Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-06

But every one who plays any game
feels that he wants a firm starting
place. The foundation should be
secure. so that his natural ability will
be given the greatest opportunity of
expressing itself later on. A person
with genuine liking for tennis can
discover, by himself. the main points,
after he has played for a long time.
But a head start is desirable.
/ don't believe that a player can tell
a. beginner exactly how to play, for
tennis is so wholly a game of iudg.
ment for the person himself. ] am
going to try to point out the most
striking things which have impressed
me in the learning of my own game.
the mistakes and the valuable dis
coveries-and also the most interest
ing things that have noticed in the
games of American and foreign play
ers which might come in handy for
the beginner during his most difficult
days.
Favors an Early Start.
There are some preliminary ques-
lions that one often hears, such as
What is the best age to begin tennis?
What is the most desirable equip
ment? How does one go about learn
ing the correct strokes? The answers
to these, to me, seem to be the very
first of the starters"
One might answer the first question
by saying that any age is a good age
to begin the game. Tennis can give
fun and pleasure to any one who takes
it up, no matter what his age. How
ever, it is those who begin to play
when they are young who have the
better chance of becoming skillfUl.
Nile. Suzanne Lenglen first became
accustomed to the racket and ball
when she was or 10. During her
II or IS years of almost constant
play she has become one of the most
clever opponents of the game that the
tennis world ever has had. Among
the men players, We find that Mr..
Tilden and Mr.. Johnston became in
terested in tennis when they were
small boys. This is true Of most Of
the others about whom one hears.
Considerable Strength Needed.
To me, the ages of IL or 10
years seem to be the most de.
sirable for the taking up of the game.
One is old enough to grasp the idea
of the game quickly, and to concen-
trate, a little, on the playa thing
which would be difficult, imagine, for
a younger child. Also tennis is very
vigorous game, and more strength IS
perhaps required than the average
boy or girl younger than IL would
have.
I\can rmember that 1 first began
to play when I was. about ID
and became so enthusiastic that /
was out on our court every Gay, play
ing with any one 1 could coax out
there.
Heavy rackets were popular then,
and immense handles. At first I used
my fathers racket, which weighed Is
ounces. / was obliged to hold
it at the very upper part of the
handle, in order to get my fingers
about 1t. A little later I was given
a racket which fitted my hand nicely,
and which weighed about 1874 ounces,
and everything became much easier.
For a woman or girl player, 13A
or 1912 ounce racket IS ideal. Few
man players use heavier rackets than
these. The heavy bat and clumsy
handles are of the past.
Balance Factor i'm Racket.
Balance is another feature which is
important in the choice of a racket,
but is difficult to discuss, because 1t Is
mainly a matter of preference. Some
players prefer a racket slightly heavy
in the head, others a racket evenly
balanced. have found that my
strokes go more smoothly when use
q racket which is slightly light in the
head. Mr.. JohnSton'S racketS are all
heavy in the head.
There are a few more things which
seem to me as important for the be-
gtnner in the way of rackets and
equipment, and, also, there is the
question Of whether or not professional
assistance Is helpful. I shall try to tell
Of these in the next article.
copyright. 1920