Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-25

Bell has been playing in the
East about five years. He made
his first appearance as a junior,
and the killing battles he had
with Johnny Doeg of California
will never be forgotten by either.
In 1928 the wiry little Texan made
his mark nationally. He went through
a strong field which included some OF
Australians best players and O host OF
the leading Eastern performers to win
the Southampton invitation singles.
Last year he had an even bigger year,
winning the national intercollegiate
singles and the New York and Colorado
State titles.
Heretofore the Davis Cup committee
had paid little attention to Bell, but at
last he has been put on the squad. To
none OF the II on the squad does this
honor mean more. It is the chance Bell
has been anxiously hoping for, and II
ne fails to win place on the team it
won't be because he doesn't try his
hardest.
Unlikely for Team This Year.
do not look for Bell to land a berth
| this year. He is still only kid, and he
probably will need good deal more ex-
perience against top-notch players be-
fore the committee will feel he Is ripe
for international play. But If he keeps
on improving as he has in the last two
years he may beat out some Of the men
ahead OF him now.
There is the danger, however, that
Bell will burn himself out in a few years
/ II ne keeps on playing at his present
pace. Both his style and program of
play should be altered. He plays in far
too many tournaments, never taking
week on during the Summer to rest and
store up energy. Any one who plays as
he does simply cannot play every week
Bell should learn to relax during a
match and not wear himself out He
should learn that it is not wise to try
to kill every ball, and that it is much
better TO play a waiting game at times
or to hold his hand and work up toward
q finishing shot through strategy than
to try to win on pace and brute force
alone.
The young Texans stroke equipment.
too, needs improving before he will do
fun justice to himself, His fiat forehand
drive is a sumner when 1t goes right,
but he hasn't yet enough control over
1t TO be dependable Nor is his back
hand sufficiently advanced. 1t is hardly
more than push shot, lacking in Sc
verify, and because of its weakness Bell
tavors his forehand too much, running
around the ball and pulling himself out
OF position.
Needs Dependable Drive.
The chop is his most reliable stroke,
and he uses it nicely. putting a lot of
/ stuff on the ball. But, as l have said
before in this series, chop alone is not
sumcient to carry one to the top. Bell
must have more dependable drive.
The Texans biggest assets are his fiat
service, which can be whitening In its
| flerceness. and his will to win and get
ting ability. He is fair volleyer, though
not in the same class with Lott.
His ability as a getter is something
to marvel at, but sometimes he pays too
big price for his points when he kills
himself to win one and leaves himself
SO exhausted he loses the next two.
One would like to see player succeed
when he works as hard and conscien-
tiously as Bell If this lad will use a
little more Judgment. and conserve his
energies when he can, instead of play
ing at a killing pace every minute, he
will meet more success in the long run
and he will get more fun from the
game.
Copyright, 1890, by North American News
paper Alliance.)
(Next-Fritz Mercury