NNIS
7
presented to the
UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
SAN DIEGO
by
JUDGE J.M. CARTER
TJ. X. WILLIAMS, 2o.
NATIONAL CHAMPION. 1914 AND li)l(i
MODERN TENNIS
BY
P. A. VAILE
Author of "Great Lawn Tennis Players," "The Strokes and
Science of Lawn Tennis," "Modern Golf," etc.
ILLUSTRATED BY EXPLANATORY DIAGRAMS
AND ACTION-PHOTOGRAPHS
SECOND EDITION REVISED
FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY
NEW YORK AND LONDON
COPYRIGHT, 1915 AND 1917, BY
PUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY
(Printed in the United States of America)
Copyright under the Articles of the Copyright Convention of the
Pan-American Republics and the United States, August 11, 1910
THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO THE
WEST SIDE TENNIS CLUB, NEW YORK
IN RECOLLECTION OF MUCH KINDNESS
AND HOSPITALITY FROM THOSE WHO
ARE NOW MY FELLOW-MEMBERS
INTRODUCTION
Being a translation of the Preface by M. Max Decugis, the famous
French player, to the French edition of this book.
Mr. P. A. Vaile has asked me to introduce his
book on Tennis to amateur players of this de-
lightful game.
I will do it simply and without any pretense to
style, for I must confess that I feel much more at
home with a racket in my hand than with a pen
between my fingers.
I do not know whether you have noticed how
few and far between are the books on games that
really deserve the name and that treat authori-
tatively and in a competent manner the various
rules governing the particular game under dis-
cussion. As a rule, one encounters no more than
the enthusiastic descriptions of amateurs, sincere
enough, doubtless, in themselves, but lacking the
technical knowledge that is absolutely indispen-
sable if the presentation of the subject is to be at
all convincing. Or again, one happens upon long
scientific treatises by experts who, with the figures
at their fingers' ends, give one the trajectory de-
scribed in space, for instance, by a football, or, in
the case of a quoit hurled by a strong effort, curves
of exceptional accuracy but practically no value
as creators of enthusiasm. It is rarely, indeed,
that we get the practical side of things, which
alone really interests the player. As far as tennis
is concerned, to come down to particulars, tho
vii
viii INTRODUCTION
much has been written on the subject by amateurs,
and even by champions, we must go to the books
of those who have made a technical study of the
game to find the really interesting reading. No
study more complete, more practical, more
authoritative, and at the same time more simple
in its intelligibility, has been published than the
work of Mr. P. A. Vaile, entitled Modern Tennis.
In an easy, agreeable style, lucid and thoroughly
sportsmanlike, if I may use the term, tennis is
here explained, commented upon, and made abso-
lutely clear by Mr. Vaile from the simple forehand
stroke to the most complicated of the American
cut services, with a detailed treatment of volleys,
smashes, backhand play, etc., in a manner which
exhibits the author's profound knowledge and
long experience of the game.
From this book beginners can learn how to
make the first simple strokes, and even the method
of holding the racket very important points when
commencing to play the game, inasmuch as the
progress of a player depends upon his style and,
consequently, upon the method by which his play
has been formed from its inception. In follow-
ing Mr. Vaile 's advice to tyros, young players can
be certain of acquiring a style of play that will
be well thought out and susceptible of rapid im-
provement. Players of average skill will find here
an analysis of the more difficult strokes which they
have probably been long trying to make, but with-
out success, owing to not knowing how to handle
them properly. There will also be professionals,
INTRODUCTION ix
nay, even champions, who will find endorsed and
carefully explained in this book the strokes and
tactics that they hold most dear and that they can
thus learn to perfect. All, in short, will find in it
a compelling interest and will gain from it much
practical instruction.
This last is, in fact, the quality most character-
istic of the volume, and we know of no higher
praise that can be bestowed upon it.
A little personal anecdote will serve to confirm
the theories of Mr. Vaile. In October, 1904, 1 was
in London, playing for the covered-court cham-
pionship. I had reached the finals and was
thoughtfully studying the play of Gore, whom I
was to meet on the morrow, when Mr. Vaile took
me by the arm and, making me sit beside him in
the gallery, opposite the center of the court, said
to me, "Do you want to beat Gore to-morrow?"
I indicated my doubts of the result by a smile.
"But it's quite simple!" said he. "This man
plays all his balls to within a yard at the most of
the base-line. Give him one of your long drives
down the center and run up to the net. Imagine
two tangents to your two extremes of reach to
right and left, both starting from the point of
departure of the ball that he returns to you. If
you miss it, don't worry, it will be out if your
position at the net does not enable you to kill it."
I knew the value of Mr. Vaile 's theories too well
not to put them to profit. On the morrow, there-
fore, from the beginning of play, I put into
practise his famous center-theory, and won the
x INTRODUCTION
first set 6 2. Rendered over-confident by this
result I let down a bit and had the second set won
from me by 63 and the third by 60. For-
tunately I saw Mr. Vaile at this juncture, who
pointed out to me the value of center-play. I once
more employed this system and won the fourth
set 6 0. Wearied with the exertion, I began the
fifth set by playing in the back court and very
soon found myself at a disadvantage of 1 to 4.
While changing sides, my despairing gaze en-
countered that of Mr. Vaile, who still sat in the
gallery facing the center of the court. He made a
gesture which seemed to say, "You are not doing
what I told you to do so much the worse for
you." This gesture saved me. I took a new
racket to give more speed to my drives and Gore
did not get another game. Thanks to Mr. Vaile, I
won the championship with the remarkable score
of 6 2, 3 6, 6, 6 1, 6 4, which shows pretty
conclusively the advantages and the disadvantages
of remembering or forgetting Mr. Vaile 's advice.
It is then a good thing to understand the theory
of the game and a still better one to apply it, and
I can not impress too strongly upon those players
who wish to acquire that most difficult-to-master
of all qualities at tennis, which may be termed
"head," that they should saturate themselves with
the advice of Mr. Vaile. If they do so they will
progress without a shadow of doubt.
Personally, I experience a renewed pleasure
every time I read over these eminently workman-
INTRODUCTION xi
like pages, and I have no doubt that Mr. Vaile's
book will rapidly become the vade mecum of every
tennis-player who deserves the title.
MAX DECUGIS.
This book was originally published in London
in June, 1904.
It went into its second edition in April, 1907.
So far as was possible, the original text has been
preserved, as otherwise the work would lose much
of its force.
It is published also in French and German, and
is recognized as the standard work on the subject.
English players would not recognize the value
of center-theory until it was borne in upon them
in the manner described by M. Decugis.
I am much indebted to M. Decugis for his
valuable assistance in preparing the French
edition of this book for publication.
P. A. VAILE.
New York, April 15, 1915.
CONTENTS
PAGE
INTRODUCTION vii
THE COURT 1
IMPLEMENTS 9
THE GRIP OF THE RACKET 14
THE GAME 17
STROKES CLASS I
Service 18
The Forehand Stroke 25
The Backhand Stroke . . 32
The Half -Volley 36
The Volley 39
The Lob- Volley 45
The Forehand Overhead Volley . . . . 46
The Lob . . . . 49
THE FLIGHT OP THE BALL 51
STROKES CLASS II
Service 55
The Forehand Drive 66
The Backhand Drive./ 82
The Chop 99
The Lob . . . . 106
The Volley Ill
THE MODERN SERVICE . . 114
FOOT-FAULTS 130
THE LADIES 140
xiv CONTENTS
PAGE
THE SINGLE GAME 148
DOUBLES 167
MIXED DOUBLES 178
LADIES' SINGLES 183
LADIES' DOUBLES 188
PRACTISE 189
TOURNAMENT PLAY 192
UMPIRING AND THE LINESMAN 197
ENGLISH AND AUSTRALASIAN TENNIS COMPARED 199
ENGLISH TENNIS 204
PERSONALITIES 213
How AMERICA CAN REGAIN THE DAVIS CUP . . 222
INTERNATIONAL TENNIS 239
LAWS OF TENNIS 246
CRITICISM OF THE LAWS 257
REGULATIONS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL LAWN-
TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP (DAVIS CUP) . . 264
REGULATIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF TENNIS
TOURNAMENTS 272
REGULATIONS FOR INTERSCHOLASTIC TOURNA-
MENTS 289
CASES AND DECISIONS 290
THE MODERN FOREHAND AND THE PULL . . . . 298
INDEX . 315
TEXT ILLUSTRATIONS
1 How to Mark the Court 5
2 The Court 7
3 The Net 8
4 Angles of Service 20
5 Position of Feet for Forehand Stroke 28
6 Position of Feet for Backhand Stroke 33
7 Positions of Racket in Half- Volleying 38
8 Forehand Overhead Cut Service 56
9 Reverse Overhead Cut Service 59
10 Underhand Forehand Cut Service -. . . 60
11 American Service and Reverse American Service . . 61
12 Action of Racket in American Service and Reverse
American Service 63
13 Forehand Drive with Lift 67
14 Flight and Bound of Ball in the Forehand Drive
with Lift 69
15 Rotation of Ball on Net after Lift 71
16 Rotation of Ball on Net after Cut or Chop . . . . 72
17 Natural Tendencies of Drive with Lift 73
18 How Lift to Lift Checks Rotation of Ball . . . . 74
19 Principle of Lifting Drive 75
20 Error of Playing Rising Ball with Vertical Face . . 79
21 Correct Position of Racket for Playing Rising Ball 79
22 How to Play the Chop 100
23 Effect of Playing Chopped Ball without Force . . 102
24 Flight and Bound of the Ball in Plain Drive, Lifting
Drive, and Chop 105
25 Flight, Bound, and Return of Cut Lob 107
26 Diagram Showing Value of Center-Theory . . . . 153
27 Position for Receiver of Service 156
28 Theory of Halving Distance for Lobs 161
xvi TEXT ILLUSTRATIONS
FIGURE PAGE
29 Value of Centering the Service 171
30 Maurice E. McLoughlin Playing Forehand Drive . . 225
31 R. N. Williams, 2d, at End of Backward Swing in
Backhand Stroke 232
32 R. N. Williams, 2d, Halfway Through a Backhand
Stroke 233
33 Maurice E. McLoughlin, Showing Swing-back in
Backhand Drive 236
34 Maurice E. McLoughlin, Showing Finish of Back-
hand Stroke . 237
FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS
TACINd
PLATE PAGE
1 R. N. Williams, 2d Frontispiece
2 Forehand Grips 14
3 Backhand Grips 16
4 Maurice E. McLoughlin Start of Service . . . . 20
5 Upward Swing 24
6 Just Before Impact 30
7 Just After Impact 36
8 Finish of Service 40
9 Norman E. Brookes About to Serve 48
10 Upward Swing Before Impact 52
11 Moment of Impact 56
12 Just After Impact 64
13 Finish of Service 68
14 Anthony F. Wilding Start of Sendee 72
15 Just Before Impact 76
16 Just After Impact 80
17 Finish of Service 88
18 R. N. Williams, 2d Back Swing in Service . . . . 92
19 Thomas C. Bundy Reverse Service, Swing-back . . 96
20 P. A. Vaile Reverse Service, Swing-back . . . . 100
21 Just Before Impact 108
22 Thomas C. Bundy Reverse Service, Moment of
Impact 112
23 P. A. Vaile Reverse Service, Moment of Impact . . 116
24 Thomas C. Bundy Reverse Service, Finish of
Stroke 120
25 Norman E. Brookes Forehand Drive, Swing-back 128
26 Finish of Stroke 132
27 Maurice E. McLoughlin Forehand Drive, Just Be-
fore Impact 136
xviii FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS
FACING
PAGE
28 R. N. Williams, 2d Forehand Drive, Just After
Impact 144
29 Thomas C. Bundy The Chop, Swing-back, and
Finish of Stroke 148
30 P. A. Vaile Low Backhand Drive, Swing-back . . 156
31 Just Before Impact 158
32 Moment After Impact 160
33 Turnover of Arm 162
34 Finish of Stroke 164
35 T. R. Pell Low Backhand Drive, Backward Swing 176
36 (a) Top of Swing. (&) Before Impact .. 180
37 Just Before Impact 184
38 Turnover Just After Impact 192
39 Finish of Stroke 196
40 T. R. Pell Horizontal Backhand Drive, Start, and
Swing-back 200
41 Coming Onto the Ball 208
42 Cramped Drive off Body 212
43 Before Impact 216
44 (a) Just Before Impact. (&) The Follow-
through 220
45 Finish of Stroke 228
46 T. R. Pell Backhand Drive off High Bound,
Swing-back 234
47 Norman E. Brookes Backhand Stroke in Stride,
Impact 240
48 Anthony F. Wilding (a) Backhand Stroke, Finish.
(b) Back-swing in the Smash 244
49 William M. Johnston The Low Forehand Which Is
the Foundation Stroke of Tennis. Finish of a
Forehand Drive 304
50 William M. Johnston A Forehand Volley. A
Backhand Chop. Showing Johnston's Grip.. .. 312
MODERN TENNIS
THE COUET
THERE are many different kinds of courts, such
as grass, asphalt, cement, clay, wood, etc., but
to my mind there is really only one court which
absolutely fits the game, and that is a good grass
court. Nearly all others make the ball dirty in a
very short time, and once a ball has lost its virgin
purity, it has no charm for me. Many, however,
are not so particular, and can derive much pleas-
ure from playing with drab balls in a dim light, as
is so often done in covered courts. Nothing can
surpass a fast, true, grass court, and he who would
excel at the game should endeavor to secure his
practise on such a one, altho when that is not
available, a very good game may be played upon
the aforesaid substitutes.
HOW TO LAY OUT A GRASS COURT
Employ some one who knows how to do it. All
other ways are a delusion and a snare for ninety-
nine of every hundred, and probably quite half
a delusion for the hundredth. I have laid out
many, and know, that at this game, I will back the
professional against the amateur every time. In
addition to employing the man who knows how to
2 MODERN TENNIS
get the surface for you, get some friend who knows
the game to see the court (or courts) laid out,
otherwise there is a fair chance of the work being
spoiled for you.
He should see to the following points. The full-
sized double court is 78 feet by 36 feet. I consider
that you should have a clear space on each side-
line of quite four yards if possible, and at each
base-line there should certainly be eight yards and,
if it can be spared, nine or ten. This would make
a desirable size for your lawn, say, roughly, 132
feet by 64. If you are laying down several courts,
you will not require such breadth, as one borrows
from the other, and it would be sufficient then to
have between the courts but little more than you
would allow on the side-line of one court. It is not,
in my opinion, advisable to have your background
too far from your base-line, as I think one gets a
better idea of the length of the court if the back-
ground rises somewhere about the distance sug-
gested by me. I was once quite paralyzed by being
called upon to play on an open space, on a per-
fect court, but with no background, not even a
net. If it were practicable, I should like to see
the length at which the background rises settled
by law.
Any one not acquainted with the game might
think I am very generous in the matter of space,
considering that a court only 78 feet by 36 feet
is required, but it must be borne in mind that a
THE COURT 3
ball pitching on the base-line may bound four or
five yards; the player's arm and racket, together
with his swing, will account for nearly another
three yards. In addition to this, a player should
always be able to advance onto the ball, so you
will see that nine yards is not so much, especially
when you consider the moral effect of the wall or
netting, which I can assure you is large, very large,
if you merely feel as you are running for a ball
that you are going to hit the fence either with your
body or the racket.
For all ordinary play, any green hedge makes a
good background, but it should always have wire
netting before it.
You must endeavor so to lay out your court
that the sun shall at all times pass as nearly as
may be across it in the same line as the net.
The dimensions of the court have often caused
me considerable thought. I have never read any-
thing which went to show how the size of the
single and double courts was arrived at. It seems
that they have, like Topsy, "just growed" that
way. I have never heard that they were designed
with any particular ideas of proportion. We are
so accustomed to them that we are inclined to think
that they are as nearly perfect as they may be.
This is not always a good condition of mind.
If I thought there was any danger of the game
developing into pat-ball, and in England there
have been signs, I should suggest giving the court
4 MODERN TENNIS
an extra eighteen inches at each end, which would
make the singles-court exactly three times the
length of its breadth. I should retain the present
service-line and base-line, and serve as now; but
think of the drives we should see. When I see
pat-ball too far advanced, I shall advocate the
extra length.
[In the American game it is possible that the
extra length may be required in time, but for an
entirely different reason, namely, to limit the
speed of the service and prevent the too rapid ar-
rival of the server at the net.]
HOW TO MAEK A COUET
This is not the way most people do it, but it is
my way, and is very simple and easily remem-
bered. Lay down your side-line, A B, of seventy-
eight feet, wherever you intend to have it, as
shown in Fig. 1. You must now remember the
simple fact that the figures 3, 4, and 5, or any mul-
tiple of them, will give you a right angle, so you
put in a peg at C, four feet from B. Your as-
sistant stands at B, and you measure out twelve
feet of tape, that is the sum of 3, 4, and 5, and
give him both ends of the tape to hold at B. You
then pass the tape round C, at the four-foot mark.
Then you take another peg and put it in at the
corner D of the triangle made by stretching the
tape tightly at the nine-foot mark. You have now
your right angle, and as every line of a tennis-
THE COURT
u i
10 II 12 &
6 MODERN TENNIS
court is parallel with another the rest is simple:
you have only to measure the same distance apart
at each end to get your other lines. Any multiple
of the above figures, such as 6, 8, and 10, will give
you the same result, and it really is better to take
a multiple of 3, 4, and 5, but that is your formula,
and is so simple that you can not forget it. This
is really a better method than that usually advo-
cated of taking the measurement at the net, and
working from that on the diagonal and side-line,
as in that case you may easily, through an error
of an inch or two in the angle of the cross-
measurement, get your long side-line considerably
out of line with some fence or hedge running with
it, which looks very unsightly, and you will not
see this until you have had all your trouble for
nothing. With my method, that can not happen,
unless your eye is so crooked that you ought not
to be marking out a lawn.
The marking of the court and the measurements,
also elevations of singles and doubles nets, are
shown in Figs. 2 and 3.
The net-posts are placed three feet outside the
side-lines both for the single and double game. As
the single game is frequently played over a double
net, standards three feet six inches high are put
underneath the net in a position where the posts
should be. See Fig. 3.
You will notice in the plan of the double court
included in copies of the rules, that the side-lines
THE COURT
46
i
i
46
5
I
13$
8
13 6
8
I
THE FOREHAND STEOKE 29
be, scarcely in contact with the ground, and if it
is, then it should certainly be bearing little, if any,
of your weight, for that should be thrown onto
the ball of the toe, and if one may judge by the
feeling, the muscles of the calf, as you stand, with
knee slightly bent, and every muscle ready in the
best position to go directly the brain telegraphs
the word of command. Similarly, do not have the
front foot flat on the ground. Use the ball of the
big toe to keep in touch with mother earth until
your weight comes forward, and the rearmost foot
takes up that function.
The only time when it is permissible, and in
some cases practically unavoidable, that you
should play with a flat foot is when you are taking
low volleys.
After you have acquired a reasonable degree of
certainty in returning the ball, your next endeavor
should be to make it pitch as near to the base-line
as you can every time without sending it over.
Do not get it into your head that the ball must
just skim over the net. You can get a good length,
fair-paced drive quite two feet above the net.
One of the greatest faults of nearly all beginners
is getting too close to the ball both in its line of
flight and laterally. A beginner should stand well
away from the ball both sidewise and lengthwise.
Let it have its bound and then deal with it. It is
fatal to be cramped in your shot, and it is much
easier to play your stroke advancing than retiring.
30 MODERN TENNIS
The first is natural, and you have all chances in
your favor, whereas, if you have to play a shot
while retreating, the chances are much against
your making an effective stroke. Remember, you
always want the assistance of your body, some-
times certainly in a very slight degree, but even
that slight amount can not be so effectively ob-
tained when you are "in retreat," as it can, for
instance, even when you are "poised" for a mo-
ment.
The body should be nearly parallel with, or
facing, the line of flight of the approaching ball,
and not, as laid down by some writers, the direc-
tion in which the ball will come.
The racket must be held firmly and naturally.
In this stroke there is practically no wrist-work.
The left arm should not hang loosely, as is some-
times advised. It should have "muscular inten-
tion" and should balance the right, swinging
forward and round in front of the body as the
racket is swung behind the right shoulder, and
coming back as the stroke is made and the right
arm thrown forward. Indeed, at the finish of the
stroke, it will be found that many players involun-
tarily extend the left arm behind them, so as to
be practically in a line with the right at the finish
of the stroke.
Above everything, acquire certainty before you
begin to think of pace. I know young fellows who
have been playing for years, who have all the
MAURICE E. MCLOUGHLIN SERVING
McLoughlin Is licrc almost falling onto the ball.
angle of the racket-face and the manner In which
is keeping his right foot behind the line.
Notice the
McLoughlin
PLATE 6
THE FOREHAND STROKE 31
physical advantages necessary to make champions,
who serve half-arm pats without any body-weight,
and wildly slash at all and sundry balls, counting
the afternoon well spent if a few of these meteoric
eccentricities happen to bite the chalk by accident ;
but this is not tennis. Accuracy in placing and
certainty in returning first: then, when the time
comes, and the necessity, severity.
