Evening star., 1936-04-25
|DIARY OF A NET CHAMPION
DaytoDay Story of the Tennis Wars Is Dramatic Document
1t Is Presented by F. Barnard Welsh Jr, Winner of
District and Many Miscellaneous Championships

Later, as they must seem to any
racketer in his nocturnal obServa-
tions, Welsh observes the courts at
night, writing: How strange Is a
tennis court under the light Of full
moon. AS I walked upon the rec
tangle tonight, its lines assumed q
shadowy whiteness, its surface not
that of a terribly realistic battle
ground, its net mere cobweb instead
of the ghastly monster which it really
is. Who could think that mans life
is built and crumpled by q tennis
court!"
RUT.- later in the season, Barney
found compensation for the bit
terness of his defeat by Bowman when
he defeated young Bill Tilden (Big
Bills nephew for the championship
of Pennsylvania His name was in
scribed upon the silver cup along with
that of his victims uncle and that of
Wilmer Allison. And, like q red
blooded victor, Welsh wrote: There
are few moments in life worth living.
At the dance on the final night Of the
tournament there was a song dedi-
Gated to me and announced over the
RADIO
Whence cometh victory? How can
one prepare himself for his own ac-
compEshments? AS in any other en-
deavor, only through practice, long
hours of it. Practice which, the champ
says, is more difficult than playing"
How many times have you really prac-
ticed? Do you know what it is? Re-
gard it not as playing for couple Of
hours on a court with a superior
player, for it's, paradoxically, simpler
yet more difficult than that.
Practice" writes the man who has
had plenty of it, consists of concen-
trating upon one particular stroke. It
is more difficult than playing. prac-
ticed four hours today, hitting but
two strokes-two hours on my fore
hand and two on my backhand." But
only in that way, claims Welsh, can
man perfect his game.
Supplementing that must be a
minute analysis of ones own game to
determine ones weakness before set
ting about to correct it. Observe how
Welsh points out his own deficiencies
after losing match to Hess in the
quarter-fi finals at Spring Lake. Il lost
because wasn't steady from the base
line and played in lax manner
The weakness of my game is that
don't follow the forcing shots which I
make to the net. My game is offen-
sive and must be played at the net
Also, my serve is weak"
And what is Welch's ace in the hole?
Whether it has been conspicuous or
not in the past, the young George
Washington University law student
seems determined that the volley will
be in the future. He realizes, he
writes, that the factor that balances
defeat and victory is the volley. In
five-match set it is more tiring, phys
ically and mentally, to remain on the
base line. The volleyer always wins
in the fifth set.
use the volley to put the pressure
on tired man. Make him lob once,
smash it and he is defeated. There is
always the terrifying aspect of a man
at the net, and If the match Is long
and hard, the law of averages always
favors the volleyer. Now to learn the
volley. No more defeats in the nth
set Gan explanation Of one Of his
eventual defeats near the end OF the
season.. The volley shall be my ace.
The net attack-high, low. deep and
angled-will be my weapons"
REFORE winding up his memos with
graphic description of the leading
players in the District, Barney takes
a crack at the deplorable condition
of the local public courts-a factor
which recently led to the wholesale
withdrawal Of the most prominent
parks players of the past few years
and their afiliation with the Edgemoor
Club in Maryland.
"I cannot play on the public courts
because Of their bad surface and the
bad lines. I, like many others, have
to feel where am on the court and
without these necessities my game is
less effective. firmly believe that the
staleness which I have is due chiefly
to the courts on which local tourna-
ments were held"
In his analysis Of Capital netmen,
Welsh undoubtedly will startle many
with his nomination of the best
player in the District" Currently
ranked No. z by virtue Of his play III
1885, 1t is none other than McElvenny
whom Barney selects as tops around
the Capital.