Evening star., 1926-08-01

mat her net play stands out as DeinS
exceptional, almost unique. The case
in which she plays the various vol
leys, both high and low, and the pre-
cision, steadiness and speed which
she puts into them, makes the on
locker feel that If he took up tennis
he would go to the net on every
shot.
| have chosen this photograph of
Mrs. Godfree because of the correct
ness of the playing form. 1t shows,
also, her grace. and fine balance.
1t is rather curious thing III ten
mis- that when a stroke is done cor
rectly it usually is also done in
graceful manner and without appar
ent effort. This is a hint for the
younger player. If you wish to play
with grace. case and to get the best
results with the least possible effort
make a point of learning every stroke
correctly
The picture has other merits, too.
Mrs. Godfree's grip on her racket Is
interesting. In making backhand
strokes, both on the ground and at
handle of the racket. A number OF
them Mile Lenglen and William
The balance of the body is another
detail which is correct in this pic
ture. Mrs. GOdfree's weight is on
the ball of her right foot. the left
foot being raised slightly off the
ground and ready 10 start quickly for
whatever position the next stroke
calls for.
Probably one of the reasons for
Mrs. Godfree's effectiveness at the
net is her sure eye and her ability
TO keep her eve on the ball. To keep
the eye on the ball as long as pos
sibie is the advice of critics on tennis.
Curiously enough. there have been
arguments among players as TO
whether, in actual play, the eye can
be kept on the ball until the ball hits
the strings of the racquet. At first.
without thinking. one might say that
it is possible, and that all of the best
players do II.
l remember having heard Comdr.
Hillyard speak of this very point. He
is one of the most famous figures at
Wimbledon, both i'm the tennis OF the
past and in that of today. Although
he no longer plays i'm the strenuous
games. he is regarded as
one of the ablest students of the
game.
In speaking of the "eye and the
ball." he said that in play and IN the
heat of a rally a player watches his
ball until it is almost on the racquet
and then instinctively and from ne
cessity. looks up to see where II IS
about to go, and what position his
opponent has taken. Mrs. Godfrae
watches the ball until the last pos
sihle moment, and that undoubtedly
partially accounts for her wonderful
play.
Left Arm Important Factor.
The left arm as an aid to balance
is most valuable, and almost every
PLAYER seems to steady himself by eX-
tending his left arm This is an in
stinctiye effort to maintain perfect
balance. The outstretched arm usual
Iy seems to draw the finish to the
rhythm and beauty of the stroke. In
the picture il can be seen how com
pIeteIv it preserves the harmony and
beauty of the figure in action.
The little jockey cap which Mrs.
Godfree usually. wears has become
popular with a number of players,
AMONG them the pretty French girl,
Mile. Didi Ylasto. Mrs. Godfree nrst
wore the cap in South Africa, where
she and the other members of the
English team went to play last Win
ter. Because of the sun. it was found
necessary to Near a covering on the
top of the head, and so the eyeshade
and the covering were Joined into one.
tcopyrisht. 19261