THE BACKHAND STROKE
IT is amazing how many players make this shot
out of position. It is of the utmost importance
that the feet be in proper position for the stroke.
This position is the reverse of that laid down for
the forehand stroke. The right foot must be ad-
vanced and the toe pointing almost, but not quite,
parallel to the line of flight of the approaching
ball. The left is in the rear about 18 inches,
nearly at right angles to the right (see Fig. 6),
and bearing your weight. As in the forehand
stroke, so in this, your body should be sidewise
to the net, as most writers put it, but, of course,
as the ball comes from different directions this is
not always right. Your body should be facing,
and parallel with, the line of flight of the ball.
You must understand this clearly, as it is of im-
portance. You are not to face in the direction
from which the ball is coming. You must stand
so that, looking right ahead of you, the ball will
pass the line of your vision at a right angle; in
other words, you must be " sidewise on" to the
ball.
One of England's ex-champion players consis-
tently plays his backhand stroke off his left foot.
The consequence is he can not make a clean pass-
ing shot down the side-line on that side, as he
32
THE BACKHAND STROKE
33
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34 MODERN TENNIS
gets such a large amount of cut on the ball. I
have seen his return go a foot inside the court and
curl a foot outside. This will show the impor-
tance of the position of the feet. That man is
robbing himself of at least two feet of room at
the net.
All the general rules laid down concerning the
forehand stroke apply with equal force to the
backhand ; indeed, it is wonderful how similar are
the mechanical principles involved in nearly all
ball games and the strokes thereof.
The stroke is played by swinging the racket well
back until it is within a few inches of the head,
and then stepping onto the ball and striking it
with an even swing about a foot before it gets
quite close to the body. Many players forget
the different positions of the face of the racket
when held naturally and with the face at right
angles to the floor, by, first, the forehand grip,
and, secondly, the backhand grip. Take these
grips, and examine the angles for yourself, and
you will then understand the necessity for hitting
your backhand shot before it gets "in" to you.
I have said, play the ball sidewise with your
right foot foremost. I can not impress this too
strongly on the beginner. As a matter of fact,
many fine strokes are played with remarkable
accuracy by some players, when they are playing
at a still greater angle, almost with their backs to
the net.
THE BACKHAND STROKE 35
Before I temporarily leave the consideration of
the two most important ground-strokes, I shall
risk repetition and remind you of the tennis-
player's alphabet.
1. Keep your eye on the ball, and not only on
the ball, but on that portion* of it which you intend
to hit.* You do not always hit it in the same
place, as will hereafter appear.
2. Hit the ball with the center of your racket.
3. At the moment of hitting the ball, be trans-
ferring your weight from your left (in this case)
leg to your right.
4. Hold your racket firmly when you are making
your stroke. Neglect of this causes the loss of
many strokes.
5. Follow through your stroke.
I want you to pay particular attention to the
words "be transferring." In driving at golf, as
already mentioned, a great deal depends upon the
correct transference of the weight of the body at
the critical moment, and so it does in tennis. You
really hit the ball slightly more than half-way
through the act of transferring your weight. If
this point is thoroughly mastered, and you get
your body to do its fair share of the work, you
will be astonished to find what pace you can get
out of a stroke by correctly "timing" the body
onto the ball.
* This, of course, is a counsel of perfection, but it is what
must be aimed at.
THE HALF- VOLLEY
I AM always amused at the half-contemptuous
short shrift this beautiful and useful stroke re-
ceives. I am inclined to think that it is somewhat
on the same lines as the public opinion which
caused "volleying" when first introduced to be
considered "bad form," and the enterprising
player who bounded to the net and killed his oppo-
nent's soft returns, in very truth a "bounder"
(in English slang meaning a very objectionable
person) because the other fellows couldn't do it.
To a great extent this is so with the half -volley.
It really is not a very difficult stroke, but it has
never yet been forcibly borne in upon tennis-
players why they miss this particular shot so fre-
quently. This is the stroke of all strokes which
is played by most players nearly blindfolded.
Here again let me shout in stentorian tones,
* ' Keep your eye on the ball. " Do we miss a drop-
kick? Have we any objection to a half -volley at
cricket? No, because we look at these, and
we don't look at the half -volleys on the tennis-
court. There is no stroke which allows so many
balls to pass "clean through the racket." This,
accompanied by the fact that the stroke is nearly
always used merely as a defensive shot, has, I
think, invested it with terrors it should not possess.
A good player should be able and willing to take
36
MAURICE E. MCLOUGHLIN SERVING
McLoughlin has now struck tlie ball, yet his right foot has not
crossed the Hue. It comes In now very fast as he runs up to the
net. This is a perfectly fair service.
PLATE 7
THE HALF-VOLLEY 37
this stroke on as an offensive shot, if he sees that
it will give him a better opening than waiting to
play it later. If you doubt my contention, get a
friend and practise the stroke, and you will be
astonished what you can do with it if you observe
the cardinal rule of the game, which applies with
greater force to this stroke, because it is so flag-
rantly neglected in connection with it.
The stroke is frequently played without any.
follow through at all, and consists of meeting the
ball with the face of the racket almost immediately
it has left the ground and before it has had time
to travel more than a matter of inches. It is a
most useful shot. It can be, and indeed has to be,
played in quite a variety of positions. It is
amazing what balls a good half-volleyer can re-
turn. I have seen a ball pass a player on his back-
hand, apparently a hopeless case for him, when,
with a swift turn, his back to the net, and a wristy
half-volley, he has turned what looked like a cer-
tain loss to him into a good attacking position.
Few players realize the mechanical principles
involved in half-volleying. You will see most of
them meet the ball with the face of the racket in-
clining too much backward and away from the
net. They apparently forget that the ball is al-
ready striving hard, with the initial force of its
bound, to rise, and that the angle of the face of
the racket must be such as to counteract this tenr
dency. A glance at Fig. 7 will explain my remarks
38
MODERN TENNIS
quite clearly. This, of course, refers to all balls
of and above medium pace. If the ball is so slow
that it requires lifting, it may be better, if you can
not get to it in time to volley, to let it bound.
It is distinctly a stroke which every player
should have at his command, and much more per-
f ectly developed than it is
O v Ov a t present.
COURT
Vertical, rigidly held racket and natural rebound
COURT
Backet forwardly Inclined to correct upward tendency. Dotted
line shows corrected rebound.
FIGURE 7
N.B. In most of the figures the head of the racket only has
been shown, because to produce the handle of racket or the body
of the player would complicate the figure ; and in no case are
balls, rackets, or anything else, drawn to scale.
THE VOLLEY
THE volley is a stroke played before the ball has
struck the ground. It is indispensable, is easily
acquired if one has a fairly good eye, and should
be assiduously practised, for half the charm of
tennis lies in good volleying. When stand-
ing in position for a volley at the net, the feet are
kept about eighteen inches apart, the toes turned
outward, the knees slightly bent, and the head
and shoulders thrown forward so that the weight
of the body is all forward. You are practically
almost on the balance, and you hold your racket
horizontally across your body, supported at the
splice by your left hand.
For all volleys, the same general principles as
are laid down for striking the ball in service, which,
of course, is a volley, apply, but there are many
volleys which come to you at the net, which are so
fast that they are played almost by the wrist or
arm, with what little body weight you are enabled
to put into them by mere "loin rotation," which
means the half swing of the body on the hips, or
by falling over your balance onto the ball, to coin
an expression, for the shot will be played almost
before you have started your short step onto the
ball.
39
40 MODERN TENNIS
For all low volleying, get your eye as much in a
line with the ball as you can; in other words,
crouch to them, so low that you can take nearly
everything with the head of the racket above the
wrist. This latter point is strongly and ably
shown and dealt with in Messrs. Dohertys' inter-
esting treatise on the game, and is of great im-
portance, particularly in low volleys at the net,
and, as they point out but this I consider a much
more doubtful point in low volleys at and about
the service line. Certainly, however, if execution
counts for anything, any one who has seen the
very fine low volleying of the brothers will deem
the matter worthy of consideration. At the same
time, there is no mechanical reason why these
volleys can not be played just as well with the
underhand stroke. I am inclined to consider that
it is only a matter of practise, and that they would
prove just as effective as when played in the
manner suggested by Messrs. Doherty, who, I am
rather disappointed to note, give no reason what-
ever in favor of the practise. My idea of always
as much as possible keeping the eye in a line with
the flight of the ball when taking low volleys hardly
sufficiently applies here altho in a modified
degree it does and, in the absence of any explana-
tion, I must say that I fail to see any reason why,
with practise, a good low volley can not be de-
veloped with the head of the racket below the
wrist. It is certainly a far more natural shot,
MAURICE E. MCLOUGHLIX SERVING
This is, perhaps, the most remarkable picture of the finish of
McLoughlin's service that has ever been taken. Note carefully
where the racket finishes, and the turn of the wrist.
PLATE 8
THE VOLLEY 41
and can with practise be very accurately treated.
I have very strong opinions on the volleying
question. Some people say they are extreme, but
I shall give them to you, for they are valuable.
Axiom I. Never let the ball hit the ground when
you can play it with a reasonable chance of a good
stroke on the volley.
Axiom II. Play every volley possible overhead,
or at least with the head of the racket above the
wrist, always, however, observing the rule of keep-
ing the forearm in line with the handle of the
racket. With dropping balls and low volleys
generally, you have my ideas and Messrs. Doher-
tys'. Try them both and take that which suits
you.
[I am bound to say that I can not now conscien-
tiously advise any one even to experiment with
the advice of Messrs. Doherty to keep the head of
the racket above the wrist for low-volleying.
This hold has been proved wanting.]
The immense importance of volleying is that you
save much time and so are more likely to get your
opponent out of position, or secure an opening to
finish the rest at the net by a good volley.
Most players volley much better when close up
to the net than from the back court. It is, I think,
largely a matter of moral courage. Consider the
splendidly placed volleys you serve to your oppo-
nent whenever it is your "deal." Why should
you not volley better from the back court than
42 MODERN TENNIS
you do, for you are nearer the net, and have about
four times the space at least for the net shuts up
most of the service-court that you have when
serving from the base-line!
I know that I shall be told that in the service you
have the chance of putting up your own ball and so
on, but it must be remembered that the service is
the volley a straight-dropping ball that re-
quires most accurate timing, and that there is no
other volley played which must be directed into
so circumscribed a portion of the court a mere
strip for fast services.
On the other hand, in ordinary volleys nearly
the whole of the court is open to one and here is
the advantage generally the ball is approaching
the player, altho it may be dropping fast, and is
therefore easier to time. I am certain that
most of the bad volleying behind the service-line
is lack of moral courage and of confidence in the
law of gravitation. Players always, or nearly so,
want to assist too much the already acquired down-
ward impetus of the ball, and lose sight of the
fact that even after the impact of their racket has
temporarily checked the ball's downward flight,
this impetus continues to assert itself.
I should recommend young players to try this
plan. Get a friend to throw up lobs. Stand in
the center of the three-quarter court and volley
them back to the base-line. Note carefully how high
they pass above the net, and thus you will be able
THE VOLLEY 43
to eliminate from your mind to a great extent the
bugbear of the net, when you are making your
stroke. If I were starting a player who was
really keen on the game, I am not sure that I
would not make him learn his smashing without
having any net on the court, or possibly over a tape
four feet six inches high. I should know from
where the ball pitched whether it was good or not,
and he would learn to think of his angle, and not,
as we all do, of the net, and the man at it, and it
stands to reason that this thought influences our
strokes , most materially. As a matter of fact,
many of us volley at yes at the net, or just to
clear it. Is it any wonder we find it?
You must remember also that good length is as
important in a volley which you can not kill by
pace or placing as it is in any other stroke. Above
everything, do not get into the habit of patting
your volleys. Always get a bit of pace on them
if you can, and if you get a suitable chance, unless
you can be certain to win by placing, "put it out
of sight" at once.
Most writers will tell you that for volleying at
the net when you see a forehand volley "looming
up, ' ' you are to draw your right leg back and put
your weight on it, turning your body slightly side-
ways, and at the moment of striking make a slight
step forward with the left foot, thus carrying out
the general theory of all strokes. The theory is
perfectly good when you have time for it, which
you very often have not.
44 MODERN TENNIS
Yon must hold your racket firmly for the volley
and meet the ball smartly with it. Do not leave
the ball to attack the racket. The racket must
commit the assault, otherwise there will be trouble.
In only about one case may you allow the ball to
do the work, and that is a shot seldom seen now.
When standing right at the net, you may simply
hold your racket stiffly in front of the ball, and by
drawing it smartly back at the moment of the
impact drop the ball almost dead over the net, but
this stroke can be played practically as well, and
possibly with more certainty by a cut volley, which
I shall deal with later on.
THE LOB- VOLLEY
THE lob-volley is one of the rarest strokes one
sees played, but its usefulness can not be ques-
tioned. It consists of meeting the ball with an
underhand stroke before it has touched the ground
and tossing it into the air in the endeavor to get
over your opponent's head. You must endeavor
particularly in this shot to strike the ball truly in
the center of the racket, which must be gripped
firmly ; and do not be afraid to toss it well up. If
you try to play a low lob-volley, you run great risk
of giving your opponent an easy kill. It lends it-
self nicely to a backhand shot with plenty of cut.
In any case, you must be careful in making this
shot to let the ball bound, if I may so express it,
on the racket; in other words, the face of the
racket must be very nearly horizontal, otherwise
you will put the return into your opponent's
hands. This volley, like all others, must be
played ; you must not leave the racket to do it.
45
THE FOREHAND OVERHEAD VOLLEY
NEAKLY all writers deal with this under the name
of ' * The Smash, ' ' but as it is not always a smash,
but quite as often merely an ordinary overhead
volley, I prefer to treat of it under the above head-
ing.
This volley is practically similar to the service
except that you are not fixt for the stroke before
it goes up, and do not provide the material for
your shot. Its general principles are identical,
with the exception that you may, and often do,
step onto your stroke, and when you make it
severe enough it is a " smash." When practising
smashing, it will be of the utmost benefit to the
aspirant for tennis honors to find out, from the
different points of the court, the varying heights
at which his ball can pass over the net and yet
land in the court. If you are earnest about your
game, I would even suggest to you to strain a tape
across at the point which cuts the line of flight
of your ball at the net when smashed from the
middle of the back court to the base-line. Then
practise at this. It will not be waste time.
In running back to bring off an overhead volley,
the player should not merely try to reach the ball.
It should be his ami to overrun it so as to be able
46
FOEEHAND OVERHEAD VOLLEY 47
to pull himself together, at least to poise himself,
and come at the ball on the general principles laid
down for service. He should, while waiting, have
his weight well back on his right leg, his right
shoulder low, and then at the critical moment put
his body into his stroke.
Let him, in this stroke, also get rid of the idea
of hitting the ball down. If he finds this advice
makes him drive it over the base-line, which he
won't, he can modify his performance.
The backhand overhead volley is a stroke you
only take on when you are forced to, and does not
call for much comment. Reverse the instructions
for the forehand shot, and practise will do the rest.
Some important points in smashing which
should be remembered are :
1. Position of feet with weight on the toes in
each foot as it is being transferred.
2. Position of right leg, bent at knee, ready to
propel body forward.
3. Weight of 'body mainly on right leg.
4. Head thrown back.
5. Right shoulder well drooped.
6. Balance by extended left arm with lightly
clenched hand.
7. Make the stroke an aggressive shot.
The last is certainly not the least here, and
should in smashing be the dominant idea. Deter-
mination and confidence are essentials to good
smashing, and good smashing is an essential to a
48 MODERN TENNIS
really good game, and once you know how to do
it, a little practise makes it so easy and pleasant
for you. All the above are strong points in smash-
ing, and if you put them into practise you will
smash quite well.
NORMAN E. BROOKES SERVING
This shows Brookes in a characteristic position as he comes up
to start his service. Notice his grip carefully. lie will uot get
to the side of his racket, and so sacrifice power and accuracy.
PLATE 9
THE LOB
THIS stroke as the staple of one's game is con-
temptible. In its place it is a fine scientific shot,
requiring far more skill, nerve, and delicacy of
touch to play well than many a more showy stroke.
It is a defensive shot, generally played to give
one time or position, or both, and the beauty of a
good lob is that the best man living must chase it
and thus be dislodged from the net, or lose the
ace.
The Americans have a liking for high lobs.
Theoretically, of course, every inch more than
sufficient to clear your opponent's racket is waste
energy, and gives more time for your opponent to
get back to it and reply, but I would not advise
cutting it too fine. It is hard to tell how high a
man can jump, also you must allow a little margin
for your possible want of accuracy. So long as
you are tossing accurately enough to pass your
opponent there can be little advantage in going in
for high lobs, which some writers put into a special
class. As a matter of fact, they are exactly the
same gentlemen as those low fellows who just
skim your rackets. The latter are of course faster,
and therefore, when they come off, better. If you
are tossing your lobs beyond the base-line, then I
would say to you, put a bit of your strength into
49
50 MODERN TENNIS
height. It will sometimes correct your length,
and in any case a dead-dropping ball is always
harder to volley than one approaching you. You
must not try a low lob unless your opponent is
well in and threatening you.
As in a lob-volley, this stroke must be played so
that the racket comes well underneath the ball, so
as to lift it clear of your opponent at the net. I do
not suppose that it has occurred to many players
to divide the distance of their lobs. A plain lob
will, after it has ceased to ascend, descend in very
much the same curve as that in which it has as-
cended. It always seems to me that the object of
a player in lobbing should be to divide his distance,
if I may so express it, and to play for that point
where he intends the ball to cease rising. I have
tried this, and I believe it leads to increased
accuracy in lobbing.
In my next chapter on the lob, reference will be
made to "cut lobs." It would certainly in theory
be wrong to "divide the distance" for these, as
they must fall straighter than a plain lob. About
two-thirds of the distance to the point you want
should do for a cut lob.
Always lob to your opponent's backhand for
preference, and you will find a low lob down the
side-line a wonderful passing shot at times, as
your opponent has to get right under it before
he can reach it. This is a much-neglected and
very valuable shot.
THE FLIGHT OF THE BALL
IT has always been a matter of surprize to me
that tennis-writers have never devoted any con-
sideration to this most interesting subject. When
a tennis-ball is struck by the racket, with the face
of the racket at right angles to the intended line
of flight of the ball and the racket following
through truly, the ball departs on its journey to
the point to which it was hit, with a minimum of
rotation, and only approaches the earth by gradual
descent as called upon by the immutable laws of
nature, and on alighting it immediately bounds up
again from the ground at almost the same angle
as that at which it hit it.
On the other hand, there are a great number of
strokes played in tennis in which the ball is not
struck fairly. The racket passes obliquely across
the intended line of flight of the ball, and in doing
so, the face of it comes into violent contact with
the ball, "gripping," or entering into frictional
engagement with the cover of it, and "brush-
ing" it round as it leaves the face of the
racket. There are many ways of doing this, but
there are, I think, four primary rotary motions
which may be imparted to the tennis ball, the
North, South, East and West of rotation, and all
51
52 MODERN TENNIS
others, it seems to me, are a combination of some
two, or a modification of some one, of these. The
principal strokes which produce these motions,
and the results of these strokes are as follows :
I. There is the overhead forehand cut service,
which imparts to the ball horizontal rotation from
right to left. Nearly the same rotation is impart-
ed by the very rare and practically obsolete under-
hand backhand service.
II. There is the reverse overhead service, which
imparts horizontal rotation from left to right.
The ordinary fore-underhand cut service produces
almost the same rotation.
III. There is the drive with upward lift, which
imparts vertical forwardly rotating motion to the
ball.
IV. There is the chop, which imparts vertical
backwardly rotating motion to the ball.
I am, of course, taking the direction of the rota-
tion from the time and point of contact of the ball
with the racket.
Now all these spins and many varieties of
them produce quite distinct flights, a matter which
must be carefully studied and mastered by him
who would excel beyond ordinary men.
I shall later on deal specifically with each stroke,
and shall endeavor to interweave into each chapter
such information on the flight of the ball, and its
conduct on landing, as in each case I may deem
desirable.
NORMAX E. BROOKES SERVING
Brookes' service is not so spectacular as McLoughlin's, but
those who saw the memorable 17- 15 set at the recent Davis
Cup meeting know how effective it Is.
PLATE 10
THE FLIGHT OF BALL 53
I may mention here that in the Messrs. Do-
hertys' recent work on Tennis, in dealing with the
American services, which are exaggerations of
our reverse overhead service, or a combination of
some two, or a modification of some one, of the
four primary rotary motions, the authors say that
"the ball travels on the racket itself from the
wood at one side right to the wood at the other
side." This, I have little hesitation in saying, is
quite inaccurate, for it is, in all -services, the al-
most momentary impact of the racket upon the
ball which imparts to the latter its rotation, and
in every effective service or stroke, it follows as
a matter of almost elementary theory that you
should strike the ball with, or as near as possible
to, the center of the racket. I mention this matter
here as it is of the utmost importance that players
thoroughly grasp the correct theory of producing
the rotation of the ball. Unless this be done the
result will be disastrous, and if Messrs. Dohertys'
statement is correct, it opens up a wide field for
new and startling theories.
