Evening star., 1923-11-25


poor he should run around every
until he no longer fears it
This is the whole secret of sue
| cessful practicing in tennis-pIaying
the shot at which you are poor unit!
1t has become perfected.
SIX years ago Tilden depended en-
tlrely upon a chop. He was, however.
q Seen student Of technique and
realized well that no player ever
reaches the very top who does not
possess a sound and dependable fore
/ this important stroke. I have often
! seen him change from q beautifully
! executed chop, with which he was
winning. to far from perfect drive.
sometimes losing the match IN con-
sequence, and afterward have heard
ing better today?" He now possesses
a drive that is fiawless and uses il
as his principal point winner. Both
: Iilden and Johnston were originally
score countless aces from that po-
sition.
Morton Is an Ezamrle.
In 1919 b 1. c. Norton was mem
Der OF the South African Davis cup
team, but was not considered q good
enough player to compete even
against the Dutch. Tilder and
discussed with him the limitations
of his game and Tilden frankly told
him that he never would get any
where unless he seriously began to
change his service and backhand
remember Tilden said 10 him: If you
are content to play only with men
strokes, why keep right on. but il
you really want to get up out Of
that class and amount TO something
internationally. then get to work"
Norton at once started on his two
weak strokes At first he suffered
unexpected defeats and ne puullc
said he was finished, but he kept on
working and pluckily took his beat
ings. In Just year he had de-
veIoped his game remarka bly,. It is
lngly perfect technique. He has even
siren ngthened his backhand until II
IS his strongest stroke.
Fail 10 Bolster Game.
On the other hand. We all can
name many men who have failed 10
win first rank or who have lost their
! titles because of their neglect of
some weak stroke. Mclaughlin and
his poor backhand is d part of ten
he would have gone had his early
training been different and his st-
forts directed toward developing Z
perfect technique. Richards has beer
beaten again and again because he
lacked an aggressive 1oTehand drive
and it is only this past season that
he has seemed determined to perfect
this stroke. What could WaIlacs
Johnson have dore if he had pos
sessed and used drive as we'll as
about 1t, modern tennis demands a
full list of perfectly executed strokes
and no weakness that can be played
to.
Tennis is such difficult game that
II is no wonder that the beginner or
the poorly trained player should
want to use those strokes that come
easiest to him. But that is not the
way 10 succeed. He must keep his
mind constantly on the idea Of ac-
curing faultless technique remem-
| bering that if lis has single weak
ness his opponent will surely find il
f. Trouble With Backhand.
In nine cases out of ten it is the
back hand drive that is players
! weak spot. This is especially true OF
American players. who are prone TO
overaccentuate the Importance OF
velop this stroke before they are
properly trained in sound ground
! strokes.
Whenever I help any young PLAYER
a backhand at once and using it ag-
gressively. He. himself, will prob
ably practice his forehand drive, but
/ VIII slur over the backhand be-
cause it is more difficult When he
has mastered both drives 1 initiate
him into the mysteries Of top spin
and undercut drives and then begin
on his volleying.
The main thing is to get the right
mental attitude toward your game.
to cut yourself Z. standard Of per-
fection and try consistent to
achieve it That is why I SO strongly
advise the immediate start in learn
ing correct form from books Then
when you commence play in the early
spring you will be that much ahead.
and will have grown interested in
your new strokes and their develop
ment before the tournaments begin
AS soon as you have learned one
new stroke begin on another. That
hard work, but you will be amply re