New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-16
@. NJ. Church an Ostrich
on Lam Tennis Courts

anv expert in the world. His base o'
operations is half way up from me
service line. From this position ne
Jumps forward with lightning speed
when he thinks his opponent ~ not loo-
bling. and almost hangs over the net.
The astoundingly agile one blocks the
ball over. usually dropping IL short. IN
making these drop-volleys Church's
hand runs up The handle OF the
ratchet almost 10 the throat. when the
ball is in easy reach.
Short Grip Effective.
This short grip is the most effective
for volleys that are intended TO drop
lust over the net Church has this
trick down better than any Of the
other experts. Habitually he no Ids ms
racket an inch or two up the handle
on other shots, except when he has 70
stretch to the last inch, which IN MS
case is a long stretch.
Church is essentially. primarily, sec
ondarily and ultimately net player
and the secret of mis- success Is due TO
the fact that he jumps in and takes
chance on everything. lie IS AWKWARD
as a cassowary, that COUSIN OF 'he
Ostrich. but his play is effective and
extraordinarily difficult. He always
runs the risk Of being lobbed, ana ne
uses up barrels of energy
As for energy. Church is untirlng'
apnarently being built of steel. He has
no fear Of lobs. for he kills those he
can reach as we'll as Mclaughlin or
any other man. and his great speed and
height enable him to reach most losses.
Those ne can't smash he runs back TO
take on the bound
His overhead work Is really the most
faultless part Of his game. lie IL not
80 spectacular as the Comet, McLough-
lin. or the Meteor, Murray, but uses
his height to the utmost advantage and
merely smashes the ball a. such an
angle that il bounds over the back
stop. Church is a living tennis en-
bodiment Of Willie Keeler's baseball
dictum. "Hit 'em where they amt
Several years ago. by the way, the
internationalist Raymond ID. Little de-
livered n tennis lecture at Detroit
club. The gist Of Titles talk was
that a tennis star must follow Keelers
advice. first. last and all the time.
Perhaps Church's opponents do not
vail 81 do hit EN- where they amt,
but he's always there" but one mem
her of the first ten confessed Il cant
play well against Church. because my
eve is always on him and not on the
ball" There may be seen the fruits OF
Church's dauntless, reckless dashes for
the net.
intercollegiate champions ground
strokes the better They are distinct
~ the weakest part in his play. HIS
forehand is fairly steady, but slow.
His backhand is q wild and ineffective
drop-stroke with plenty OF top on 1t.
The top and ensuing long bounce, how
ever. enable Church 10 get securely to
the net position when his opponent -
In back court. Because of his weak
ground strokes, Church frequently re-
sorts 10 lobs as a defence against net
attack.
There il one other point in Church's
play worthy of note. That Is his eX-
preston, facial and verbal. when things
are going wrong. Karl Behr, OF
course, leads in the Soul-Outpouring
League. but Church at times runs him
a very close second The Princetonian
IS. nevertheless and of course, fine
sportsman indeed. His remarks are
directed only at himself and adjacent
heavenly bodies, not at his opponent.
Last year Church won the Delaware,
the Northwestern and the Western
championship, and was fnalist in the
clay court title play. He defeated
Joseph J. Armstrong, Watson NJ. Wash
burn. Dean Mathey, W. T. Hayes. Heath
Byford. F. c. Inman. and others. He
lost TO Washburn, Williams, w. NJ.
Johnston (twice), and Clarence c..
Griffin. This winter he cleaned up sew
eral tournaments in California and
Florida, though not against the strong
est opposition.
Aside from his singles performances,
Church is one of the best doubles play
ers in the country. mainly because OF
his net attack. which is even more es-
sential 10 doubles plays than TO singles.
But he walks on eggs. even in doubles.