Second only in importance, if, indeed, it is sec-
ond, to the oft and properly repeated charge im-
prest upon players by Messrs. Doherty, "Keep
your eye on the ball," is "Hit the ball with the
center of your racket"; but if the Americans can
get such good results by hitting the ball with the
short dead strings at the side of the racket, why
then should we not use them for our forehand serv-
54 MODEBN TENNIS
ice, if not indeed for general play where rotation
of the ball is desired? I am always trying to
learn, always looking for that which is good and
new, or interesting, and which tends to improve
the game, but I must confess that I can not here
see anything to tempt me to further research or
experiment.
One might also be pardoned for asking if, after
the moment of impact at the one side of the racket,
the ball remains on the racket until it gets * ' right
to the wood at the other side, ' ' what then induces
it to depart on its mission in life before the wood
hits it and destroys the usefulness of the stroke?
STROKES CLASS II
SERVICE
ALL the general rules laid down for the simple
service and strokes apply with equal force to the
more advanced methods of service and striking
the ball, which I am now about to deal with, with
this exception, that as the stroke is a glancing
blow it stands to reason that your "follow
through" if it may be so called is not in a line
with the flight of the ball.
Taking them in the order mentioned, I have to
deal with the forehand overhead cut service. This
is a very useful variation. Fig. 8 will show the
manner in which the ball is struck to produce the
rotation. The ball is thrown up in the usual way
(altho afterward, when you become more expert
and want to accentuate the spin, you throw it up
further away from you at the same elevation, and
in a line with your right shoulder a little in front),
and struck a glancing blow, as shown in Fig.
8, which is a plan that is, you are looking down
from above the court on top of the racket.
This cut imparts a considerable rotation from
right to left, A to B, which causes the ball to
curl in the air from right to left, and when it
strikes the ground to keep very low, and break
55
56
MODERN TENNIS
t
*l
'*,
g
NORMAN K. BKOOKKS SKI;YI.\<;
This plate shows the ball on the racket. Brookes does not
generally get the hall until he has gone right up to the full
extent of his reach as shown here. This produces forehand cut.
PLATE 11
SERVICE 57
away from right to left, to D. The amount of
"work" on the ball makes it very difficult to return
accurately. It pitches frequently on the side-line
at C close in under the highest part of the net,
and drives your opponent right off the court to D.
It must not be forgotten, however, that if you
indulge in this form of it too often, you let him
get close up to the net, but it is a fine variation,
after having worked him to the middle of the
court, to whip one of these across.
If the wind happens to be blowing across the
court from right to left (I am speaking from
the server's position), one can borrow greatly
from the opposing player's backhand court when
serving, as the amount of curl which can be put on
this service then is astonishing. It is the same
with a golf ball. Hit it " clean and true," and you
can drive it into the teeth of a gale. Slice it, and
the wind grips it and carries it right away.
The reverse overhead cut service, which is a
most valuable delivery, is, as its name expresses,
practically the reverse of that just described. It
has a deceptive flight and break, keeps low and
drives the striker-out off the court. It is played
as shown in Fig. 9, the racket, A B, traveling
obliquely across the ball from right to left in the
line C D, and imparting horizontal left to right
rotation E F.
Practically the same rotation as that on an or-
dinary reverse service is imparted by the forehand
58 MODERN TENNIS
underhand cut service, which is by no means a
despicable change, especially when one is serving
against a troublesome sun.
The backhand underhand cut service is almost
obsolete, so I shall not waste time referring to it.
Sometimes a man worries a lady in a mixed double
with it.
The ordinary underhand cut service is pro-
duced by dropping the ball, and bringing the
racket smartly across it with that "brushing"
motion (I can not find a better word) from right
to left, which imparts to it a horizontal rotation
from left to right, causing it to break from left to
right. I am speaking as the server now. See
Fig. 10.
The Americans have another service which they
deliver by throwing the ball up well over the left
shoulder or beyond. They then bend themselves
over toward the left and strike the ball with a
glancing upward stroke, which imparts vertical
f orwardly rotating action with sometimes a slight
admixture of right to left horizontal spin. The
result is a most peculiar bound which takes you a
little while to analyze. They almost hit from
under the ball. This service, well executed, pro-
duces really if you can understand what I mean
the same rotation and flight as a lifting drive,
only it proceeds through the air as tho the drive
were lying over at an angle of say 45 degrees.
The ball curves in the air to the right of the
SERVICE
59
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60
MODERN TENNIS
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SERVICE
61
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62 MODERN TENNIS
striker-out. Generally speaking, it would break
that way. It does not: it breaks to his left. I
shall try to show you the action in Fig. 11, altho
you must understand that the ball is rotating
and proceeding through the air at, say, an angle
of 45 degrees to the ground.
This is a most difficult stroke to explain ver-
bally, but as it is rather a rare service I must try.
In Fig. 14 I have shown the peculiar action of the
flight of the lifting drive. Now you must look at
Fig. 12 and think that you are standing right be-
hind the stand A, which is on your base-line, and
that you are facing down the court toward the
other base-line. If you hit the ball B which re-
volves on the axis C D with the stroke for the
lifting drive, you will make it revolve from E to
F, that is with vertical forwardly rotating action.
Consider the stand hinged at A. Push it down to
an angle of 45 degrees as shown by the dotted
stand. The ball has still the rotation of the lift in
a forehand drive, but is rotating at an angle of 45
degrees to the ground instead of vertically. This
accounts naturally for its peculiar bound which at
first glance might seem unnatural. Now put your
American, G, under the ball to show his service.
Stop it revolving. See, he is going to hit upward,
and his racket will pass across the ball as shown
by the curve H I. It is really an overhead lifting
volley. It is somewhat hard to explain, but I
think you will be able to get it. It is lift or for-
SERVICE
63
64 MODERN TENNIS
ward rotatory motion produced by an overhead
shot instead of an underhand one.
It is the lifting drive played as a volley over-
head. Let it not be forgotten that this service
may also be served by throwing the ball up on the
forehand side, and hitting it upward in a similar
manner. I fancy this will prove a novelty for
most players, and I haVe not seen it much used in
America, but it is nearly as valuable as the other.
See K, Fig. 12. The peculiarity of this latter
service is that you almost face the net to deliver
it.
In addition to this, the ball may be served with
a "chop" or downward cut which imparts vertical
backwardly rotating spin to it, and causes it to
keep very close to the ground after it has struck.
A command of these deliveries gives one a great
advantage in serving, for it enables one to vary
one's pace, place, break, and length in a most puz-
zling manner, and it must be remembered that
ability to do this is of the highest importance.
The service of many of our leading players is
much too stereotyped. Altho the cut generally
detracts somewhat from the pace and length of a
service, it gives, I think, greater command of the
ball and accuracy in placing, and with some of
them gives you more time to follow up ; moreover,
the work on the ball, especially if your opponent
attempts to play it too soon, will render his return
less accurate than off a plain ball. In returning
NORMAN K. BKOOKKS SKUVINO
Hrookcs produces his service in a singularly effortless manner.
He varies his forehand cut with top. and conceals the character
of his delivery most cleverly.
PLATK lii
SERVICE 65
these services they must be distinctly hit; you
must not let them hit the racket when the work
on them is proceeding vigorously. If you do, you
will find the ball gripping your racket and curling
off. You must do the striking, and do it with a
very firm wrist.
I do not wish you to run away with the idea that
all these rotary motions should be inflicted upon
the ball without provocation. As a matter of fact
I consider, that as in billiards, so in tennis, "side"
to use the billiard term should only be im-
parted to the ball when the stroke calls for it, and
you have a definite object in so doing. I know
several very fine players who use a plain-face
racket most of the time, but notwithstanding this
fact, the importance of a proper understanding
and command of the strokes which produce rota-
tion can not be overestimated.
THE FOREHAND DRIVE
No. Ill, I have called the drive with upward
lift, which imparts vertical forwardly rotating
spin to the ball. This action which produces the
spin, and the spin itself, have been called a variety
of names. The spin has been called "drop,"
"top," "roll," "rib," "lift," "loft," "up rib,"
"up lift," and so on in different parts of the
world. It might, I think, quite accurately be
called "uppercut," but I shall herein call it "lift."
In this stroke, the racket A B passes forwardly
and upwardly in an oblique direction across the
intended line of flight of the ball, as shown in Fig.
13, brushing violently against the ball as it passes
at G. It is played to a great extent as a kind of
half -arm shot, that is to say, that the arm above
the elbow does not enter into the shot so much
as the forearm, which brings the racket up with a
sharp brushing motion across the ball and on
upward and forward.
It will be seen at a glance that immediately the
racket hits the ball at G, it gets a grip on it, and
sends it away rotating from G to E, that is, for-
wardly and downwardly.
This stroke is unquestionably the most valuable
ground-stroke in modern tennis, and a correct
66
THE FOREHAND DRIVE
67
68 MODERN TENNIS
appreciation of its manifold merits is of the
greatest importance to the would-be champion, or
indeed to any one who intends to enjoy the game.
The peculiarity of the flight of this particular
shot is, that while the initial velocity of the stroke
is on, the ball springs away rapidly, and in many
cases you would count that it was going easily out
of the court, when suddenly, the initial force being
spent, the downward rotation asserts itself, and it
dives like a shot bird for the base-line, and is con-
verted into a fine-length ball that takes you by
surprize. I give in Fig. 14 a diagram of the flight
and bound of this ball.
Some Americans get a great amount of lift
on their strokes, and many a time have I been
deceived into considering a ball well out of court
and letting it go, only to see the lift assert itself
and the ball pounce down in the court by the base-
line. This flight is most deceptive, even to those
who are accustomed to it, and unless you train
yourself to watch the way the ball is struck by the
racket, and to consider what it is doing in the air
as it comes to you a point of the utmost impor-
tance, yet hitherto scarcely treated of you will
be deceived as I have been, and as I have seen
the Americans altho they are accustomed to the
stroke time and again. In all diagrams I de-
signedly show the face of the racket tilted back-
ward more than it, generally speaking, should be
at the moment of impact. This is a good idea to
NORMAN E. BROOKES SERVING
Here is shown the finish of llrookes' service. His command of
pace and placing is unquestionably very remarkable.
PLATE 13
THE FOREHAND DRIVE
69
b
O M
I
\
\
I
70 MODERN TENNIS
start with, for the commonest fault in this stroke
is to tilt the racket forward too soon, instead of
having it at the moment of impact practically
vertical.
Another great virtue in this shot is, that by
reason of its quick-dropping habit, it is a fine
passing shot. "Well played, it comes over the net
and dives for the volleyer's feet, when he is ex-
pecting quite another foot of length, and then it is
a terribly awkward ball from which to make an
effective return. Still another and by no means
an unimportant virtue that it possesses, is that it
is a natural climber. The moment it hits the net
it grips it, and starts climbing for all it is worth,
and I have seen balls with lots of lift climbing
inches. You will recognize in a moment from Fig.
15 that this is so. This faculty is not possest in a
similar degree by any other ball, and when a man
has his day of "hitting the duck," it is not to be
despised. On the other hand, a back-cut ball pro-
ceeds to roll down directly it grips the net, as
shown in Fig. 16.
According to all generally accepted ideas, one
would expect the forehand drive with lift from its
rotation to grip the ground and spring suddenly
and sharply forward with much accentuated pace,
but this is not usually so. The sudden descent
which it makes when the initial force of the drive
is spent, allows it to get up and be played without
difficulty, except occasionally, when you get a very
71
FIGURE 15
SHOWING How LIFT CLIMBS UP THE
NET
FIGURE 16
SHOWING How Cur OR CHOP TRIES TO
BOLL DOWN THE NET
72 MODEEN TENNIS
hot one. The obvious reply is a similar drive
(for that grips and checks the rotary action which
is already on the ball), or a plain-face return. If,
however, you should intend to "chop" it, you
must remember that it has already on it that spin
which you intend to produce, and that the effect
of your shot will be to accentuate such spin, and,
if you play the ball at an ordinary elevation, to
make the return fly higher than you intended. In
any case where you are accentuating the rotation
this must be borne in mind. Fig. 17 explains this.
You may remember that in this matter of rota-
tion it is a question of "Like answers like," that
is, a forehand drive with top meets and checks
pure top spin (see Fig. 18) and likewise a back
or downward cut stops the backward rotary
action on a similar ball, and for this reason it
always seems to me that when replying in this
manner to these shots, they may, perhaps, be
treated more vigorously than if you are playing
them with a plain face, for there is always the
upward striving of the front of the ball (which
infallibly takes place the moment the ball grips
your racket) for you to "come and go on" and
to overcome by your lifting drive ; and vice versa
in a chopped ball.
The prime merit of the lifting drive lies in the
fact that by means of it you are enabled to hit the
ball much harder, and yet keep it within the court,
than you can do with a plain-face stroke. Also,
ANTHONY F. WILDIXO SERVING
Wilding stands very far behind the line when serving. Notice
the position of the racket and arm with the elbow high up.
PLATE 14
THE FOREHAND DRIVE
73
""
74 MODERN TENNIS
with a good command of this stroke you can keep
a fine length, and generally, owing to the sudden
curvature of its flight at the end except in very
fast balls, when it is not so apparent the return
has a good bound and so keeps your opponent well
back.
The theory of this stroke, and, indeed, the
FIGURE 18
LIFT TO LIFT CHECKS EOTATION. INITIAL ROTATION SHOWN BY
AEEOW OUTSIDE BALL EOTATION AFTER STROKE BY
ARROW INSIDE
practise, when once the theory is thoroughly
grasped, are so simple and yet valuable, that it is
a wonder that more stress has not been laid upon
them. I have seen youths vainly cleaving the air
with frantic energy, who, when I have asked them
for what they strove, were at a loss to explain.
I shall give here a diagram which shows very
clearly the principle (Fig. 19), and shall suggest a
means whereby the practise may be acquired. If
you can not get a friend to practise shots with you
and I must admit it is hard to find any one with
energy and intelligence enough in these degener-
ate days to practise their scales thoroughly before
they "start right in on Wagner" you must try
THE FOREHAND DRIVE 75
to get a blank wall with a piece of smooth ground
or asphalt in front of it. Mark upon this wall a
line H, say three feet high. Hit your ball against
\f
FlGUEE 19
SHOWING How THE PRINCIPLE OF THE LIFTING DRIVE MAY BE
LEARNED
the wall at F, and when it has struck the
ground at I, risen to the top of its bound J, and is
beginning to fall (later on you may attack it
earlier), " brush" your racket A B against its
face, moving it sharply up in the line G D as shown
76 MODERN TENNIS
in Fig. 19, hitting the ball as near the center C of
your racket A B as you can. In this case you will
see that the face of the racket is inclined back at
an angle from A to B. As the ball drops and
your racket travels smartly up they meet at C.
Instantly the downward flight of the ball is ar-
rested at C, but continues at the opposite side E,
and at the same moment your racket has gripped
and rapidly pushed up the side of the ball at C,
and passed on, imparting vertical forward rotary
action (about a horizontal axis), in other words,
top spin, to the ball from C to E.
At first the ball will merely receive a little spin,
go forward a few feet, and drop. As, however,
you get the idea into your head, you will alter the
angle of the face of the racket to suit the flight of
the ball, and the distance you wish it to carry,
and will gradually make your stroke, instead of
a perpendicular "brush" upward, go more
through your shot at an angle approaching that
from A to F. Very soon afterward you will dis-
cover that you can improve this shot with a bit of
what is commonly called wrist-work, which will
come quite naturally. This, however, is not true
wrist-work. It comes mainly from the forearm
roll and the elbow, except in the case of the full
arm drive, when it is pure upward sweep across
the ball.
So many players make this shot in different
ways, that I can not lay down any hard and fast
ANTHONY F. WILDING SERVING
Observe the angle of the face of the racket and how Wilding
is throwing his whole weight into the stroke.
PLATE 15
THE FOREHAND DRIVE 77
rules as to the exact angle at which the blade of
the racket must be held. That depends on so
many things the bound of the ball, the work that
is on it, whether you do much wrist-work or not,
the height at which you play it, and quite a few
other things. I must content myself with show-
ing you how to get the stroke, and must leave you
to adjust your own angles and the amount of for-
ward motion you put into your shot.
The same rotation may be obtained by pure lift
on a straight underhand shot played from beside
the right foot, but it requires very accurate timing
and moreover possesses no advantage over the
shot above described.
There is another forehand drive that is a very
useful shot, particularly if you are cramped for
room. This is a kind of cross between the spin
imparted by the fore-underhand cut service and
that of the lifting drive, and is obtained by bring-
ing the racket, with swing as for the forehand
plain drive, between the right leg and the line of
flight of the ball, instead of, as in the ordinary
drive, hitting the ball at the back with a tendency
toward the side farther from you. The stroke is
played by bringing the face of the racket across
the ball at, as nearly as I can say, an angle of
forty-five degrees, so that the shot imparts a little
of both "cut" and "lift" to the ball, which in its
flight has the distinctive final "dive" of the lifted
ball, and on account of the cross "cut" (similar
78 MODERN TENNIS
to the underhand service) frequently after hitting
the ground keeps low. It is distinctly a useful
and, when well played, by no means ungraceful
shot. It is not, however, much used by those who
have the lifting drive, and possesses few, if any,
advantages over that shot. The sister stroke to
this, namely, the pulled drive, is so rarely used
that it may be regarded as a negligible quantity.
It is obtained by swinging out across the ball,
taking it low. This puts modified top on the ball,
makes it keep low and dive sharply across court.
This is, probably, the rarest stroke in tennis.
I have not so far dealt specifically with the
drive in which the ball is taken at the top of the
bound, altho, of course, the lifting drive may be
quite conveniently used for this stroke. Some-
times it is played with a plain face, and then it is
almost a horizontal sweep with a clean follow
through, the lower side of the blade of the racket
being, if anything, a little above the hand. Quite
a logical pursuance, if I may use the word, of this
stroke is the drive off a rising ball, which I feel
confident will in the near future play an important
part in the game. In this stroke it is of the
utmost importance that the nature of the flight of
the ball be considered, and a due appreciation be
had of the angle at which the face of the racket
should be held. This will be apparent from a
study of Figs. 20 and 21.
It must be remembered that, generally speak-
THE FOEEHAND DEIVE
G
79
" C
FIGURE 20
SHOWING EEEOE OF PLAYING EISING BALL WITH VERTICAL FACE
FIGURE 21
SHOWING FACE OF BACKET INCLINING FORWARD TO CORRECT EISING
TENDENCY OF BALL IN INTERRUPTED BOUND B C
ing, apart from any adventitious aids to the ball,
the angles of incidence and reflection are the same ;
in other words, a ball, provided it has no spin or
work, will rebound from a wall or the ground, or
the face of the racket held still and firmly, at
almost exactly the same angle as that at which it
hits it. In playing at a rising ball, many players
forget this, and do not so use the blade of the
racket as to counteract the upward tendency of
the ball. For instance, in Fig. 20, the ball pitches
from A to B and strikes the ground at B. It im-
80 MODERN TENNIS
mediately bounds off at the same angle, and strives
to follow the course B C before it commences to
drop. If then it be met at F with a vertical racket
E D, as is so often done, it will unquestionably
endeavor to fly off the face at the natural angle
F G. This tendency is certainly checked consider-
ably by the impact of the racket, but it is there
nevertheless, and must and will assert itself
in however small a degree. To correct this, the
blade of the racket must in playing all lifted or
plain rising balls, especially balls with much pace
on them, be inclined forward as at E D, Fig. 21,
to counteract this upward tendency and produce
the flight F G. In attacking all rising balls, this
idea should be firmly kept in mind, and once the
mechanical principle involved is grasped, I believe
that all players will deal with a rising ball with
much greater confidence and certainty than they
do now.
Few, if any, players have thoroughly grasped
this principle. So strong is this upward tendency
that if the ball be rising fast, and is fairly high,
it can be played in an almost unreturnable manner
with forehand lift or top, which hits the ball with
almost a horizontal sweep at that portion which
lies half-way between the points F and H, and, if
anything, sometimes a little further forward,
especially if the ball be near the net.
I have never seen a player deliberately attempt
to use the lifting stroke for a lob, but I am certain
ANTHONY F. WILDING SERVING
Wilding has now played Lis stroke. The ball is seen in flight
and Wilding's racket goes on upward, above where he struck
the ball, thus producing top or the American service.
PLATE 16
THE FOEEHAND DRIVE 81
"it is there"* nevertheless, for of course the
mechanical principles of such a lob and a drive
are exactly similar, and I have seen so many fine
fast deceptive lobs played off this stroke by mis-
hits, or through exaggerated lift, that I could not
but be struck by its possibilities in the hands of
a skilful exponent.
* A year after this was written I saw M. Paul de Borman,
whose excessive lift is well known, play this stroke at Wimble-
don, and he told me that he had used it very effectively in
mixed doubles. It is not, however, worthy of special culti-
vation.
