New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-28
VIII
ERRORS OF BEGINNERS IN GROUND STROKES.
VIII.

all right 10 strike with the arm ex-
tended out in front of them, but this
position robs the blow of most OF its
power. as the body weight is then
spent and cannot be put into the
stroke. (See illustration.) 1t is use
less to make long swing at the ball
If IL is not TO be met until the very
end Of the swing. for then the body
weight will be spent and IL will be i'm
possible TO follow the ball after hit
ting it.
But it is equally bad to hit the ball
too far back. This forces the player
either TO step backward as he strikes,
a deadly sin, or 70 play the ball before
the swing has really got under way.
Ii is necessary TO get the racket under
full momentum before the ball is met,
and this is not possible if it is played
when opposite the right foot. Golf
PLAYERS talk of playing off the right
foot" and playing off the left foot
but the best experts play the ball OPP
posite the middle of the body with
neither foot extended noticeably be-
yond the line of fight. Exactly the
same principle is involved in tennis,
and the same rules and the same re-
suits apply.
A
great number of beginners is the desire
that comes soon after the first rudi-
ments Of the game have been learned
10 hit every ball hard. This is devel-
opment of skill that should come long
after the player has become fairly eX-
merit. Speed should never come before
accuracy, even with tournament play
ers. and il is essential first 10 learn
steadiness, so that the stroke is seldom
missed. before any attempt is made to
add speed to the shot.
II is far better TO make slow
stroke successfully than to wildly slam
the ball about the court and miss I
large proportion of the returns by driv-
ing into the net or out of court. The
desire to kill" every ball often follows
close after the first dawning of mod
est skill on the part Of the beginneT,
and then i is that nine out of ten such
PLAYERS ruin all hopes of ever playing
well.
The spectacular gallery play" is not
the winning style, anyway, even Tor eN-
pert PLAYERS. who more often fall be-
fore the steady, safe men who get
everything back over the net and do
not try to knock the cover of the ball
every time they hit it. 1t is fine rulc
10 keep in mind TO let the other man
make the errors in his efforts TO show
of: if you keep the ball going back
over the net and into his court you Will
be the most likely winner Of any match
in the end.
IL seems almost unnecessary to
warn even the novice against playing
a backhand stroke underhand- that IS,
with the front Of the wrist forward
and the head of the racket held
downward (see illustration). yet there
are some beginners who make this tatal
error. This style is least uncommon
among girls. but they are sometimes
seen in this remarkable posioiOn with
out realizing the hopeless impossibility
Of making any effective stroke IN this
fashion.
Among the things that the beginner
should not do in making ground strokes
may be noted the following;
Don't try to guess at your own
faults; study these pictures and prac-
tise before a mirror to discover the
errors.
Don't use q short grip or a short
swing, and don't play with the wrong
foot forward.
Don't make the stroke with stiff
knees, fat-footed, and the body held
erect; bend down TO your work and
Jump at the ball.
Don't fight the ball away from you
as if you were afraid Of It; 20 right
to the ball and punish it,
Don't move backward as you strike;
this ruins any stroke
Don't hit the ball forward or behind
your position; meet IL at the middle Of
the swing. opposite your body.
= e h. L,1 4gu -
first: Get il back over the net and let
the other man make the errors.
Next week the service stroke will
he discussed