The Washington times., 1922-11-21

/ the finger have been removed. a
study OF pictures and illustrations
showing the grip OF the champion &
! fingers on his racket in making
various shots indicates most clearly
the handicap which the tall Phila-
delphian will have to overcome be-
fore he can retain even a part o.
the skill which has placed him at
the head of the tennis world.
| The fingers Of the champion. like
the rest of his body. are excep'
! tionally long. and practice has made
them very flexible. Unlike most
Of the other tennis players, he has,
therefore, been able to depend on
them. rather than on the pafm OF
his hand in gripping the racket.
This is especially noticeable In his
service and in high volleying, which
have played a large part In MS
success.
II is. therefore, necessary to con-
slider this part OF Tildens play
first and see how the amputation
will affect II.
HOW PLAY is AFFECTED.
A picture of his service Figure
II indicates that there will be little
or no loss of skill through has
loss. owing TO the fact that II has
been his habit. to bring the thumb
around and lock II between middie
and fourth fingers, at the JOINT
nearest the palm, leaving the tore
and upper part Of the middle rree
to guide the shot.
This control will be retained es
far as the thumb and fourth finger
are concerned, while the guidance
will simply pass to the forefinger
with only a slight additionaI
strain, while this can also be over
come by a slightly greater depen'
dance on his wrist motion.
In his other forehand work. IN
clud,ng volleying. Tilden grasps his
racquet somewhat further from the
end using his length Of wrist TO
gain additional power. His thumo
. ara. p. I'd 10 The miudIe ting.
hut this time directly over the
Joints that have been removed
IFig. 2J His forefinger Is also
locked under the thumb: 49,,
| !. ,s therefor ldent thn,
practically no change Of grip VIII
become necessary as result o.
the operation. though a shsh'
movement of the forefinger 'o'
ward the fourth may facilitate
shifts to other positions.
OFFENSIVE us HAMPERED.
We can therefore take II Tor
granted that as soon as the cham
nion has become accustomed TO MS
ioss, neither his famous service noi
h,s forehand drives will be affected
Rut when we come to the defensive
aide OF his game there 10 another
story to tell. -, 49,.
The difficulty that he win have
IN overcome on ground strokes ano
baokhand volleys can best be mus
treted by q study of a backhano
drive dig. 81 Here the RACQUET
ia held entirely free from the lower
mart of the hand, giving a full swine
from the elbow to the upper part OF
the palm. This three lower fingers
are wrapped around the butt, with
The thumb and fofefinger, with the
uppsr Joints Of the middle finger
firmly ciinched around the handle.
| II is therefore evident that the
,oss Of those Joints will entirely de-
stroy the hold OF the middle finger
causing q shift OF the thumb back
to the position held In the forehau no
drive or service. This will also In
volve movement of the hand up the
handle, placing tho butt In the lower
part OF the palm, and putting z
strain In the wrist which viii inevi
,abiy shorten the stroke, making II
resemble the now baokhand used
hy Gerald Pattarson last yeaA