
controlled than one that is trsnsm ~.
through a bent rod Ike fhe arm ~, -.
the low elbow 'hat is used I'M ihe h's
lish style of uloy 81.
The bali should be mot ~ = heito
between the ,,ec and the hip. by u.
after is ge1oro'ly thought 10 be n, ~.
oost point ~ y.h .ch 90 strike
~ shoud also be slightly iorp,a'...
of the BODY. or opposite the rgot IT, ..
N#