THE BACKHAND DRIVE
PRACTICALLY all the general principles laid down
with reference to the forehand lifting drive are
applicable to the backhand. The horizontal shot
on the backhand is one of the very finest strokes I
know, and has the advantage that when you have
mastered it you can make an effective return of a
ball which would be unreturnable, or returnable
only by an ineffective shot, in any other way. The
shot I have in my mind is when you are caught out
of position by a ball coming straight at your
middle. Your thumb is up the back of the handle
and your racket practically horizontal, as with a
half-swing of your body, and, of course, transfer-
ring your weight from your left leg to your right,
you draw the racket smartly across in front of
you, and upward and forward at the same time,
producing a fine, unexpected return. Some of the
Australian players are very good at this shot, but
naturally it is more effective when played at a
proper distance from the ball.
You will perhaps ask what is a proper distance.
That I can hardly tell you, but this general rule
will do, I think. You should never be so far from
the ball as to feel that you have to make the least
undue effort to step into its line of flight suffi-
ciently to reach it easily ; and as to the position of
82
THE BACKHAND DRIVE 83
i
your arms, my invariable rule at tennis or any-
thing else is to get as close to my work as possible
without cramping, and whether in volleying or
driving to be as compact as I can. Have nothing
floating about loosely. Every muscle is, or should
be, doing its appointed work as you* play. Even
the despised left arm, whose tennis-muscle is
generally so sadly lacking, has other functions
than throwing up the ball for the service and
helping to sustain the weight of the racket between
strokes. All the time you will find that as your
right arm does anything his sinister brother is
closely attending, sympathizing, and balancing;
and if he isn't, it's your fault, not his. The dis-
engaged hand should never be dangling. It should
always be lightly clenched and under full control,
as shown in my photographs of the backhand
stroke.
The rule as to position of the feet is, of course,
of as much importance here as in the ordinary
plain-face returns.
Now and again you will be caught out of position
and have to make your return as best you may,
but you must always remember the importance of
playing the shot in correct position when you can.
There is one peculiarity about the backhand
stroke. That is, that you can play a lifting drive
with a vertical stroke with far more certainty than
is possible with a forehand shot. There is some-
thing in the action of the arm as it is drawn up
84 MODERN TENNIS
across the body which seems to lend itself to the
shot, and, played with a free swing and a clean
follow-through, it is a most beautiful and effective
stroke. The ball must be struck well before it is in
line with the body. The head of the racket hangs
toward the ground, and the hand right above it is
traveling rapidly forward and obliquely upward
as the racket encounters the ball. At the moment
of impact with the ball the face of the racket is
almost vertical, and when the stroke is finished,
the racket is pointing high up in front of the right
shoulder. I speak here of the drive off the low
ball. The photographs explain clearly the action
for low, medium, and high returns.
In both this stroke and the forehand drive there
is, in the shot of most players, a considerable
amount of ''wrist- work" which imparts pace to
the racket as it' travels across the ball, and so
adds materially to the amount of lift or top im-
parted to a return. This, however, as mentioned
before, will come almost naturally when once you
have learned the theory of the stroke and have fol-
lowed it up assiduously on the court or against a
wall.
This is not true wrist-work. It is mainly de-
rived from the turning of the forearm. The dan-
ger of calling it "wrist-work" lies in the fact that
it induces many to put the turn over onto the
racket too soon, which generally results in netting
the return.
THE BACKHAND DRIVE 85
The backhand drive in tennis is not adequately
described in any book on the game, nor has it ever
been fully and properly described in any paper
or periodical. There are reasons for this omis-
sion by authors who have dealt with the game,
the principal of these being, perhaps, the difficulty
of obtaining suitable illustrations. These, so far
as I am aware, do not exist apart from the series
illustrating this book. Indeed, it is a matter of
extreme difficulty to obtain good and instructive
photographs of this beautiful and effective stroke.
The backhand tennis drive is to all intents and
purposes a lost art. I have played tennis for
twenty years. I have seen all the great modern
players, and I have no hesitation in saying that
the backhand stroke to-day is much poorer than
it was when I first played the game.
The main reason for this is the introduction of
the hold of the racket now commonly used in Eng-
land. In that country they have followed the
methods of the Doherty brothers, who used prac-
tically an unchanged grip. The late B. F. Doherty
did indeed move his thumb a little for his hold
in making the backhand drive, but in effect both
he and H. L. Doheny used the unchanged grip,
and the vast army of players in England who
have followed their methods have adopted what
is practically an unchanged grip; that is, they
play the backhand stroke without changing the
grip which they use in making the forehand stroke.
86 MODERN TENNIS
This, of course, necessitates producing the back-
hand stroke with the back of the hand toward the
ball, as shown in the photograph of the English
backhand.
It is in this respect that the English backhand
hold is so very defective, for at the moment of
impact the back of the wrist is presented to the
net. This is absolutely fatal so far as regards
obtaining command of the ball or power, and,
moreover, it generally resolves itself into a weak
undercut return of a purely defensive character,
instead of being, as is the genuine backhand drive,
a fine offensive winning shot, a forcing and
strategic stroke of the highest value.
It is not, of course, absolutely necessary to
undercut the backhand with this hold. R. F.
Doherty did not undercut his backhand. H. L.
Doherty undercut his a good deal. Andre Gobert
does not undercut his backhand, nor does Wilding,
but those who use this hold always finish across
the drive instead of going out after it as in the
true stroke.
The Plates show the proper backhand grip.
Here it will be seen that the arm and the racket-
handle are almost in the same straight line; in-
deed, as we look at them in the pictures, they are
practically in the same straight line, which is what
I mean when I say they must be in the same plane
of force.
This plane of force is so important that I must
THE BACKHAND DRIVE 87
make it a little clearer. If one is chopping wood
with a tomahawk, at the moment the wood is
struck one's arm and the handle of the tomahawk
are not in the same line, but they are moving in the
same plane. So it must always be with the per-
fectly produced backhand stroke of any kind.
The principle is invariable. The picture of Nor-
man Brookes playing a backhand stroke is a great
object-lesson in this respect, either for ground-
strokes or volleying.
A question that is frequently asked is, " Which
side of the racket should one use for the backhand
stroke?" and another favorite interrogation is,
"Do you use the same side of the racket for both
strokes?"
The compound answer to these questions is that
it does not matter which side of the racket is used
for the backhand stroke, but that one should use
the same side of the racket as that used for play-
ing the forehand stroke, when one is compelled to
change from the forehand to the backhand grip
to play the shot.
It is obvious that if one is allowed to take up
one's position, ready for a backhand return, it
does not matter which side of the racket the ball
rebounds from or is struck by, except possibly
that some rackets may have a trifle more "send"
in them on the forehand driving side. This, how-
ever, is a matter of such fine distinction that we
need not concern ourselves with it.
88 MODERN TENNIS
That which is of great importance, then, so far
as regards the playing-face of the racket on the
backhand, is not, "Which side of the racket shall
I use!" but, "How am I to arrive at the side to
uset"
In the proper backhand stroke the same side of
the racket is used as is employed in the forehand
stroke. The reason for this is simple when ex-
plained, yet it has not so far appeared in any book
on the game. The natural finish of the forehand
stroke rolls the racket over in such a way that if
one desires, as one frequently does, to change to
the backhand grip, it is done with ease, and with
but little practise, almost automatically, whereas,
if one intends to play the backhand stroke with
the proper grip, but with the opposite side of the
racket to that used for the forehand stroke, it is
necessary to arrest the follow-through and prac-
tically to "jump" one's change of grip, especially
if the return has been quick.
In the English game, on account of the defective
grip, the ball is naturally played with opposite
sides of the racket and the grip is practically un-
changed. Tennis can not properly be played
thus. England will have to realize this before she
regains her position in the tennis world.
In 1904, I showed, when the Doherty brothers
were at the height of their fame and winning
everything from everybody, including the Ameri-
cans, that this method of stroke-production in-
ANTHONY F. WILDING SERVING
This is a very, characteristic finish of Wilding's service. He
is into his stride for the net. Notice that the finish of his stroke
is backward.
PLATE 17
THE BACKHAND DRIVE 89
troduced by them was unsound and was bound to
end in disaster for the nation or body of players
which followed it.
I maintained, as I still do, that this stroke is
unnatural and that it is unsuitable for at least
ninety-five of every hundred players.
The Dohertys were two great players and their
success justified their methods in so far as they
were personally concerned, but it is a fact of over-
whelming significance that England has not pro-
duced any player, fit to compare with the Do-
hertys, who uses the hold of the racket introduced
and used with such conspicuous success by them.
In the English hold the player is applying his
force at the side of the racket instead of from
behind it.
I must give a very simple illustration of what a
loss of power there is in this English grip. If one
desired to push a railway-truck along the rails the
natural way would be to get between the rails and
push in a line with them, down the middle of the
track. Any one without much knowledge of me-
chanics would think it strange to see one standing
outside the rails and applying his shoulder to a
corner of the truck in an endeavor to propel it,
altho this method, for various reasons, including
safety, is not unpopular among those who have to
do this work.
In this way he is losing much of his force, for
his power is not directly applied. There is too
90 MODERN TENNIS
great a ( ' component of waste, " as I have heard it
described.
Now it is precisely this component of waste
energy which has put the English players in the
background, as I prophesied would be the case
when they were carrying all before them.
I can not emphasize this too much, for the Eng-
lish are a stubborn race and can not learn, at
least in sport, except by disaster.
This disaster has overtaken them in the world
of tennis, but not before they have done incal-
culable harm to the game.
It is easy to be wise after the event. In this
case I anticipated it by several years, and I am
using it now to warn players in America and the
newer lands, such as Australia, Canada, and New
Zealand, not to be led away by false methods. I
am afraid they are too deeply ingrained in most
of the Continental players for my teaching to have
much effect for some time. As it is now, even
the foremost exponents of the English strokes
fail when set a severe test.
Andre Gobert, the brilliant young French
player, has as good a backhand of the Doherty
type as one may wish to see, but I have seen it
crack up and go to pieces under the force of A.
W. Gore's fine forehand drive. It simply had not
the force to withstand the pounding it got. The
component of waste was too large.
A curious side-light on the inefficient English
THE BACKHAND DRIVE 91
strokes is supplied by the women players. They
do not use the same strokes as the men. They have
not the strength to waste. The man is stronger
and he is able to bring off his stroke in a tolerable
manner by his faulty method, but the component
of waste will always find him out in a long match
against an opponent who uses correct methods.
Every time he hits the ball he gets hit himself in
a way that does not come to the man who gets
inside the rails and pushes down the middle of
the track. For him there is no waste force. Let
us look at this hold and see what it means.
I am showing in this book the proper way to
hold a racket for the backhand drive. There is
no other correct way; but these holds are not
known as they should be, yet they are of the
greatest importance to the game of every player.
I receive a great number of inquiries from
divers parts of the world about how to hold the
racket properly for the backhand stroke. I was
under the impression that I had set this out so
clearly in my books that one could not fail to
understand, but it is beyond doubt that many
people find it hard to learn from a picture. That
is why I have shown the backhand drive with such
thoroughness in this book.
Wherever I go throughout the world I am asked :
"How do you hold your racket for your backhand
stroke?" and this is the usual experience of nearly
every tournament player.
92 MODEKN TENNIS
Now I can not personally show players in Texas,
New Zealand, and England how to hold their
rackets, but I can do something that is quite as
good. I have had the correct grips, both forehand
and backhand, modeled and any player or would-
be player, or any tennis-club in the world, can
have the two backhand grips and the forehand grip
as permanent lessons in the foundation of the
game.
I intend to circulate them as largely as I can
in England in an attempt to restore to players
there the proper tennis-strokes.
There is a fundamental rule in all games or
athletic sports which are played with a ball and
a striking implement that is absolutely violated
by the prevalent method of playing the backhand
stroke.
This is, that at the moment of striking, the shaft
or handle and the forearm shall be in the same
line, or at least in the same plane of force, if I
may use this expression.
The fact is that to avoid waste of energy power
must be exerted in one line or in one plane.
This is what happens in the backhand drive
advocated by me, where the racket is never at the
moment of striking in line with the forearm, but
is always, in a properly executed stroke, in the
same plane of force.
We must now consider the stroke itself.
Plate 30 shows the swing-back in the low back-
R. N. WILLIAMS 2o SKKVIXG
This is an ideal position for serving. Notice carefully weight
on right leg and borne on toes, bend of right knee, right shoulder
down, left up, position of the feet and the balance of the arms.
These things give Williams his great pace.
NATIONAL CHAMPION, l!U4
PLATE 18
THE BACKHAND DRIVE 93
hand drive. Note carefully that the body is turned
sidewise to the net, so that in a drive parallel with
the side-lines the chest at this point in the stroke
would be almost parallel with the line of flight of
the ball. Observe the position of the feet. They
form approximately a right angle. The right foot
should point almost, but not quite, in a line with
the intended line of flight of the ball. This is, of
course, a rough statement, but any one following
it will not go far wrong. If one is driving a ball
diagonally across the court one's chest, at the
moment of striking, would be almost parallel to
the diagonal of the court. This makes the general
direction a little clearer, but foot-work is so im-
portant that I show very clearly herein, by the
numerous illustrations and by diagram, the
correct position for the feet in the backhand
drive. It is fatal to attempt to play the stroke
facing the net, as so many do. It is, in this stroke,
as, indeed, it is throughout the game of tennis
generally, of the utmost importance to keep the
eye on the ball as long as possible; indeed, one
should aim at watching it onto the racket.
Note carefully the position of the feet ; that the
weight is mainly on the left leg, and, for this is of
the greatest importance, see that the beginning of
the stroke comes from the elbow. Remember that
the wrist is held firmly at all times throughout the
stroke ; that, in fact, the command must be in the
wrist.
94 MODERN TENNIS
Plate 31 shows the instant before impact. Notice
again carefully the position of the feet. Good
foot-work is the essence of the backhand drive,
for if the feet be out of position it is impossible
for one to get the full swing back, for one's chest
interferes with the arm.
Observe the elbow pointed toward the net, the
back of the arm from the shoulder to the elbow
turned upward and the side of the hand facing the
net. See also how the weight has come onto the
right foot. In gaging one's distance for this
stroke one should always, when possible, allow
room for taking a short step forward as one is
playing the stroke. This adds both to the accuracy
of direction and the power of the stroke.
Plate 32 is probably the best photograph of a
low backhand drive ever taken. Here we see again
the foot-work on which so much stress is laid,
the right foot pointing almost the way the ball is
going. The ball is seen moving off the "center"
of the racket, which is practically vertical at the
moment of impact, while the arm and the racket-
handle, altho not in the same straight line, are
clearly moving in the same plane of force.
This drive is, without doubt, the most graceful
and effective stroke in the game. Curiously,
photographs such as this and the preceding plate
always look constrained, but it must be remem-
bered that the eye does not catch the individual
pictures as does a camera. This is exemplified
THE BACKHAND DRIVE 95
by the wonderfully stiff positions shown in
motion-pictures of a galloping horse, positions
which the human eye unaided would never see.
It will be seen that by this stroke the ball can
be met with the full face of the racket and forced
squarely back across the net, altho it is generally
accompanied by some top spin. Observe that the
shock of the blow falls on the wrist in the direction
in which it is practically incapable of bending.
This contributes in a marked degree to the speed
of this stroke, both in volleying and ground-
strokes.
Plate 33 shows a most important position in the
drive. Look at the preceding plate. Note that
the thumb is behind the racket; notice also that
the ball is taken much farther in front of the body
than in the forehand drive. Now see in this plate
that the thumb is showing on the near side of the
racket-handle. This means that I am following-
through correctly. Were my thumb still under-
neath the handle, or inclined to be toward the far
side of the racket-handle, it would be proof posi-
tive that my stroke had been wrongly played, for
the follow-through in tennis or golf is the natural
result of correctly, or incorrectly, performed ante-
cedent motions, and not in itself of any impor-
tance whatever, as is so often and so foolishly
asserted.
If I did not allow my thumb to come around
with the racket, following the natural turn of my
96 MODERN TENNIS
arm, I should find myself locked on the shoulde
and unable to finish my stroke properly, thus in
terfering seriously with both its grace and it
effectiveness.
Plate 34 shows the finish of the drive. It wil
be seen that the forearm has turned over, am
the thumb is consequently now riding on top o
the racket-handle, altho, of course, the hand ha
never for an instant relaxed its grip of the handk
The grip in this stroke must be very firm fror
start to finish. Altho the command is in the wrisi
the stroke is played mainly from the elbow, wit
the forearm-turn, and the swing from the shou'
der, assisted by the body-movement. It is as
tonishing on analysis to find how little wrist mov(
ment there is. At the finish the wrist shoul
be like steel; the racket-head should come to res
without a tremor or wabble of any kind and shoul
point in the direction in which the ball was ii
tended to go. Observe carefully the grip sho^
ing the leather at the end of the handle in the han
and the thumb lying up the handle. This is th
old grip, and I do not believe there is to-day an
better way of holding the racket for the backhan
stroke; but neither of these matters is essentia
If a player finds lie can make his stroke better b
holding the racket farther up and putting hi
thumb around the handle he may do so after givin
the other method a fair trial.
The backhand drive played in this manner hg
THOMAS C. BUNDY SERVINC
This shows the swintflmck in Bumly's effective Reverse Ameri-
can Service. Inset is the grip tor tills service that i
for most players.
PLATE 19
THE BACKHAND DRIVE 97
one very great and beneficial characteristic. It
naturally produces top spin, and not only top spin,
but, which is of great importance, an excellently
regulated amount of it. There is no other stroke
in the game of which this can be said.
The backhand chop when properly played em-
bodies and expresses the same principle as that
set out here as the fundamental requisite in the
tennis-stroke.
There is a great peculiarity about what one may
call the psychology of this stroke, and that is that
it inspires in those who learn it unlimited con-
fidence on the backhand. I have taken players
who were absolute "dubs" on the backhand and
in a few weeks had them running around the ball
to take it on the backhand. This sounds almost
like an exaggeration, but it is not.
Mr. Pell 's follow-through is very good ; indeed,
his foot-work, management of his weight, and his
execution of this stroke generally are worthy of
the attention and study of the players of the north-
ern hemisphere, for none of them is so good at
this shot as Mr. Pell, and, as I have already said,
there is absolutely no reason why the stroke should
not be learned.
The stroke played by Mr. Pell and that which I
am shown playing are identical. It is the only
true backhand stroke. Some people think they are
different strokes. I am illustrating the drive off
a low ball, Mr. Pell the drive off low, medium, and
98 MODEEN TENNIS
high bounds, and were I to show a drive off a ball
shoulder high or even a backhand smash over my
left ear, it would still be in its fundamental prin-
ciples the same stroke. It covers the half circle
which forms the backhand side wherein the racket
works.
The outstanding blot on American tennis is
the defective backhand. If we had among our
national representatives players who, in addition
to their other strokes, were as sound as Mr. Pell
on the backhand, there is not much doubt where
the Davis Cup would rest for a few years.
It therefore behooves aspiring players to take
advantage of the lessons contained in this book.
THE CHOP
THE chop, frequently included in the general
term "cut," is Number IV, that stroke which pro-
duces vertical backwardly rotating action as the
ball is propelled from the racket.
This stroke is played by bringing the racket A B
with its face nearly vertical, as shown at A B, Fig.
22, down the line E F in a forward and obliquely
downward course, so that in passing the intended
line of flight C D it meets the ball at C, and by
reason of the glancing or brushing contact causes
the ball to revolve upwardly and backwardly in the
direction C G. This stroke, as its name implies, is
from its very nature incapable of being played
with a following-through action. The racket, after
hitting the ball, continues its downward course
until it is suddenly arrested quite near the ground.
Of course, with less chop the stroke may be played
with more forward movement of the racket.
This is by no means a popular stroke, and as the
staple of any one's game is not good; but in its
place it is a fine shot, too little understood and
played. There are some who contend that this
stroke has no virtue which its more showy brother,
the lifting drive, does not possess. I think I shall
be able to show that this is not a correct statement.
The flight of this ball is entirely different from
99
100
MODERN TENNIS
that of a lifted drive. It springs away from the
racket, endeavoring to rise all the time, and has
nothing whatever of that assisted tendency to find
the base-line which is the prominent and beneficial
B
FIGURE 22
THE CHOP
characteristic of the lift ; in fact, on the contrary,
this ball strives against gravitation as long as it
can, while the other, once its initial spurt is
finished, does its best to assist the natural law.
This is most marked if you happen to be playing
these shots up into a wind. The cut ball will get
on the wind and sail gaily past the base-line. The
lifted ball puts its head down and dives suddenly
for the court.
P. A. VAILE SERVING
I am here shown serving the Reverse American Service.
It is generally advisable to put the ball more to the right, as
shown in the next plate.
