The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-06-03

Inc OGSL LetLLS yItPo ~ ""
scribed in the third article OF
this series on "HotD to Play Bet
ter Tennis" BIZ ELLSWORTH Vines,
1Dorld'S professional tennis cham
pioH.
BY ELLSWORTH VINES
Worlds Professional Tennis
Champion
There are three different types
of tennis grips which a player
can use to advantage.
First, the continental grip
favored by Rene Lacoste. Karel
Kozeluh and Fred Perry.
Second, the western grip now
somewhat out Of style but USED
b. Billy Johnston, Maurice NC
Ljaughlin and George Lott.
The tl.ird grip is the eastern
grip favored by 95 per cent OF
ali the ranking players OF today,
incluIine Bill Tilden, Henry
Cochet, Donald Bulge, WILDER Al
lison and myself.
The .,ason for our preference
is that it is best adaptable TO az
kinds of courts, to all xmas OF
bounces, low or high.
Hit With power
You can execute all Of the
tennis strikes such as Volley'
drive. or cho- to the best ad-
vantage with this grip. .,
Won are also able to hit WIN
exceptional power inasmuch as
Won are hitting the ball with q
grip slightly behind the top OF
tie handle. .oo
To obtain this grip for the fore
hand hold your racquet IN the le1t-
hand at the throat, with the cross
strings pointing upward tnen erlp
the racquet handle with the right
hand as though shaking hands ana
there YOU have the eastern grip
This grip is good for all shots on
YOUR forehand side whether they
be drives, chops, volleys or loos.
Now, concerning the other grips;
the western grip is obtained py
laying the racquet fiat on the
floor and simply reaching down
and picking it up.
This grip is very good Tor nlgn
balls on the forehand side and on
the backhand side.
Continental Grip
But for any ball that must be
hit below the waistline. 1t is diff
ficult to execute because the face
of the racquet has a tendency 10
be tilted downward on these low
balls, thus, many times, driving
the ball into the bottom Of the
net. It is also impossible to chop
or volley successfully with this
type of grip. This grip causes the
player to shift his hand many
times during the course of the
game adding to his confusion and
poor execution.
The Continental grip is OBJ
tanned by holding the racquet in
front of you again with the left
hand with the cross strings point
ing skyward and gripping the
handle right on top.
Like the Eastern grip it is never
changed for any shot on the fore.
hand side.
In fact the Continental grip
Is used for the backhand side as
well as the forehand thus en-
abling the player employing this
grip to have only one grip for
all types of strokes, whether fore
hand or backhand.
His Objections
My objections to the Continen-
tai grip is that with your grip
on top of the handle as I de-
Scribed, the player must pull the
racquet through the shot as his
grip is slightly ahead of the rae
quet surface; this requires a ire
mendously big and strong wrist
and fore arm.
Only one player in 10000 can
use this type of grip and hope
to attain any measured success.
This grip is fine for low balls
but is not so good for a shoulder
high ball. It is hard to get much
speed on the forehand side due
to the fact you tend to scoop the
ball.
Also it is harder to obtain a
variety to shots with this grip
than with the eastern grip.
Now we come to the actual play
Ing of the game with the eastern
grip.
Keep a tight grip on your
racquet at all times except when
waiting for the ball to be returned
to you; then relax your grip CIV
Ing your hand and arm chance
to rest. I cannot emphasize this
last point too greatly.
(The next article deals with
fore hand drivers.)
GrhnnIhov Moot