Evening star., 1924-05-18

Every noted player in the world
knows that correct footWork is eSSer-
| tial to the production of the proper
strokes: indeed, it is not too much
to say that good form is absolutely
dependent upon good footWork. It
is not the position of the feet them
selves that is so important. They
are merely a means to an end, as IL
were. The correct alignment of til.
| body is the vital factor and the feet
act merely as the means of moving
the body into the desired position.
1t is not impossible to execute some
difficult strokes when the feet and
body are misplaced, for the wrist can
sometimes be so fieXed that the effect
of correct footwork is gained. but il
is not possible to so utilize the wriSt
continually since il cannot adapt
itself to all positions. In the long
run, it is as impossible to be sure of
making a stroke properly with the
{ feet in the wrong position as it is to
dations.
To be light on the feet" mot nee
essarily fleet of fooD is a great help
toward good footwork. 1t is the
player who takes a multitude of tiny
steps rather than he who strides after
the ball that will be most likely to
have his feet in proper position when
the ball is struck. Just as the boxer
shuTfies forward, backward or side
wise with short, mlncing steps,
always maintaining correct body po
sition, so should the tennis player
manipulate his feet.
There is no better exponent OF
proper footwork than Mrs Satterth-
waite of London. When she is re
ceiving the service she begins un-
consciously TO shuttle her feet just be
/ fore the ball is served. and she is,
therefore, so alert and we'll poised
that she can adjust her body posi-
tion instantly. Elizabeth Ryan is
also noted for her good footwork.
/ She dashes about the court with
short, quick steps just as Tilden and
Johnston do. Miss Goss. on the other
hand. IS less quick in her movements.
She takes great strides when running
for ball, and, while she covers court
in an amazing manner, she often finds
that she has reached her objective
with the wrong foot foremost and
must make her stroke handicapped
by faulty body position. Shimizu is
very light on his feet and receives
the service in peculiar yet effective
manner. At the moment the server
strikes the ball ShimiZu leaps into
the air, coming down on his toe like
cat, ready to spring TO either side.
Feet Determine stroke.
Any book on tennis will tell you
that your feet and body must be al
right angles to the net in order TO
make ground strokes effective. One
reason for this is that the back swing
when the body is SO situated. The
racket should travel from well be
hind the body TO well in front of It.
short back swing, which can be
the result of incorrect body position.
will result in slower paced ball
If the feet are correctly placed the
racquet can be swung we'll behind
| the body for either forehand or back
hand drive, so that by the time the
ball is reached in the forward swing
the impetus of the body weight and
| the action of the arm muscles have
I all been carried into the racquet
The whole body is moving forward
as the ball is struck and the maxi
mum of power obtained. The for
ward motion also enables the player
! to maintain control of his strokes
| so that he can at the last instant alter
the direction of the ball or change
! faces the net cannot do this with
! equal facility. and. Furthermore, is
almost certain to pull his shot across
the court. The man who faces the
! side line can disguise the direction of
his return much more easily than he
who faces the net.
In the opinion of "Austral." Austria
! las most noted tennis writer, Ander-
sons weakness on his backhand is
| solely due to defective footwork. At
times he stands correctly and he then
makes his backhand strokes clearly.
| At others one can see the strain in
NolVeQ In keeping the DalI III play anu
| note the power that he wastes.
| The same principle of footwork ap-
! plies to volleying, provided the ball
must be reached for. Then the side
| line should be faced and the foot
nearest the net advanced in front of
| the other foot, Balls that come while
one faces the net may be taken sue
| cessfully with the body in this posi-
| ton, as the slightest turn in the
wrist will effect a sharply angled
! return.
| Good footwork is inseparable from
good tennis. and good footwork is
| dependent upon ones ability to take
| the quick, short steps of the boxer
| Brilliant returns from unorthodoN
positions are possible occasionally
| owing to unusual tieXibilitY of the
| wrist, as in Williams backhand, TO
| instance, but in the long run correc'
| footwork is absolutely essential L.
| the proper execution of strokes.
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