PLATE 20
THE CHOP 101
There is a great peculiarity in the contrast of
the flight of these two balls. They each behave on
landing in a manner which seems quite opposed to
mechanical laws. The lifted ball should, from its
forward rotation, grip the ground and dart sud-
denly forward very low, while the cut ball should,
at the moment of bounding, on account of its back-
ward vertical rotation, be checked in its course,
and, if anything, break back. As a matter of fact,
the opposite is the case in all balls of medium pace
and upward. The explanation is that the sudden
drop of the lifted ball causes it to strike the ground
at a much more obtuse angle than it seems to, and
thus, naturally, it comes up at something ap-
proaching, but, of course, considering the forward
rotation, not quite, the same angle as that at which
it struck the ground, whereas the chop comes over
the net and strikes the ground at a very acute
angle with lots of backward rotation on it. There
must be, I think, an appreciable amount of what
engineers call "slip" like the engine-wheels fly-
ing round on the rail without moving the engine
before this ball grips the ground and bounds, and
then, of course, the angle at which it hits the
ground will be the sharper if we take a ball of each
kind played with similar strength and length.
Added to this, if the ball be played with a little
drag as well as cut, that is, if the motion imparted
to it be a mixture of pure backward vertical rota-
tion, and the left-to-right horizontal spin of the
102
MODEEN TENNIS
underhand service, it keeps low and breaks away
from left to right (from striker's side) in a most
uncertain manner.
The chop or cut well played is one of the most
unpleasant shots you can have on the backhand,
for several reasons. You have to calculate the
MET
FIGURE 23
SHOWING How A CHOPPED BALL PLAYED WITHOUT FORCE OR
CRISPNESS FINDS THE NET BY REASON OF THE
BACK SPIN ON IT
break, and correct that by meeting it against the
angle at which it will be traveling. Frequently,
you can not gage it exactly, and your racket finds
the ball later than you intended it to, and you put
the ball up to your opponent at the net, or, not
allowing for the backward rotation of the ball,
which immediately it grips your racket develops a
strong tendency to find mother earth, you play
THE CHOP 103
with the trajectory you would allow a plain ball,
and find your return in the net. You will under-
stand what I mean by a reference to Fig. 23.
Here you will see the ball passes over the net in
the line G A with a large amount of vertical back-
ward rotation from A to B, and suddenly strikes
the racket F E at C. The instant the backward
rotation is checked at C, the point at D is thrown
violently down, and unless the tendency of the
backward rotation is corrected by a sufficiently
smart stroke or sufficiently corresponding cut to
that which produced the rotation already on the
ball, it will inevitably find the net, as shown by the
dotted line C H. Many a time and often have I
beaten the man at the net on this. He has counted
it an easy low volley over the net, and so it would
have been off a plain ball, but he has made the
mistake common to so many tennis-players:
"He has not been thinking about what the ball is
doing in the air.'* I put this as a quotation. It
is of vast importance. You must think what the
ball is doing in the air every time. It is no worry
to do this. It is one of the pleasures of the game,
and will come quite naturally in time.
As you see a billiard-ball running round the
table you watch it and calculate that it has not
enough side, or has too much side, or that possibly
it has the wrong side. It is no trouble. Do you
ever do the same at tennis ?
To me one of the chief delights of tennis is
104 MODEEN TENNIS
to beat my opponent by head-work. It is astonish-
ing what a little thing will win the match for you,
and, apropos of the cut, you will, perhaps, excuse
me if I inflict a little tale on you here.
I had not played for some time when I was sud-
denly called on to meet an old opponent, a man
whom it was always a pleasure to meet, for he
"kept me guessing" the whole time. The first set
he played a great game, ran in on me, and
smothered everything with fine cross-court volleys
which skimmed the net continually. He was just
missing the duck, and playing very accurately and
confidently. I changed my tactics next set, and,
when prest, time and again drove, and chopped
hard and low, at his middle, both good shots when
you can not get away from the net-man's atten-
tions. I was much interested to note how many of
the chopped balls found the net, and thereafter I
had not much trouble. Now, you must understand,
a champion would, perhaps, have considered why
is this thus, and have acted accordingly, but you
may accept it as an indisputable fact that many of
them do not think enough, and that their execution
of strokes is much above their knowledge of the
game.
In returning a chopped ball with a lifting drive
it must be remembered that you are about to ac-
centuate the rotation. In the matter of rotation,
similar strokes check the spin, dissimilar accen-
tuate it. It will be apparent, then, to a very or-
THE CHOP 105
dinary understanding that in " lifting" a chopped
ball, allowance must be made, for (speaking from
the striker-out's side) it already has a large
amount of forward vertical rotation, and if he
puts the same amount of lift into his stroke that
he would were he dealing with a plain ball in-
Ordinary plain-face drive without rotation, showing even and
symmetrical flight of ball, and bound thereof.
Drive with lift or forward vertical rotation, showing sudden
drop at base-line when initial force weakens, also bound with
rotation still asserting its influence.
The chop (usually played on a fairly high-bounding ball), show-
ing peculiar straight flight due to backward vertical rotation, also
peculiar shooting bound.
FIGURE 24
tended just to escape the net, he will inevitably
turn the chopped ball down into the net.
The cut or chop can be most effectively played
on a high-bounding ball, and for a straight passing
shot down your opponent's backhand off such a
ball it is hard to beat, also it is a very nice shot to
go up on, and there are lots of contingencies about
it; but mind you don't get too fond of it.
Figure 24 is a comparison of the flight and
bound of the ordinary plain-faced drive without
rotation, the drive with lift, and the chop or cut.
THE LOB
I THINK the question of straight dropping lobs
is worthy of a little further consideration. Sup-
posing you are near the base-line, and a very high
lob is dropping straight down to you. It will, by
the time it reaches you, have acquired quite a con-
siderable impetus. Of course, few, if any, lobs
drop absolutely straight down, but I am, for argu-
ment's sake, imagining such a one. You are wait-
ing for this. To play your shot perfectly, you
must hit that ball on a little piece in the middle of
your racket no bigger than, if, indeed, as large as,
the palm of your hand. Has it ever occurred to
you to wonder what infinitesimal portion of a
second there is within which that stroke can be
properly played? If your racket-head be inclined
forwardly and downwardly as you strike the ball,
you can see how hopeless it will be to make a good
shot. I can not impress upon you too forcibly
that to smash well you must get well under your
work. One of the chief faults with the service of
many beginners is that they throw the ball up too
far in front of them and, naturally enough, smite
it into the net. So little is the time that you
actually have for making the stroke, and so great
the downward impetus, that many players un-
consciously correct the falling tendency, and give
106
THE LOB 107
themselves a little more margin of time in which
to play the shot by standing in under the ball a
little further than is advisable for a severe smash,
and playing the shot with the head of the racket
further back than the wrist, so that the blade lies
back at an angle which allows the ball to fall on
X
of"
FIGURE 25
SHOWING FLIGHT OP CUT LOB (a) BEING SMASHED AT E,
(6) BOUNDING AT H
A, F, H Imaginary continuance of flight.
H Ball and point of contact with earth. Eotation E G assert-
ing itself and producing bound H G, or modified form thereof.
to the face of it at a very sharp angle. There is
the quick-dropping ball, which has to be judged
from, say, ninety feet I have seen a Yankee
"sky-scraper" so high and your swiftly wielded
racket traveling at right angles to each other to
meet practically exactly where you intend them to.
You may accept my word for it that smashing lobs
requires practise, and should get it. Try to
imagine yourself playing this shot with a racket
having a blade four inches in diameter and a
handle eighteen inches long. This is what you
practically do every time you make a perfect
108 MODERN TENNIS
smash. A consideration of these statements, an
a glance at the accompanying Fig. 25 on the sul
ject, will show you the importance of making yor
lobs drop straight, if there is any chance of yoi
opponents getting at them.
The peculiar flight of the lob shown is give
with the object of drawing attention to the sudde
and straight drop of cut lobs. It would almoi
seem that directly the initial force is expended,
cut lob should drop straighter than a lifted on
and it is certainly a safer shot so far as presei
developments are concerned, but a lifted lob is
shot I have never seen designedly played, where*
cut lobs are common. With a cut lob it must n<
be forgotten that in addition to dropping dea
and having acquired downward impetus, it is r
volving backwardly toward the net and away fro
him who is going to play it (E, G, Fig. 25), so th
the moment his racket grips it at E, a third for<
which is fighting in favor of the lobber is call*
into being, for the instant the backward rotatic
is checked by the impact of the racket on that sic
of the ball nearer the volleyer at E, the other sk
at G strives all it can to run down the racket. (
course, it can not do it if the volley is well playe
but many a time have I smiled to myself, as I ha 1 !
seen the man at the net trust his racket to retui
a shot of mine which would have infallibly con
back off the same stroke if the ball had not bee
rotating backwardly, but as the ball had bee
P. A. VAILE SERVING
This plate shows the next stage in the Reverse American
Service. In this case the wrist is being used very loosely, altho
the grip of the racket is (inn.
PLATE 21
THE LOB 109
allowed to strike the racket, instead of the racket
striking it, it had simply gripped it, curled about
on its face momentarily, and fallen down. I re-
peat, you must deal determinedly with a ball
which is rotating considerably.
Remember, then, that when you put up a good,
straight-dropping cut lob you have three good
allies fighting for you :
1. The difficulty of timing.
2. The acquired downward impetus.
3. The accentuated downward rotation which
comes into play the moment the ball is struck.
And, remember, when it is tossed up to you,
that they are all there, and get out of your head
any idea of hitting it downward. If you con-
sistently aim for three feet over the net you will
miss fewer than you do now. Think of this. How
often, in proportion to the number which go into
the net, do you see smashed lobs go beyond the
base-line? There must be a reason. If you can
find better ones I shall be interested.
Added to this there can be no doubt that the
average player is thinking too much about the net
and the man at it. His idea, if his tennis-intellect
were cultivated to the utmost, would be, "What
is the angle from the face of my racket to the base-
line?"
The backhand lobs, it is almost needless to say,
are played in much the same manner as the back-
hand stroke, with, of course, the difference of ele-
110 MODERN TENNIS
vation. I find that I can lob with great accuracy,
particularly across the court, by getting well under
the ball and putting a fair amount of backhand
cut on it. This ball nearly always deceives who-
ever is chasing it. Forehand cut on a lob is fre-
quently mere backward rotation, and so does not
make the ball break so much as backhand, which,
in my stroke, is nearly horizontal action. If you
use the backhand cut, lob down the middle,
especially if it is blowing, for, otherwise, if the
wind comes from your forehand side it will accen-
tuate the natural curl of your stroke and carry
the ball out of court.
THE VOLLEY
I HAVE already dealt fairly fully with the vol-
ley, so that it practically only remains for me
here to discuss the effect and advantages of those
strokes which impart spin or work to the ball.
Both services, the forehand cut, and the reverse
overhead, make splendid volleys for two rea-
sons: first, the grip which one gets on the ball
gives one a greater certainty in placing the ball;
and, second, the line of flight of the ball being
influenced merely by the angle at which the face of
one's racket hits it at the last moment, it is almost
impossible to anticipate correctly its flight, and
moreover, from its spin, which in a severe stroke
is considerable, the bound will be low and erratic,
and render a safe return, even if the ball be
reached, problematical. Up till the very moment
of striking, it may look as if you intended to
smash the ball back to the base-line, when, at the
last fraction of a second, your blade turns, and the
ball flies on to the side-line, between the service-
line and the net.
For many volleys at the net the cut is advan-
tageous, especially if you want to drop a ball
short, and, indeed, I never advise playing a ball
off the ground by a tap with the plain face. It is
more certain, as a general rule, to cut it over if
111
112 MODERN TENNIS
you want to drop it short, and it gives the op-
posing side less time to reach it.
Altho one rarely sees them used, the forehand
and backhand lifting drives make beautiful and
effective volleys when the ball comes to hand at a
suitable elevation, and the return can be played so
sharply across court as to be almost a certain
score. I have seen some of the American players
make these shots splendidly. They are well worth
trying, as the would-be champion can not know
too much. One of England's foremost players,
who never volleys unless he can not help himself,
when forced to do so, plays a fierce and effective
forehand volley of this description.
I would lay it down as a general rule that you
should not volley straight down the court, but,
rather, cut it off at an angle. As in everything
else, however, you must be guided by circum-
stances, and you should remember that you must
not go seeking the side-lines when you can win
with a yard to spare; and again, do not bother
about making ferocious gallery smashes where
force is unnecessary, for you are only making
your opponent a present of so much energy. On
the other hand, if he picks up one of your "pats,"
which you should have " murdered, " I shall be the
last to say an extenuating word in your favor.
Many volleys are killed by pure pace, others
are smashed hard on to the ground with such force
that the bound carries them beyond your oppo-
THOMAS C. BUNDY SERVING
This shows Bundy at the moment of impact, siiul is :i valuable
lesson In the production of this service.
PLATE 22
THE VOLLEY 113
nent's reach. It is necessary to consider that you
mean to hit this latter kind of volley down into
the court. Don't trust to gravitation and acquired
impetus for this shot. Eemember that if you mean
to make an effective smash you must call upon
your body to assist you and throw your weight
into the stroke.
THE MODERN SERVICE
THERE can be little doubt that modern tennis is
too much service and not enough play. That is
a peculiar way of expressing it. An old baseball-
player put it another way. He said : 1 1 Tennis is
now very much like baseball all pitcher," and
there can be no doubt that the "pitcher" or
server occupies a totally disproportionate place
in the game.
The service was originally more the means of
putting the ball in play than a branch of forcing
offensive tactics, and in the early days of the game
it was not the tremendous advantage that it is
now in the hands of a first-class player.
At the last Davis Cup contest there was a re-
markable exhibition of the preponderance of the
service in the modern game. Those who saw the
memorable match between Norman E. Brookes
and Maurice E. McLoughlin, will remember that
it was not until the thirty-first game that
McLoughlin succeeded in breaking through his
opponent's service and then winning his own serv-
ice and the set at 17-15. For thirty games these
two fine players had alternately won the service.
Many people thought that this was a great
tennis-match. It did not seem so to me. It was
the most wonderful service duel that I ever saw
or expect to see; but it demonstrated beyond a
114
THE MODERN SERVICE 115
doubt that the service will soon have to be regu-
lated in some manner, otherwise its preponderance
will ruin the game. I foresaw this when this
book was first published. I then suggested that
in time the measurements of the court would have
to be altered to suit the development of the game.
The service would not be such a tremendous
advantage as it is if the foot-fault umpires were
courageous and able enough to see that the rules
of the game were observed. In England, the duty
of calling foot-faults is supposed, and rightly so,
to devolve on the base-linesman at each end. In
America they have a special peripatetic umpire
who calls or otherwise the faults at both ends.
In writing of the modern service, I am afraid
that I can not help being severe. It is in many
cases quite unfair, which makes it impossible to
yield one's tribute of admiration to many very
fine performances, for a game that is founded on
irregularity can not be regarded so highly as it
would be were it perfectly legitimate.
There are so many well-known players whose
delivery is quite unfair that I have no intention
of even attempting to name them all. Some of
them I shall refer to. Many of them obtain a
most unfair advantage from their methods.
Others, who infringe the rules regularly, are
merely technical offenders and obtain no benefit
from their breach, but the breach should not be
made. A rule is a rule, and the game ceases to
116 MODERN TENNIS
be the game when players arrogate to themselves
the right to act in a manner which is inconsistent
with the laws.
I can not put it more strongly than W. A. Lamed
once did. I was foot-fault judge at an important
tournament near New York, and I had dealt firmly
with two well-known offenders. It appears that
Larned had been watching my * ' calling. ' ' After
the match the winner was talking about my um-
piring, as players always will talk when they are
called for delivering an unfair service.
Larned "chipped in" so that he could be heard
all over the piazza, saying: "And Vaile didn't
call one that wasn't a foot-fault. Look here
'Jones' let us say have you ever realized that
if you are playing a man on a bet you are trying to
cheat him out of his money?"
Now "Jones" did not like this very much. It
sounds bald and crude, but it is the fact.
Players are much to blame for the lax adminis-
tration of the laws in this respect. They are nearly
always rude when they are made to play fairly.
This does not apply only to America. Stealing
four feet on the run up to the net is part of many
players' tactics in England. It is an unpleasant
thing to say, but it is only the truth. Now it is
getting just as bad here. Some one has to deal
with the matter. It simply must be done in the
interests of the game. I should not do it now
unless I had been specially requested to do so.
>
P. A. VAILE SERVING
The impact In the Reverse American Service. This is prac-
tically a front view of the position shown in I he preceding plate
of Mr. Bundy, whose grip is slightly different from mine. Note
that the ball is hit as the racket is ascendini:.
PLATE 23
THE MODERN SERVICE 117
It is not necessary to foot-fault. The best
players rarely do it, unless they want to get a fly-
ing start !
When Brookes was playing Lamed in the bye
of the Davis Cup at Queen's Club, London, some
years ago, I was on one of the base-lines. The
famous referee, the late B. C. Evelegh, tennis
editor of The Field, asked me to take the line.
"Certainly," I said, "I shall be glad to"; and
I added: "There's nothing depending on this
match, and so I don't care how I put them off their
game. I'll call every semblance of a foot-fault."
"Right. Do !" he said; and I went on.
Lamed beat Brookes in three sets and I did not
call a foot-fault.
Evelegh came to me afterward and said: "Why
didn't you call the foot-faults?"
"For a most excellent reason," I replied.
"There were none to call."
"That's right," said Evelegh. "I was watch-
ing them with you."
Brookes and Lamed were within an inch or two
of foot-faulting all the time, but neither of them
served an unfair ball. It should be part of a good
player's education to time his delivery so that it
is fair.
H. L. Doherty was another very fair server. I
only foot-faulted him once. Judging by the * ' Ooh-
h-h" that ran around the gallery at Queen's it had
not happened frequently before. I never heard
118 MODERN TENNIS
of him being faulted, nor did I ever see him making
foot-faults.
Wilding, on the other hand, was in the habit of
making a wide variety of foot-faults frequently.
If Wilding saw me on a line in a double he would
always choose the other end to serve from. On
one occasion he was heard to say to his partner,
"Let me have this end, I want to dodge Vaile."
I believe I am responsible for the peculiar way
Wilding stands off the base-line, about a yard
behind it.
It was at Queen's Club, London, in the Covered
Courts championship, and I had pulled him up
again and again for bolting over the line before
the ball had left his racket.
Wilding thought he would show the gallery what
"silly nonsense" all this foot-faulting was, "don't
you know!" He deliberately stood back about
four feet, reached out with his racket and touched
the base-line, then looked at me as much as to say:
"See where I am?" After this performance he
served.
The ball hadn't left his racket before I called
like a pistol-crack, "Fault." Wilding had not
moved forward more than a few inches.
He looked at me and then said in his funny, muf-
fled way, "How can it be a fault? I'm nowhere
near the line. ' '
I replied, promptly: "I didn't say you were,
Mr. Wilding ; but you must not jump when you are
THE MODERN 'SERVICE 119
serving; both your feet were off the floor." And
what laugh there was wasn't in the place that
Wilding had calculated.
I am mentioning some of these cases that seem
interesting to me, because I think a determined
effort should be made to put down the habit, and
to uphold umpires who ably and conscientiously
do their duty. Most people try to avoid what
has come to be looked on as a thankless and un-
pleasant task. I think it would assist a good deal
in weeding out the abuse if the infringement were
called "Foul." Nobody desires to uphold a foul.
Not one player in ten knows what constitutes a
foot-fault. I foot-faulted a player an ex-cham-
pion in the center court at Newport a year or
two ago. He "roared" as they always do and
would have made it very uncomfortable for many
people.
I merely said, "Don't worry about him. He's
all right. He'll apologize twice within a fort-
night." And he did. The trouble is that not
everybody is so oblivious to public opinion as I
am when I know I am right, and the consequence
is that it is becoming increasingly hard to obtain
competent foot-fault umpires and linesmen.
On the second or third occasion when my
irascible Newport friend apologized to me I said,
"Now, forget shout it. Suppose, instead of my
making you play fairly, a volcano had opened up
and swallowed you and me and all those people
120 MODERN TENNIS
making a noise in the stand, we never should have
been missed, so what you and I did wasn't oi
much importance really, was it f Now let me sho\*
you what you did." And I did so.
"But that isn't a foot-fault, is it?" he said.
"Oh yes, it is," I replied, "and you make il
quite often. You don't get much, if any, advan-
tage from it, it's true, but if I am calling youi
opponent strictly I can not let you go on infringing
the rules."
But his opponent, whom I had called ten times
was getting an advantage from his breaches of the
rules. He was running in on his service, and was
getting a foot or two over the line before he hil
the ball. This is what McLoughlin and manj
other players habitually do.
McLoughlin has had his attention called to this
He maintains, and rightly, too, that he is entitlec
to consider his service fair unless the foot-faul1
umpire calls him. The trouble is that so few um
pires are game to do their duty. It is mosl
amusing to hear the apologetic manner in whicl
they say "Fault." If, instead of this, one hearc
coming, like the crack of a revolver, ' * Foul ! " I an
sure it would have a salutary effect.
I must speak plainly about McLoughlin 's serv-
ice. In my opinion it is very unfair. His righi
foot is, in an important match, generally over th<
line long before he hits the ball.
