New-York tribune., 1920-01-07
Tennis Tutors
Forced tOHave
Waiting Lists
Number of Those Anxious
to Learn Game Is Great
er Than Ever Before
Bv Fred Hawthorne

America is DegluuIuS W VdhS HSk
lawn tennis more in earnest every year.
the country which are taking up the
study of the game Gin a serious way"
Nowhere are there more striking eX-
amples of this than among the profes-
sional instructors in this country, for
these men have every minute OF their
time occupied in teaching those who
wish to rise above the ordinary level.
George Agutter, the English .profes-
sional at the West Side Tennis Cluo
of Forest Hills, who teaches there from
early May until November each year
and then goes to Palm Beach for win
ter course, told me last summer that
it was absolutely impossible for him to
take another pupil. From 9 o'clock in
the morning until sunset every week
day Agutter was busy on the West
Side courts. There was literally a
waiting line" of pupils ready TO take
their instruction from the master.
McNeal Also Busy
And Agutter is but one example OF
the way in which people are focking
to the tennis instructors, and the in
terest is as great during the winter
months as in the summer. Harry Nc
Neal, the professional at the Heights
Casino, on Montague Street, Brooklyn,
has been putting in far more than the
union scale of hours in trying to keep
up with his scheduled appointments on
the indoor courts.
1t is not only the beginners at the
game who are keen for the benefit OF
this professional instruction. Even the
best players feel that frequent ses-
sions with the instructors are good for
them, as they are, without doubt.
~
in the women's "frst ten" last year,
has been practicing with McNeal ali
winter at the Casino, and the improve
ment in her play has been so pro-
nounced that many competent critics
believe the tall New York girl will win
the women's national championship
next June at Philadelphia.
Mrs Franklin I. Mallory, who as
Miss Molla Bjurstedt, held the women's
national honors for four years, has
also been indulging in practice ses-
sions with the Casino pro several times
week. and her game has gained in
speed and accuracy as a result.
Jimmie Burns, formerly Of the Ards
Rockaway Hunting Club, of Cedar
hurst, L. L., is another professional
whose time is always fully occupied
with instruction periods, and it is sc
! wherever the professional hangs up his
tennis shingle.
Makes for Correct Strokes
Fortunate, indeed, are those who
taking up lawn tennis at tender age
receive their first instruction at the
hands of professional. In this way
they learn the fundamentals of correc,
stroke making, and there is a marvel.
GUS difference between the correct anc
the incorrect methods of executing
each shot.
There is a certain smoothness and
| grace in the way the professional
makes each shot, but particularly on
ground strokes, that is invariably no.
ticeable I when you see him on the
courts, and it is the same with those
who have learned their tennis from
him. Several of our coming cham.
plons among the junior boys and girls
have started their tennis careers under
such instruction, and their time has
been we'll spent.
There is no doubt, of course, that
some OF the greatest players the game
mas ever known were largely self
taught. or picked up the fundamentals
from fellow players of greater ex-
perierce.
William M. Johnston, the nationa,
champion, is an example, and / dc
not know Of player with more fault.
less style, not only of stroke, but also
as tc court technic and all-rounf
ability. But the little Californian i,
a, tennis genius. The fact remains
that professional instruction is mos,
valuable adjunct for those who seel
to gain the heights.
The Heights Casino has arranged
several inter-city team matches fo1
this winter on the Brooklyn courts
Richard Norris Williams I'd. forme,
national champion, will head one Wis.
iting team from Boston next month
and Mrs. George W. Wightman. na.
tional woman champion, and Miss
Marion Zinderstein, runner-up for thai
title, will also come down in February
for tilt with Mrs. Mallory. Miss Goss
and other women stars of this citv
Three full days have passed now
since Abraham Bassford jr., chairman
OF the national ranking committee. has
taken verbal or printed fling At ne me-
because of our differing views as to
the work of his committee. Is it the
calm before the storm!
BrittOn OutpOints Alherts