He could not get his great speed of service anc
- V
i
5 a 5
s >
W S S
O QQ
d a
CO | g
"* "C
r 3 _ at bil-
liards, and rotation, at tennis, are strange things
and sometimes it will wait for you in quite an
accommodating manner, and you say, "If I had
started soon enough, I could have got that"; be-
sides, the moral effect on your adversary of turn-
ing losing shots into winning ones must not be
forgotten. Never consider a half-volley out of
your reach until you have tried for and missed it.
It is a true saying that you never know what
166 MODERN TENNIS
you can do until you try, and the performance of
an absolute novice once filled me with admiration.
It was a high, dead-dropping lob on the base-line.
With the confidence born of ignorance, he took on
the smash. He missed the ball. As it bounded
he let out at it a mighty swipe that would, had it
hit it, have carried it into the next parish. Again
he missed, and, swinging completely round with
the force of his shot and no doubt somewhat
fatigued by his previous efforts, he played the
dropping ball quite soberly and returned it. This
proves my contention. I am sure he didn't know
he could do it until he tried neither did I.
Never "ease up" when you are playing a match.
It is frequently a fatal mistake, for the effect is
twofold. When you want to get going again you
find you can not, and moreover your opponent has
become heartened up, and is coming at you with
renewed hope and vigor. If you are fit you should
go right out as soon as you can.
DOUBLES
GENERALLY speaking, the double game calls for
more severity in the strokes than does the single.
The principal shots in a double are :
The center drive. This is the most useful
return in a double. You have no risk of going
over the side-line, and so long as you escape
the server's partner and get your drive in before
the server is quite in position, you have a good
chance of scoring, and, moreover, if he has come
up a bit wide, you have the chance of going clean
between your opponents. There is also always on
your side the element of uncertainty which fre-
quently exists as to who is to take such balls;
moreover, not only do you, as I have already said,
not take any risk as to your side-line, but in the
little time which is left to the player running up
to decide as to his shot, he will very frequently
give you the benefit of the doubt as to your length,
and if the return has been a very telling one you
will get a weak answer or a miss. These are two
strong points in its favor, for I don't care who
the champion is, when he is on the run and meet-
ing a fast drive with plenty of lift on it, he must
be a wonder to decide within a yard where it will
pitch, and I say without any hesitation, that man
doesn't exist. Therefore, one does not care to
167
168 MODERN TENNIS
take the chance of letting it go, and if he does,
and sees it pounce down on the base-line a few
times, he will soon alter his tactics. The flight
of this shot well played is so deceptive that it does
not pay to let it go, unless you are certain it is
going out.
The cross-court drive. This is either a fore-
hand or backhand drive, preferably with plenty
of lift on it, and the sharper across court the
better. Well played, it is a most awkward return
to reach and deal with effectively. It can be
played as a slow passing shot at a sharp angle
across the court, and, well executed, is most useful.
The side-line drive. This is a pretty shot when
well played. It must not be attempted too often,
but as a corrective to any wandering tendencies
on the part of the man at the net toward the
center of the court, it is very valuable. Do not
forget that here is the highest part of the net.
The lob. This is a useful shot, especially if the
server's partner stands very close in. Do not try
to lob too close to the side-lines, but above every-
thing go for length, and if you have any doubt
about outlobbing your opponents, toss your lob
high so that you may have a better chance to
retreat, and await the threatened "kill," and also
because it is a more difficult ball to deal with. A
high lob has a lot of "acquired impetus" by the
time it reaches the racket, and it is astonishing
how many of them find their way into the net.
DOUBLES 169
In a double each player should attend to his
own lobs, and if my remarks about downward
impetus, want of moral courage, and not attempt-
ing to volley downward, have been duly considered,
he will surely smash them most effectively, as is
his duty. If, however, he can not do that, or
return the ball with medium pace good length, he
must let it bound, and if his opponents are not in
a strong position at the net, which they ought to
be, he may smash it after it has risen, or lob it
back. In volleying a dead-dropping lob, by which
I mean one that is falling straight down, you
must be, as with your service, practically under
it for your stroke. If you attempt to play it too
far in front of you, you will almost certainly hit
it down. This applies with nearly equal force to
any overhead volley, but in the matter of an ap-
proaching volley, especially if it has any upward
tendency, you have slightly more margin, as its
flight will to a slight extent counteract your error,
whereas the flight of the lob will accentuate it.
The server should be under way almost before
the ball has left his racket and should lose no time
in getting to the net. You will ask how this may
be accomplished. As a matter of fact you can
actually be under way before the ball has left your
racket and yet commit no foot-fault. The Ameri-
cans are great foot-faulters, but I saw some of
them, whose service was unquestionable, so trans-
fer their weight that at the moment of the impact
170 MODEEN TENNIS
of the racket on the ball their heads and shoulders
were over two feet inside the service-line, with
both feet still behind the line, and they were prac-
tically falling, but the moment the ball was hit the
right foot was smartly brought forward ; but they
were actually under way before the ball was hit.
I am a great believer in a double in the service
down the center of the court. A reference to Fig.
29 will show that this service practically robs the
striker-out of, or at least removes the sting from,
two of his most important shots, the side-line
drive and the sharp cross-court shot. I do not
think this is sufficiently considered. The server
should take all balls which come down the center
of the court and to his own side of that.
The server should vary his position at the base-
line as little as necessary. Personally, I stand
about the middle of the single half-court, and I
think it is not a bad base to operate from. In
serving down the center of the court I stand closer
in. Your opponent soon takes this as an intima-
tion that such a service is coming. Convince him
by a sharp cross-court service that he is wrong.
The server's partner should stand close up to
the net, as close, indeed, as practicable, without
running the risk of hitting the net. He may re-
treat a little for the second service, which is gener-
ally weak, but if this has anything like a good
length, unless he anticipates a lob, I can not see
any reason for going back very far. The server's
DOUBLES
171
172 MODERN TENNIS
partner should volley everything he can reach
comfortably, without leaving his side-line too ex-
posed, and should attempt everything that looks
as if it would not be within reach of his partner
as he runs in. Before the return is made he should
be in such a position as to cover his side-line. At
or immediately before the actual moment of the
return, especially if it looks like a center drive,
he should open out a little, and even if he does not
actually move very far, I think it is always well
to be seen moving toward the center. Moral
effect is an important factor in tennis, and
the mere fact of his movement toward the center
of the court will often make his opponent add a
foot or two so as to get away from his anticipated
volley, and so play more into the hands of the
man running up. I am inclined now and again to
be a bit "risky" in tempting my opponent to drive
down the side-line especially with his backhand.
You must remember that he has the highest part
of the net to get over, also that he can not do it
every time with sufficient accuracy to pass in the
small margin over "cover" which you will allow
him, and that by taking some slight risks in this
respect you will probably more than compensate
for it by what you will "pick up" near the center,
but if you find it is not paying drop it at once.
Of course, if your partner's service is down the
middle of the court you can stand much wider
from the side-lines, as shown in Fig. 29, as a good
DOUBLES 173
side-line passing shot is then practically elimi-
nated from your opponent's available returns. A
is the server, and C the striker-out. It will be
seen that practically the extremes available to C
for a drive are C E and C F, so that on a service
of this nature the server's partner can certainly
cover more of the net than on a cross-court serv-
ice. I have very strong opinions on the value of
this "center-theory." It seems to me that, well
carried out, it shuts up the angles of the court
available for your opponent in a remarkable
manner; moreover, in serving from right to left
you are generally, of course, serving to your op-
ponent's backhand. I have a very strong objec-
tion, as a general rule, to a cross-court service
which goes wide out at the side. This gives your
opponent a chance of a passing shot down the side-
line from outside the court into it, which naturally
allows him a much wider margin, see D A, Fig.
26, and it also gives him the chance of a very
telling cross-court drive over the lowest part of
the net at a very sharp angle. You must not think
it unimportant that the shot has the lowest por-
tion of the net available for it in its natural return,
for six inches count in this game, especially if
your ball is not a "climber."
I have before laid stress on the straight drive at
the man at the net. It is frequently useful in a
double, but don't tempt Providence by playing it
too often, and when you do, try your best to make
174 MODERN TENNIS
it straight at his middle. It is a very awkward
ball to return effectively, as it so often catches
him out of position.
There is some difference of opinion as to the
position in which the striker-out's partner should
stand. My own opinion is that they should be
nearly always working in a line so that the
base-line and a line drawn through the two
players shall be parallel to each other. The idea
in my mind of a perfect double combination is
that they form the front half of a pair of parallel
rulers. The back half is fixt and is the base-line.
I can not get it out of my head that, in the matter
of getting to the net, the two men should be one
as much as possible. Many players favor the
idea of the striker-out's partner standing between
the net and the service-line for every service,
except a very severe one, in which case they are
inclined to think he should be back with his part-
ner. Now, my idea of two players working to-
gether is that they are always to be in such a
position that one of them can almost reach any-
thing that may come along. It always seems to
me that if the striker-out's partner is standing
inside the service-line it leaves a very nasty gap
for cross-court returns, and exposes him to some
most awkward shots at his feet. If the striker-
out should try a side-line drive down his oppo-
nent's backhand, and it be met by a good volley
across court, there is quite a large gap for it to
DOUBLES 175
go through. I think such a position can only be
defended by playing the game successfully from
it, and it is not given to many to do this. If I
were speaking purely from the standpoint of
doubles, as played in England, I might view it
with more favor, but I have seen tennis played
in many lands, and particularly in the double
game now listen to the heresy I am not an
admirer of English tactics. There is an absence
of the brilliancy that I look for in doubles, and
expect here more than anywhere, but am disap-
pointed. I consider that English double players
volley from too far back in the court. They are
consequently more frequently than otherwise
playing their volleys upward, instead of, as they
should be doing, downward. Their leisurely trot
to about three yards from the net amuses me.
This is where I excuse the rusher. If your return
or service is good enough to prevent your oppo-
nent making an accurate lob, why do you want to
wait an inch further from the net than is neces-
sary? He won't try to lob every time. Some of
those he does try will be "good business" for
you ; some which outlob you, you can get back to
and return the compliment; so I say, get right
up and be in position to kill the ball by sharp
cross-court volleys played downward, instead of
exchanging volleys from your feet, of which, from
their length and lowness, you can not make other
than mere returns, as it is impossible if you are
176 MODERN TENNIS
far back to get the deadly cross-court angles of
which I speak. As a matter of fact, the Austra-
lians play a far more brilliant and attractive game
than the English. They lose no time in getting to
the net, and their volleying is excellent. How-
ever, as to this matter of position you have my
views, and I have told you what many others think.
Try them both, and do that which suits your com-
bination best. In some respects your partner
standing in while you are receiving is an advan-
tage, provided you can get alongside him quickly
enough after your return. He has not had to
run and is ready and waiting, but if your return
has not been good enough to enable you to race
right up, then I reckon you have the worst of the
deal at once.
As I said before, I can not get out of my head
the notion that in a perfectly combined double the
two men should be one. My idea of this perfect
combination is a big edition of the Siamese twins.
In my imagination the two men are connected as
by a rod. If one plays the shot the same intelli-
gence rules the pair. If it is good the twins will
follow it in (because they can not be separated),
and be in a position still relatively the same dis-
tance apart, and the same distance from the net;
in fact, in my mind I class them as one being at
all times, except when the server is attending to
his business on the base-line, and then, of course,
he must effect the junction again as quickly as
DOUBLES 177
possible. If his service is good enough he should
be able to get right up and take his volley before
it is dropping much. Some of the Australians are
very good at this. I feel certain that for the vast
majority of players this game is the better, but
you "pays your money and you takes your
choice."
From my criticism of English tennis it will be seen that in
the first edition of this work I stated that the most serious
defect in English doubles is the position of the striker-out's
partner. It is simply stupid, and I have at all times written
strongly against it. In the last international contest for the
Dwight Davis Cup Messrs. Doherty abandoned the English
position, and used the formation I have always insisted on.
Twice they tried the English position for a short time,
promptly paid the inevitable penalty, and wisely discarded it.
This question of tactics may be considered absolutely settled
against the English formation. [1907.]
In the recent Davis Cup matches played at Forest Hills,
Messrs. Brookes and Wilding used the formation that I con-
demn when they defeated Messrs. McLoughlin and Bundy, but
McLoughlin was playing much below his usual form that day.
It is a liberty with the game which may be taken only by a
team that is "on top" of its opponents. [1915.]
MIXED DOUBLES
IF my lady pupils should derive the benefit
which I hope they will from my little lecture on
volleying, I could easily leave this chapter out, for
then this game would be nearly men's doubles.
For fear, however, that they may not make such
rapid progress as I could wish, I must make a
few remarks on this game, a game from which I
have had much enjoyment.
Generally the lady plays in the forehand court
and on the base-line and the man at the net, altho
in the case of one pair who held the English
Championship the positions were reversed, and
the lady did the net work, while the man drove
from the base-line.
When the man is serving, his partner, unless
she is a good volleyer, must stand a little outside
the base-line. The man follows up his service.
In a mixed doubles I have sometimes been accused
of "poaching" volleys. I always answer that it
is a crime unknown to at least my tennis-law.
The man, in my opinion, should never allow any-
thing that he can get at to touch the ground. I am
speaking now of the usual case of the lady play-
ing on the base-line.
The man must stand in on the lady's service to
the opposing lady, and endeavor to kill her return.
178
MIXED DOUBLES 179
He should always be on the move, darting across
and snapping everything he can possibly get hold
of, until the opposing lady experiences those sen-
sations which prompted a fair opponent to say to
me once, "Oh, I can not keep away from you.'*
It is generally hard for the man to do much at
the net while his partner is serving to the opposing
man, but it is difficult for him to be more useful
elsewhere. I always impress upon my lady part-
ner to keep fairly well toward her side-line, as
at the net I can cover the greater portion of the
base-line, and if she does stand wide it means
that she has so much less running, as the majority
of returns are cross-court shots. I also firmly
impress on the ladies the value to them of serving
down the middle of the court fairly frequently,
as that again shuts off the usual diagonal or cross-
court shots to a great extent.
While her partner is receiving the service the
lady should stand a little outside the base-line
and toward her side-line. If she has a weak back-
hand, she should keep over enough to cover it as
much as possible without leaving too big a gap
on her forehand. As in men's doubles, so, and
more so, in this game I say, apart from the fact
of its being more "companionable," a man should
stay back with his partner when she is receiving.
I have already stated what a liberal interpre-
tation I put on "poaching." I shall go almost
further. Unless you are playing against "one of
180 MODERN TENNIS
the best," ladies, you should take great risks of
being passed on your side of the court as you
dart across to intercept the opposing lady's re-
turns to your partner. I carry it to an excess,
but find it pays. I make my "base," to quote Mr.
Baddeley, very near the middle of the court, and
sometimes manage to reach and intercept returns
by the single side-line. I also take great risks
by running in on my service right across, in many
cases beyond the middle of the court, and I find
that it pays in the long run. In a few rare
cases where it does not I do not take too long to
learn my lesson. "When badly beaten a few times
I give it a rest. It may have been only a "flash in
the pan"; then I resume operations on the old
lines. History does not always repeat itself.
There are great reversals of form at cricket after
the adjournment for afternoon "tea." After my
adjournment from poaching I don't admit the
term I frequently find the same thing. I have
said, in speaking of men's play, to keep your oppo-
nent "guessing." It applies with much more
force to a lady. Do not let her settle into her game
if you can help it. Worry her from the start.
Give a few object lessons in the rotation of the
ball, as, for instance, now and again a reverse cut,
which to any but " top-notchers " is a perfect
horror. The moral effect of the man's continual
encroachments often makes the lady drive the ball
out of court. It is astonishing how some men
MIXED DOUBLES 181
spoil a lady's game. I know one little scamp, a
really good player too, who charges up to the net
and does a few steps of a breakdown. It comes
off too. He has explained the theory of this shot
to me, but I do not think you will require it ; at the
same time, while not being an advocate of gym-
nastics on the court, I must say that the value of
"bustling" is more apparent, perhaps, in a mixed
double than in any other class of game.
I am afraid I shall get into hot water if I con-
tinue to tell the men all the ladies' weak points,
so I hasten to make amends. A fine shot to get
away from the worrying man is a diagonal or
cross-court lob. I say cross-court particularly
because a low cross-court lob will be much more
out of his reach than if you try to put it straight
over his head, for he has to run across and then
get under it to try and reach it, and moreover it
is going back toward his partner, and even an
inveterate aerial annexer, like myself, always has
the moral effect of "woman" behind him when he
thinks the lob may touch ground, and does not
care "to go too far" and get snubbed. It is a
very useful shot, and a lady to play a good mixed
double must be able to lob well, and, indeed, there
is no reason why she should not, especially if she
practises dividing the distance as I have recom-
mended.
Now there is one thing that often worries ladies
in a mixed double, and that is when the opposing
182 MODERN TENNIS
man serves underhand cuts. They never seem to
understand which way they are going to jump. I
shall give you an infallible rule for circumventing
the wiles of the deceiver.
Watch his racket and whichever way that
swings you may rely upon it that the ball will
break the opposite way, that is, if he swings from
right to left the ball will break from left to right
this is what he nearly always does and vice
versa. When you have once grasped this fact all
you need to do is to take up your stand for the
usual break, say four or six feet to your left of the
line of flight of the ball, unless you intend to play
it backhand.
I have one most important piece of advice to
give every lady player who would excel at this
game. It is good advice, tho generally dis-
regarded in the game of life, but absolutely essen-
tial in mixed doubles; altho neglect of it in the
ordinary way often results in a perfect "com-
bined," and that is, "Keep away from the man."
It is feminine human nature to count the value of
passing the man as worth about five times that of
beating the lady, but the umpire only gives it the
same value, and man is a tricky animal. You can
not always "pass" him. Sometimes, of course,
you prefer not to.
LADIES' SINGLES
I HAVE very little to say under this heading be-
cause, as I have already told my lady readers, all
that I have said in this book is for them, and I
only insert this heading so that I may emphasize
this fact and once again impress upon them the
absolute necessity of acquiring the art of volley-
ing if they desire to become first-class players, or,
indeed, to derive the highest amount of pleasure
from the game that it is capable of affording
them.
Reverting again to my suggestion for acquiring
the rudiments of the art of volleying, I might
amplify it to what seems almost an absurd extent,
yet, as it will help, possibly, one timid player to
overcome her fear of the ball, I shall risk being
considered absurd. I would risk more than that
to see my lady pupils improving as I should wish
them to in this respect. Some ladies absolutely
fear the ball may hit and hurt them, nor in a
measure is it to be wondered at. I have seen
many a man do a discreet "duck" while yet there
was a chance. If you really are afraid of the ball,
if it is coming fast enough to hurt you, keep the
blade of your racket between it and your face,
and play it thus, but you must be careful to have
your racket very firm, so as not to let it be forced
183
184 MODEBN TENNIS
back, and if you can give your racket a smart
push forward just as the ball is going to strike it
you will soon get on. For all low volleys my idea
is that the nearest approximation to this position,
so far as regards the line of flight of the ball, is
unquestionably theoretically the most perfect. Of
course, directly you get confidence you will hold
your racket as previously instructed. This, as I
said before, may sound extreme, but so imprest
am I with the importance to ladies of volleying,
from every point of view science, enjoyment, and
everything that I would adopt any legitimate
expedient to coax them up to the net.
I must impress upon the ladies the value of
studying carefully the angles of the court. I don't
think that I have touched emphatically upon this
point before, but an ideal tennis-player should, in
theory, have eyes in the back of his head as well
as in front. You will wonder what for, I suppose.
Well, it is this. The average player sees only
what is in front of him, or a very small propor-
tion of it, and plays to that. The man or woman
who wants to get right up to the top of the tree
should have in his or her mind's eye, as the rear-
gazing optics are not available, exactly where the
ball which is coming will land. Mentally he or she
as it comes must follow it to where it will strike
the ground. For this it is essential that a
thorough knowledge of the angles of the court
should be a part of the mental equipment of the
T. B. PELL Low BACKHAND |)I:IVK
Here Mr. Pell is shown coming onto the ball with an ascending
racket. His weight has been transferred to the right foot, add-
ing power and accuracy.
PLATE 37
LADIES' SINGLES 185
true tennis-player. The portion of the court be-
hind him should be as clearly denned in his mental
vision as that in front is in his physical.
How many of us have ever given this a thought!
How common a thing it is to see balls designedly
allowed to pass drop well within the court, balls
which, could your eyes have done a right-about-
face, would not have gone a foot beyond your head
before you would have clearly seen that they would
fall into the court.
Apropos of this question, I will again refer my
lady readers to Fig. 26, which deals with center-
theory. This, in a lady's single, will, to a good
volleyer, be found of immense value.
If any of my readers are keen enough to follow
up this question of angles I would suggest to them
a series of experiments in them which should prove
interesting. Let us take, for example, the center-
theory in the single game. Mark a spot six or
nine feet behind the center of the base-line. Have
a number of pointed sticks six feet long. Let two
of them have red tops, and the others white. The
red tops are men. Go on to your base behind the
line and get the best and shortest drive you can on
to the side-lines which will allow you on either side
the widest effective passing shot you can make.
Put in a white flag at each spot. Let your assist-
ant stand at the net with another white flag. Go
behind your base, and get all three flags in a line.
Put in the flag at the net. Eepeat the performance
186 MODERN TENNIS
on the other side. Now put your red man in the
center of the two white flags at the net. Go and
sit down and think over it. Then stand at the red
flag and see how much of the net you can cover.
If you are still keen, do the same thing with
regard to corner shots. Unless your brain is of a
most lethargic nature, and in that case you won't
be troubling with flags you will find food for
reflection here.
If you still have room for more theory, extend
this process to doubles. If this were carefully
studied out you would be astonished how accurate
you would become in anticipating where a ball will
pitch after it has passed you.
Call this theory run mad if you like. I have not
yet given you a chess-board to play your shots off,
as they do in golf and cricket, altho I may in time.
It will assist you in taking your best position at
the net in a wonderful degree when you have dis-
covered how much of it you can cover on this
center-theory, and will give you much increased
confidence. It will show you, too, that wide
corner shots, especially to a man who has a good
quick-dropping cross-court shot, are by no means
always the safest to go in on.
Some people will say this should have been in
the men's singles division, but I am making no
exceptions in their favor. If they don't read
about your singles they will miss it, and you can
play it off on them.
LADIES' SINGLES 187
Before I close this chapter I must really compli-
ment the ladies upon their great excellence in one
of the most important branches of the game, their
length. All through the last All England Cham-
pionship meeting I was immensely imprest with
it, the more so as, generally speaking, the men's
was anything but good. The reason for this is
that volleying is always the enemy of length.
Playing against a persistent volleyer, length is
generally the last thing one wants.
LADIES' DOUBLES
I THINK I shall be excused if I dismiss this sub-
ject somewhat summarily, for I have dealt with it
very fully in my general remarks.
I need only say here, if you can volley well
enough, and have energy and strength enough,
play it like a men's double as nearly as you can.
If only one of you has the above requirements,
play it as much like a mixed double as you can,
with the additional advantage of the "man" at
the net having two poor creatures of the gentler
sex to worry.
If neither of you has the above requirements,
"go out on half-time" and put in the other half
learning to volley. These are very unscientific
general directions, but I believe that in the main,
and taken in conjunction with the rest of the book,
they will be found to answer.
188
PRACTISE
IT is all very well to write it, but I am afraid
that of what I call practise there is practically
none. If there were, the game would be played in
a more scientific manner than it is.
Practise generally consists of a few sets with
a friend or friends, and this is not of as much
service as it should be, because the Englishman, in
sport, has a considerable amount of the American
characteristic of wanting to "beat" some one, and
so instead of practising his scales he is doing
Chopin I didn't mean to pun; it was purely
accidental. Pray pardon me.
My idea of practise is to get another wild enthu-
siast unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, they
are rare and to put in a portion of the time
practising just length.
When you have had enough of that, toss each
other up thirty or forty lobs to all parts of the
court, and practise smashing them.
Then stand back and put in a quarter of an hour
lobbing for length, remembering to divide your
distance as suggested, and lob for the half-way
house. If it doesn't pay, move the house on a bit;
but I am convinced one should not have the idea
of playing for the base-line in one's mind when
lobbing. It should be the point in the atmosphere
189
190 MODEEN TENNIS
where you desire gravitation to overcome your
force that should be the dominant idea in your
mind.
Then stand at the net and volley a few drives.
Step back a yard or two, and get your friend to
put in a few quick-dropping drives with lots of
lift, and see what you can do with them.
After this, experiment with the half-volley,
especially on your backhand, always remembering
that this is your "blind shot," and that you must
struggle with that wandering eye of yours.
I am still full of suggestions, but I don't want to
put you off the game by urging too severe a course,
only I can assure you that I know that so long as
any scoring is being done you are not really prac-
tising. You are playing a fellow to whom you
can owe 15. You will experiment a little, perhaps,
and he gets a lead on. Then he assumes a look of
importance, as tho it was no trouble to him, and
says : " You're a bit off your game to-day." Then
you say to yourself, "Am I? I'll show you."
And you go after him. Practise is off for that
day.
If you must play rests all the time and want real
practise, there is only one way to get it. Do not
call any score while you are trying strokes and
experimenting.
I am writing now for the average player.
Don't play too long at one time, especially if
you are preparing for a match. In that case three
PRACTISE 191
or four good sets three or four days a week accord-
ing to your strength should about do. Personally,
I take much more, but I am very "greedy for
work" of this description.
Get all the variety you can. Play as many dif-
ferent styles of players as are available. This is
more important advice than appears on the face of
it, and I will tell you why. After you have been
playing fellows who rush up to the net all the time,
and you then take on one who plays sound tactics,
you will frequently find your length quite gone.
You wonder how it is, and perhaps it will not
strike you that when playing the volleyers, all you
cared about was getting past them. You didn't
car.e what happened then, and as a matter of fact
the majority of your strokes would probably have
been cross-court drives, slow passing shots, and
low, quick-dropping drives, many of them intended
to "dive" over the net and strike the ground
before he could get to them. This, of course, is
not the best practise for length.
TOURNAMENT PLAY
IT will be found wise to get your eye in before
you start. From five to ten minutes should suf-
fice. You should be the best judge as to how much
you want.
Most writers give innumerable, instructions
about not giving up and so on. I have already
"spread" myself to such an extent that I must
play the "chop" stroke a little if I can here.
Generally speaking, if you want to win, take the
thing seriously from the start. Go at your man
like a bull-dog, worry him the whole time, never
miss an opportunity of getting in at him; never
count him, or yourself, beaten until the match is
over ; never lose your equanimity, for it is as valu-
able here as at golf; play your game for all you
are worth all the while ; in other words and you
must do it in this game as in the game of life if
you desire to excel play the man.
If you think you would like to kick the umpire,
remember that you also have umpired, and prob-
ably escaped. If you can possibly avoid it with-
out hurting any one's feelings, never accept an
umpire in whose decision you have not confidence.
Do not lightly regard the suggestions of any
one who knows something of the game, and who
may be watching your match. Remember that it
192
issi
TOURNAMENT PLAY 193
is an old and true saying that "Onlookers see most
of the game," and I don't care what champion
you are, you can not see as they do. Weigh care-
fully any such advice, no matter how trivial. I
will give you an instance of what I mean. A club-
mate of mine was playing a championship final.
They started on new balls, of course. If there is
one thing I am particular about, it is tennis-balls.
To me, a discolored ball is an abomination. My
friend won 6 2. They took new balls for the
second set, and went on. My friend won again,
6 3. They started in the third set without
changing the balls. Everyone knows that the
bound of a ball alters considerably after it has been
played with for a set or two, and that the weight
alters materially. My friend's opponent took the
third set, 6 2. The bound of the ball was suiting
him; moreover the light was not improving, the
balls were getting dirty, my friend wears spec-
tacles, and, worst of all, was beginning to pay
surreptitious visits to his whisky flask, and the
"dew" stood on his manly brow when it didn't
run. Judge of my horror when I saw them appar-
ently going on to play with the same balls. In
practise, it would have annoyed me; in a match,
it revolted me, both from a tactical and an
esthetic point of view.
"Are you going to play with those things t" I
asked.
"Yes," he replied.
194 MODERN TENNIS
"Oh, give him the match," I said.
He stood for a moment in thought, turned, went
to the umpire, and obtaining new balls, started.
He got three love, and then just won the fourth
set, 9 7, quite finished, whereas his opponent was
just coming at him. The change of balls was in
his favor. Theoretically his opponent, of course,
should have been as well able to play with the new
balls, but he was not, and I, who had nothing to
do but sit and speculate, saw these things. This
is just an instance of what little things will turn a
match. Both players admitted that the change of
the balls at that period meant the match.
You must not, of course, tender or expect to re-
ceive any assistance during the play. I refer to
the period of rest between sets in all instances
where I have mentioned cases of this sort. I am
aware that some people have a sentiment against
this. Personally, I have none. I should not hesi-
tate to ask my caddie's opinion at golf if I thought
it likely to be of value, and in many contests,
where skill and endurance are being tested, the
player's friends or seconds at a convenient time
advise him.
If you have to play a match, get a look at your
opponent's game if you have the chance of doing
so. Study it carefully as I have mentioned before
when referring to anticipation. Then after you
have "sized him up," if his game gives you any
suggestion, make up your mind as to your tactics
TOURNAMENT PLAY 195
against him. Go onto the court with your plan of
campaign developed. If, after you have launched
the attack, you find it isn't working, it must be
modified, or changed completely, as is necessary.
I have frequently seen matches won on premedi-
tated tactics. You can think it out calmly while
watching your man play another. It is a different
thing to "size him up" across the net, and he may
get away from you before you see the best course
to adopt ; but it is quite another thing if you have
formed your opinion of his play by careful and
uninterrupted observation. You are then in a
much better position to deal with him.
I shall not give you any elaborate instructions
on training. I could write you another book on
this subject if I started, so I must condense again.
If you are going for an important event, get a
good trainer if you can afford it. If you can not,
a friend and a book on training will be some assist-
ance.
For all ordinary events, you need not make a
martyr of yourself. Do not smoke much. Eat
good solid food. I have an enormous respect for
beefsteak not too well done. Ease " John Barley-
corn" in his work.
If you are playing a very hard match and feel
the want of something, take a little coca wine, some
whisky and water, or any one of a dozen other
similar luxuries, but don't drink any more while
playing than you can possibly avoid. You should
196 MODERN TENNIS
never be hungry while you are playing. Regulate
your meals if you can so that you have a fair rest
afterward, before you start your match.
I have a strong idea that for a tournament ex-
tending over a course of, say, five or six days, it
is no detriment for a player to be "short of a gal-
lop" or two. If he is too well wound up, he may
become stale; but this to a large extent depends
upon the man.
UMPIRING AND THE LINESMAN
To be a good umpire it is essential above every-
thing, except good eyesight, that you should know
the rules and laws of tennis. This may seem a
superfluous statement. I assure you it is not.
Wherever I go, I find blind people who know little
or nothing about the game cheerfully taking this
important position.
I have found that you may umpire almost per-
fectly, and yet run no serious risk of being
harassed by the players as to your views on the
subject of irrigation. On the other hand, you may
make a trifling error, and it is any odds that one
of the quartet will be unable to prevent you
hearing that he has a horrid suspicion that there
is hereditary insanity in your family.
If an umpire knows his laws and his business, he
will remember that, while he is in the chair, on
questions of fact his decision is absolutely final.
To the linesman I shall be brief but emphatic.
Please remember that your duty is to call sharply
and distinctly immediately the ball is out, or a
fault is made, and never, upon any account, call
"Right," or "In," as this will advertise to those
who understand these things that you are not quite
up to date. Moreover, it is a most exasperating
habit for the players. Sit with your back to the
197
198 MODERN TENNIS
sun when you can, right opposite the line you are
taking, and never dream of taking two lines. I
have been repeatedly asked to, but invariably
reply, that if I can do one to the complete satis-
faction of the players I shall almost have achieved
a record.
Both players and umpire sometimes appeal to
the linesman as to "how" a ball is. Such an ap-
peal, if the linesman knows his duty and if he
does not he should not be there is superfluous.
His silence is a decision that it is good. Where
there is a referee, an appeal to him from the um-
pire's decision may be made on a question of law.
ENGLISH AND AUSTRALASIAN TENNIS
COMPARED
I HAVE been much amused in England by the
negligently charitable attitude of some of the play-
ers when speaking of Australasian tennis. It
seems to breathe the sentiment, "We are the
tennis-players. Bun away, little boy. We have
nothing to learn."
The same mental condition existed many years
ago in regard to cricket. It is not so apparent
now.
Australasian tennis has been judged by the per-
formances of a stray New Zealander, who found
his way to London, played in the Championship of
England, was beaten three sets to one by A. W.
Gore, who afterward won the Championship, and
who himself told me that he had to go for it
against the Colonial player; and by the form of
an English player who won a Championship at
Sydney. Both these performances are unreliable
as indications of the capabilities of Colonial
players.*
It has, I think, been admitted that the Austra-
lians, if not so now, were, when they tackled us
first at cricket, superior to us in resource. It is
* A year after this book was first published, the pioneer
Australasian team came to England. The accuracy of this
statement, which was considerably criticized at the time of
publication, was, as all tennis-players know, fully established.
199
200 MODERN TENNIS
in just the quality exprest by that word, which
sounds so vague and yet is so expressive, that I
think many of the leading Colonial players exceed
the capabilities of the Englishmen.
The Englishman's stupendously calm self-satis-
faction, that is so intensely irritating to some
people, is, when one can view it in the right light
which apparently his neighbors find it hard to do
sublime, and entitled to the greatest admira-
tion. He does not need to "blow," he does not
need even to ask: "Would the Colonial boys have
a chance with us?" The thing is absurd. He
knows his own unassailable supremacy in every-
thing from his Navy to Free Trade, excepting al-
ways, of course, cricket. He does not bother to
exert any introspective, analytical powers if he
has any on his own position. He knows it is so ;
that is enough.
This is not business it is not even polite but,
as the Frenchman is alleged to have said of the
charge of the Light Brigade, it is magnificent.
I could pick an Australasian team of eight or
ten almost any day, who would make things very
interesting. They know a little about tennis, I
can assure you. I would take four of their best
single players against four of England's and the
odds would be evens.
Against the Singles Champion of the World, I
would put up a Sydney lad whose name is not
known, and the spectators would get fun for their
TENNIS COMPARED 201
money. Best and best at singles, so long as you
don't take too many, and swamp the Colonials by
numbers, a very small handicap would bring them
together. Why should it be otherwise! They can
do it at cricket, why not at tennis? They are the
same race, living, perhaps, under better and
healthier conditions.
I admire Australian double play immensely.
They go for their shot every time, and they never
lose any time in getting to the net. Despite any-
thing any one has to say on the subject, my opinion
is that the only gait suitable for getting up from
the base-line to the net is the gallop. It is no good
"trotting" up unless you can "break two min-
utes." Where the Australians excel is that they
make their strokes severe enough to risk the lob,
then they race for the net, and stay right up
against it, which in my humble opinion is the place.
You must get beaten sometimes, but it is very
hard to keep lobbing perfectly, and, moreover,
most men think it beneath them to keep on lobbing,
and they give you a chance now and again. I am
very strong on this point. I think it makes all
the difference in the beauty of the game. If I
agreed with playing your volleys from your feet,
I should immediately advocate putting that other
yard on the court, but I don't, and never will.
The main difference between Australian and
English tennis is that in England the men live at
tournaments in the season, and in covered courts
202 MODERN TENNIS
out of it figure of speech, you'll understand; big
proportion of fact, tho.
In Australasia they may get a week's real tour-
nament play in a year.
Give me a good team of Australasians, such as
I could pick, and let me acclimatize them here for a
few months, with plenty of tournament play, and
there are more unlikely things than that the
Messrs. Doherty would have to go to the land of
the Golden Fleece tennis ash-hunting.*
I hope you will pardon my little patriotic!
ebullition, but the fact is that we all belong to the
same dear old home, are all actuated by the same
keen love of sport that always has been, and I hope
always will be, one of the grandest, healthiest, and
best features of our national life, and if ''Papa
Bull" does assume, as a fact beyond argument,
that he is still "one too many" for his children,
who shall really, in earnest, find fault with him?
Are we not every day in our own little homes
doing the very same thing? Well then, let it rest
at that, but some day, Papa, I shall bring the boys
to "see" you.
Reverting again to the respective play of the
Australasians and the English, and my remark as
to the greater resource of the Australians, it
* A year after this was written, Messrs. A. W. Dunlop and
N. E. Brookes defeated Messrs. R. F. and H. L. Doherty, at
Queen's Club, London, after a hard five-set match.
t Being a New Zealander, I am of the Davis Cup "nation"
Australasia.
TENNIS COMPARED 203
was, I think, in bowling that good old Trumble
showed England a wrinkle or two. It is in the
Englishmen's deliveries that I noticed particularly
room for improvement. I can not help thinking
that the service is very stereotyped. There is not
enough attention paid to varying the pace, length,
spin, and placing of the service. Again, their
length was certainly not too good, and was
undoubtedly inferior to that of the ladies.
They are not quick enough in getting up to the
net, and indeed in my opinion, generally speaking,
do not run to the right place, as they slack off too
soon, and have to play the ball dropping all the
time. Even the Dohertys offend greatly in this
respect.
I did not see at Wimbledon last year a backhand
off the ground equal to at least three I know in
Australasia. The backhand drive, as I am accus-
tomed to seeing it played, seems a lost art.
There is a strong and marked tendency with many
players to reduce the game to pat-ball.
When, however, I come to compare the ladies, I
must capitulate at once. This I assure my fair
readers is absolutely genuine. They are much
further away from the Colonial ladies than are the
men. England, of course, with her large popula-
tion, has an immense advantage, and her ladies
get so accustomed to tournament play that they
do not in many cases seriously feel the strain.
ENGLISH TENNIS
[The following is a criticism of English tennis
written in May, 1904. There has not been any
marked change in the English game since it was
written.]
THE editor of " Lawn-Tennis " has been good
enough to ask me to state my impression of the
game as played in England.
Needless to say, I appreciate fully the compli-
ment, and have much pleasure in acceding to his
request, but, in so doing, I must confess that I
feel myself to be in a very delicate position. Since
I arrived here I have experienced at the hands of
the tennis-players of England, the Lawn-Tennis
Association, and, indeed, every one associated
with the game, such kindness and consideration
that, in dealing with the English game, I can
hardly rid myself of the feeling that I am sitting
in judgment on my hosts' cigars or wine.
I believe, however, that it is for the good of the
game that discussion of its finer points should be
encouraged, so that, if possible, the tactics and
practise of tennis may be improved ; so I venture
to hope that I may be excused if I indicate, with
all due humility, the few points which have most
imprest me. These are :
1. A stereotyped, too diagonal service.
204
ENGLISH TENNIS 205
2. No attention is paid to "center-theory."
3. Straight smashing.
4. Slowness in getting to the net.
5. Position of striker-out's partner in Doubles.
6. Weak second service.
7. A marked tendency in Doubles to stand in
court and watch lobs.
I will deal with these points in the order named :
1. A stereotyped, too diagonal service. I can
not help thinking that there is far too little variety
in the service, particularly as regards placing.
The pace and length of the first service are nearly
always good, but it is so similar in placing, and
bound.
It is, especially in Doubles, nearly always too
diagonal. This means that the striker-out very
frequently has the choice of a drive down the
side-line from outside the side-line into the corner
of his opponents ' court, or else of the sharpest of
quick-dropping cross-ourt shots at a most difficult
angle for the server, whereas if, for the sake of
illustration, he be made to take the service from,
say, 6 feet behind the half-court line at the base-
line, he is completely robbed of an effective side-
line shot, the net-man can stand nearer in to the
center of the court, and the striker-out is abso-
lutely compelled (if he return it that side) to hit
the ball back to the server, as he runs up, in a
much straighter line, instead of dropping it
sharply across the court only a few yards from
206 MODERN TENNIS
the net; also, it gives the man at the net a much
greater chance of stepping across and killing the
return, and tends to make the striker-out search
for the side-lines in a perilous manner. It also,
to a great extent, removes the doubt, which so
frequently now exists, as to who is going to take
the balls which go down the center of the court,
as the man at the net covers so much more of it
on this service than he can when, on the diagonal
delivery, his opponent has a choice of both sides
of the court. I always think, that instead of the
service being diagonal, with straight ones for a
change, it should be straight ones for the general
run, with diagonals for a change. One does not
prefer a cross-court drive to a straight one to go
in on. Why, then, should this not apply equally
to the service? I think if any one will take the
trouble to draw these angles on a court it will be
apparent that a centered service is, particularly
in a Double, of much greater value than the diag-
onal one. Even when serving into the backhand
court I repeatedly give my opponent the service
on his forehand, unless his stroke is something
very exceptional. If your service has a good
length down the center of the court, and is quickly
followed to the net, it is hard for him to beat you
by a drive.
2. No attention is paid to "center- theory."
This is on the same lines as the first objection.
Altho there are a large number of strokes played
ENGLISH TENNIS 207
straight up and down the court, players generally
choose a shot on or near the corners, particularly
the backhand corner, to go in on. This leaves
both side-line and extreme diagonal shots open,
whereas a well-centered ball, with good length,
enables the attacking player to get to the middle
of the net and halve the triangle, down one side
of which the ball must travel unless it is driven
straight at him or lobbed, and I am, of course,
assuming that the stroke was good enough to go
in on. Two minutes with a ruler and a pencil on
a court drawn to scale will convince you of the
value of this.
3. Straight smashing. In smashing, especially
from behind the service-line, there seems to be an
absence of "body," the transference of weight
from leg to leg at the critical moment (even when
it does take place) is not hearty or emphatic
enough, and the arm is asked to do too much;
also the direction is frequently bad, being too
straight down court. By far too large a propor-
tion of smashes are "picked up" and returned.
4. Slowness in getting to the net. This is more
accurately described, perhaps, as running to the
wrong place, for directly the service-line is
reached, and frequently before, the player, gener-
ally speaking, slackens off, so that he gets the
return at his feet, instead of playing it down over
the net.
5. Position of striker-out's partner in Doubles.
208 MODERN TENNIS
To my mind the most serious defect in English
Doubles is the position of the striker-out's part-
ner. He may frequently be found about two yards
inside the service-line, sometimes much nearer
the net. I am very strong on this point. In my
opinion, absolutely the only justification for this
position is winning from it. When the striker-
out's partner is right in, unless the striker-out
is marvelously quick at getting up, anything that
his vis-a-vis "gets onto" goes clean across
through a deadly cross-court gap. About two
yards inside the service-line may be a justifiable
position for players like the Dohertys. The
striker-out is the sooner in the right relative
position for Doubles-players, namely, in a line
with each other, and they can play low volleys in
an inimitable manner. The cross-court gap is
closed, and they have secured some yards of
attacking position, but to how many is it given
to thus justify a position which, I contend, is for
98 per cent, of players untenable 1 I watched this
carefully during the recent tournament, and at
Wimbledon in 1905, and was much struck by the
utter helplessness of the striker-out's partner. I
am certain this does not, generally speaking, pay.
The Americans do not believe in it. (I have
specially referred to this point and low volleying
under the chapters on "Doubles'* and "Person-
alities." It is impossible to condemn the English
formation too strongly. Given pairs of equal
T. R. PELL HORIZONTAL BACKHAND DRIVE
Mr. Pell Is here shown coming onto the bull. See that tin- arm
and handle of the racket are in the same plane of force. Note
the good footwork and that the transference of weight is being
correctly made.
PLATE 41
ENGLISH TENNIS 209
merit, the English formation must lose every
time.)
6. Weak second service. Generally there is a
fair length even to this, but it is frequently a
plain, high-bounding ball, which comes to hand
nicely for a severe drive, whereas with a bit of
work its flight might be rendered more deceptive
and its bound be kept lower, so that it has to be
played up instead of being swept down.
7. A marked tendency in Doubles to stand in
court and watch lobs. When a lob is put up there
is only one of two positions permissible right on
the net if it be good enough, and if it be not, then
away out in the "back blocks" hoping. There
should be no half-way house, yet time and again I
caught players in the back court gazing admir-
ingly at some short, soft stuff they had tossed
up, instead of, the moment it had left their rackets,
and they felt it was bad, racing for the open
country.
Speaking generally of the play, there is a
marked tendency to play an ascending volley, even
when there is plenty of time, and a step forward
would make it an overhead one. My motto about
volleying is, "Never let anything touch the earth
which you can play conveniently on the volley.
Never play a volley underhand that you can deal
with overhead. "
There seemed to me to be a paucity of strokes
that I could not account for. I watched the
210 MODERN TENNIS
players most critically to ascertain, if possible,
the cause of this. I noticed especially the absence
of wrist-work, and this gave me a line. I saw
then that many players hold their thumbs more
round to the front of the racket than a great num-
ber of Colonial players do. The bottom point of
the V formed by the spread of the thumb and fore-
finger practically bisects lengthwise the upper
side of the handle of the racket, in fact, is inclined,
if anything, to go beyond the middle. I tried the
hold and found it settled me for wrist-work,
especially for all cut services, but, of course, it
may not be so with most players.
The points I admire about English tennis are
the pace and length of the first service, the low
volleying, which at times is delightful to watch,
and in many cases the half-volleying, altho the
value of this is discounted considerably, as even
the most finished exponents of the stroke do not
take advantage of, say, the eight or ten feet saved
by it, to be by so much nearer the net.
I must add to the other virtues of English tennis
accuracy and steadiness, but I must confess that,
especially in Doubles, I would like to see more
sting in the work, and the players making the
return severe enough for them to get their bete
noire, the lob, out of their heads, and take up a
strong attacking position at the net so as to have
the killing cross-court angles, instead of having to
play an ascending volley from near the service-
ENGLISH TENNIS 211
line, which, naturally, can not be played at a
severe pace or acute angle.
I might, perhaps, also mention a fault which is
exaggerated in America, and that is the indis-
criminate running in on the service. It is just
as injudicious to run in on a badly pitched or
placed service as it is to go up on a poor return,
yet players consistently run in on "stuff" which
simply courts disaster. If you run in on every-
thing your opponent gets used to it. I believe in
running in on every suitable service, but I don't
do it so that my opponent knows when I am
coming. I think half the art in tennis is to keep
your man "guessing" all the tune. It is quite
useless to run in on a high bounding, poor length,
diagonal service. You have some "hope" if it is
down the center.
The lob is one of the best played strokes I have
seen. In its place I admire it greatly, and I have
seen some admirable recoveries effected by
"brainy" lobs at critical periods.
Speaking of volleying generally, I think it lacks
sting and snap, and I ascribe this, quite tenta-
tively, remember, to the hold I notice to be most
prevalent. (Since this was^ written I have satis-
fied myself that this defect is due to the prevalent
unchanged grip. The greater sting in the Ameri-
can and Australian volleying is in this respect a
useful object-lesson.)
It is wonderful how the characteristics of a
212 MODERN TENNIS
nation impress themselves on a game. English
tennis, in my opinion, is very consistent, very
steady, very solid, very plain and above-board,
too honest by far. There is not enough guile in
it. It seems to me to lack many of the fine wristy
net-shots, and snappy cross-volleys, which are
such deadly scorers, and there seems a wonderful
tendency, again characteristic, to take as little risk
as possible with the side-lines, especially when it
is a case of an overhead volley.
These are only the impressions of an unsophisti-
cated wanderer, who has, nevertheless, derived an
immense amount of enjoyment from watching and
playing tennis in every continent. I trust that
none of my criticisms will be considered too
searching, and I know that if, perchance, in the
mass of chaff there should happen to be a whole
grain, it will be utilized.
I may say, perhaps, in conclusion, that altho
I have always realized the privilege and value of
belonging to that grand freemasonry, the brother-
hood of sport, a gild which has made my way
pleasant the world over for the racket, the club,
the wheel, and the gun have found me boon com-
panions wherever I have happened to be yet
never has the value thereof been so fully borne
in upon me as by the tennis-players of and in dear
old England, and if I ever take to wearing a badge
I think it will be a tennis-racket.
P. A. VAILB.
T. R. PELL HORIZONTAL BACKHAND DKIVK
This Is an excellent illustration of the position referred to in
the text. Mr. I'ell is caught out of position, the ball almost
coming at his body, but the stroke presents no difficulty to him.
It would be practically impossible with the Kngllsh jtrlp.
PLATE 42
PERSONALITIES
I AM 'afraid nature was in one respect at least
unkind to me. She made me a notice-taking crea-
ture, and later on, when I met and became rather
intimate with Sherlock Holmes, the habit grew
and I took pains to cultivate it. I soon tired of
Holmes, tho. He was a patronizing wretch, and
his ' * My dear Vaile, have you read my monograph
on the value of silkworms for producing clues in
the detection of crime," and so on, palled after a
while. It was a monolog on monographs, but I
must give him his due; the habit of observation
remained. Added to this, I was always, and am
still, hypercritically inclined, indeed, I come from
a quarter of the globe where one is not readily
stirred to enthuse, unless the object really be
worthy of enthusiasm and then it's an awful job
to start it going with anything less than a Boer
War or a football-match. These remarks are by
way of apology for criticizing the " eminent men"
whose names appear hereafter, but as it is all in
the interest of sport, and they are all in the truest
and best sense sportsmen, I feel sure that if they
should desire any satisfaction, they will do noth-
ing worse than "take it out of me" across a net-
also they must remember that he who climbs high
is easily seen even in the tennis-world.
213
214 MODERN TENNIS
In dealing with individuals one naturally takes
H. L. Doherty first. It is his due. I may say at
once that of all the men I have seen of late years,
H. L. Doherty most nearly fills my idea of a
perfect singles-player, and yet I think his tactics
are unsound in some ways. I am not one who
worships success, and a man may be champion of
the world and yet have serious blemishes in his
game. Mr. Doherty is neither "a wild rusher"
nor "a base-line wanderer," nor yet can I call him
an absolutely judicious combination of the two.
He goes in on nearly every service, on many which
I could not pass as having sting or length enough
to justify such a proceeding were his opponent his
equal, and even as it is, he is too often passed. I
can not help thinking that both in singles and
doubles he stays too far away from the net. Cer-
tainly he plays low volleys, too many of them,
from his feet with a lovely stroke and great pre-
cision, but such a shot can not have any telling
angle or pace on it. If he were up against his
equal, and had to, as he then would, choose his
opportunity to go up, and was taught by a few
object lessons that waiting a little inside the serv-
ice-line is not the best place in the court, I should
think he would go very near to playing perfect
tennis. His tennis virtues are too well known to
the public to require any remarks from me. I
may, however, say that the secret of his very fine
game is undoubtedly timing and the perfectly
PERSONALITIES 215
harmonious action of body and limbs. He gets
every ounce out of his stroke without much ap-
parent effort. He makes his body do its share of
the work. How few really do this, or even realize
its importance ! Imagine trying to hit a man with
your body still and using only arm-action. You
want your body to be in your work, particularly
in smashing. Just here, it is interesting to note
that altho Messrs. Doherty strongly advise play-
ers to "make your opponents volley up; be your-
self ALWAYS in a position to hit down," there are
probably no two players in the world who play
more ascending volleys.
However, this advice is the essence of volleying
wisdom, and the latter sentence is the quint-
essence, for to carry it out you must be where I
am always insisting that you shall go, directly
you get a good chance, and that is right up at the
net.
I had nearly forgotten to refer to Mr. Doherty 's
length. I was very disappointed. He rarely
pitched a ball within four feet of the base-line,
indeed, so noticeable was this that I asked him if
he had any object in keeping that length, when
he assured me that he considered it was good
enough. I do not. If he kept that length against
his equal, his opponent would have so much less
ground to cover every time to get into position
at the net. This would mean a lot of saving in
exertion in five sets, let alone the tactical advan-
216 MODERN TENNIS
tages. I noticed also that his returns were gener-
ally pretty straight down the court. It seemed to
me he was taking no risks, either with the side-
lines or the base-lines, and this is where the center-
theory must save you many an ace. You only
have length to worry about.
These criticisms were written, as is well known
to many tennis-players, long before the Covered
Courts Championships were decided. The final
for the singles quite proved to my satisfaction
at least the soundness of my contentions about
H. L. Doherty's tactics. On the day he met
Ritchie he was undoubtedly off his game. This
brought him into Ritchie's class, and Ritchie's
tactics on the day being quite as good as the
Champion's, it was anybody's match, and had
Ritchie possest the temperament of the winner
the result might even have been the other way.*
I am dealing very plainly with H. L. Doherty's
theory. To praise his execution when in form is
to gild refined gold, but even at the risk of being
thought severe I will maintain that that execution
is worthy of better theory and tactics.
I have not said anything about demeanor in
court and so on. To those who play tennis it
should be unnecessary, but there are a few who
* Many months after this was published Mr. Ritchie fairly
and squarely beat Mr. H. L. Doherty at Queen's Club, mainly
on account of the defects in the champion's tactics which I
have referred to.
T. R. PELL HORIZONTAL BACKHAND DRIVE
This shows the stroke a stage further. The racket is ascend-
ing slightly. The face is laid hack a little, but by the time it
reaches the ball it will be practically vertical. Note that Mr.
Pell holds the leather of the racket in his hand.
PLATE 43
PERSONALITIES 217
might with much advantage take an example from
H. L. Doherty, always, outwardly, at least, un-
ruffled, calmly accepting wrong decisions and
allowing nothing to worry him. This tells ; make
no mistake about it. Getting savage is only pro-
viding cheap amusement for the gallery, and put-
ting yourself off your game.
I hope it will not be thought that I am dealing
too severely with Mr. Doherty 's game; I am
taking him as the ablest and most finished prac-
tical exponent of the single game that I know, and
I am dissecting that game for the benefit of the
game.
Anything I can say of H. L. Doherty 's game I
think I might 'almost say for his brother, E. F.
Doherty. His strokes are all very fine, and, con-
sidering his grip, it is a wonder to me how he
gets them. His service is very good, and his sec-
ond service the best I know. I have not seen him
"all out" in a single. I should like to see the two
brothers have a "real go." I would miss my
luncheon for it if necessary.
E. F. and H. L. Doherty form without doubt a
very fine combination. I think, however, that
even more in the double than in the single is the
low- volleying defect noticeable. The answer may
be, "It is their game, and it has succeeded." This
does not bother me a trifle. What I am worrying
about is, whether it is the right one or not, and the
one most suitable for the majority of players, and
218 MODERN TENNIS
most calculated to make the game brilliant, scien-
tific, and most popular ; and frankly I do not think
it is. It is apparent that the Dohertys are at
present a little away from the others, and I could
not get it out of my head that they, as indeed is
natural, take liberties with the game.*
F. L. Riseley was runner-up for the Champion-
ship in 1905. I was much pleased with his play,
altho he spoiled his backhand to a great extent
by playing the shot off the wrong leg. He mixes
his game well, generally speaking, altho he very
often neglects a good opening, and then goes up
on an inferior one. He has a fine, fast, first serv-
ice, but does not vary it much.
A. W. Gore is a base-line player. His strong
point is his forehand drive, which off a high bound-
ing ball is very fine. He won the Championship
of England in 1901.f He rarely or never volleys,
for which I can hardly forgive him, as under com-
pulsion and force of expostulation I have seen him
execute some paralyzing smashes from the back
court, and when forced to in a double he acquits
himself really well, using his forehand drive fre-
quently and with great effect as a volley.
* It was precisely this taking of liberties, particularly in
the matter of the striker-out's partner standing near the net,
that cost them their match against the Australian pair. They
did not reproduce this error against the Americans, Messrs.
Ward and Wright, and just won after a hard five-set match.
Playing in their usual formation they would certainly have lost
the match.
t He has since won it twice.
PERSONALITIES 219
S. H. Smith is another player of the same stamp
as Gore. He has a great forehand o!rive. He
rarely volleys, but when he does, uses his drive
with great eff ect.
Smith and Riseley have the distinction of being
the only pair who have ever beaten the Dohertys
for the Doubles Championship of England. They
annexed this event in 1902, and, several years
later, in a memorable match, again defeated the
Dohertys in the final.
Mr. E. G. Meers, who won the Covered Courts
Championship of England in 1892, does not now
take an active part in tournament play, altho he
is still quite a "tough proposition.'* He did not
start tennis until late in life, but he brought to
bear on it an amount of thought and a rare in-
sight into the game, which few have either the
power or the application to do. The result was
that he developed a very fine game, and to this
day he stands out in my mind as one of the very
finest tacticians, if not, indeed, the finest that I
have ever seen. To see him working for his op-
portunity, and when it came, getting in and set-
tling matters, was quite sufficient to answer the
question, "Is tennis a 'brainy* game!"
G. A. Caridia, Champion of Wales, is without
doubt the finest half-volleyer in England. He
also plays a rising ball very well. He has ascer-
tained the fact that a rising ball requires the blade
of the racket to be at a suitable angle to correct
220 MODERN TENNIS
the ascending tendency; many of his half- volleys
are wonderful, and always a pretty stroke, he
makes it in many cases a beautiful one. He plays
a good backhand volley, but his service is not too
strong. He rarely if ever takes advantage of the
time he gains by his half -volley to be, by so much,
nearer to the net. This, of course, considerably
discounts the value of the stroke.
George "W. Hillyard, after a considerable ab-
sence from the list of champions, joined the roll
of honor again in 1905 by annexing, with H. L.
Doherty, the Covered Courts Doubles Champion-
ship of England. He was hampered by a weak
leg, the result of sciatica, but nevertheless he
played a good game. He went for his smashes in
a determined manner, and put many of them away
in a style that pleased me very much, albeit he
could not, on account of his leg, use his body
weight with advantage. His service is distinctly
good and he evidently understands the value of
centering it. He very rarely lost his service
during the tournament. His great reach makes
him very difficult to get away from. I have not
had the pleasure of seeing him play a single, but
from his strokes should judge that he would play
a fine game.
M. J. G. Ritchie is a curiously even player.
There are no very pronounced faults in his game,
neither is there much to call for special mention,
yet on occasions he puts up a very fine game. His
PERSONALITIES 221
smash from behind the service-line is nearly all
arm work and consequently never severe. With
a greater knowledge of tactics and a cultivation
of that essential to success in tennis, equanimity,
Ritchie might easily be classed Al at Lloyd's.
There are many other fine players who are quite
worthy of mention, but space forbids, and I have
here just mentioned the few who have occurred to
me as being of special interest by reason of their
achievements, and on account of special strokes.
HOW AMERICA CAN REGAIN THE
DAVIS CUP
TENNIS unquestionably is the most popular
game that is played. Its spread has been, and is,
amazing. Nowhere is this more apparent than
in the United States of America, and nowhere are
there so many fine young players as there are in
this country. Yet the United States of America
have recently lost the Davis Cup, the international
blue ribbon of the game.
It will be profitable to inquire why we lost it,
and how we may regain it.
Briefly, it may be said that America lost the
Davis Cup through lack of form, and that she may,
and almost certainly can, regain it by paying more
attention to correct form.
It is almost unnecessary to waste time in im-
pressing on American athletes the value of form.
The wonderful position that they occupy in the
world of sport may almost wholly be attributed
to their remarkable ability in studying the
minutest details which tend to produce the best
results with the least possible waste of energy.
In the comparisons made herein it must be
understood that international form and the highest
degree of that is being considered, for nothing
less than that will be of service to America in the
task which is in front of her.
222
THE DAVIS CUP 223
There is an amazing number of fine young
tennis-players springing up in America, but the
majority of them lack form in some important
respect.
This lack of form springs in almost every case
from ignorance of the theory of the game. Tennis
is such a remarkably difficult game to play well,
that if one trusts to what one can learn of one's
own observation on the court, one is likely to be
too old to play the game before one knows it
thoroughly.
This may sound like exaggeration. Let me give
an illustration. Maurice E. McLoughlin, one of
the finest young players in the world, went back
to California last year, after nine years of play-
ing the game, defeated, instead of being three
times in succession national champion, because his
form off the ground is unworthy of the rest of his
game.
It simply amounts to this. McLoughlin 's game,
despite his brilliant performances, is unbalanced.
He has only developed one side of it, the service
and the volley. So long as McLoughlin has to
deal with a ball in the air he is quite at home and
as good as the best, provided it is not too low, but
when he has to deal with a ball that comes off the
ground, he is another man.
Let nobody think that there is herein any at-
tempt to depreciate McLoughlin 's game. I have
a very sincere admiration for that and for Amer-
224 MODERN TENNIS
ica's young athlete himself, but empty flattery is
of no use to any one.
McLoughlin's ground-strokes are not sound
enough or varied enough. He has practically no
backhand, and off the low ball his forehand is
very weak. He can drive a high ball such as
those with which Wilding persistently provided
him at the last Davis Cup matches very well,
as Wilding, to his discomfiture, ascertained.
There has been much unwholesome adulation
of McLoughlin's play, but he is, I feel sure, too
sensible and too modest to be harmed by it ; more-
over, I happen to know that McLoughlin realizes
as well as I do his lamentable weakness on the
backhand, and that he will make a vigorous effort
to repair that defect before next championship
meeting.
The morning McLoughlin left New York to
compete in the World's Championship at Wim-
bledon, England, I went down to see him. He was
staying a few doors from me. This is what I said
to him: "Mac, I want to say two things to you
about your play, because I should like to see you
win this time. It is about time America won, but,
if you are going to do it, you must watch your
feet. They will let you go till the final, and then
foot-fault you and throw you off your game ; and,
for goodness' sake, get a backhand, for they'll
pound you on that."
It came out exactly as I told him it would.
THE DAVIS CUP
225
Now, in view of McLoughlin's fine perform-
ance in the Davis Cup singles, when he beat
both Brookes and Wilding, it might reasonably
be asked: "How can one say his form was
wrong?"
FlGUBE 30
M. E. McLouoHLiN PLAYING A FOREHAND DRIVE. TAKEN PROM
A PHOTOGRAPH ILLUSTRATING His FORM
Notice the position of the feet, which is entirely wrong, the
right foot being in front instead of the left. McLoughlin's foot-
work is, however, not so bad on the forehand as on the backhand.
The worst defect shown here is the hold of the racket. This hold
is the cause of McLoughlin's weakness at driving or returning all
low balls on the forehand. It is quite unsuitable for these strokes,
and is apt to turn over too soon, thus putting the ball into the net.
For driving a high-bounding ball it is not so bad.
226 MODERN TENNIS
The answer is that he showed his lack of form
principally not in either of those matches, but in
the doubles, on which hinged the result of the
contest.
Naturally, he was suffering somewhat from his
exertion against Brookes, but off the ground he
was very weak, and the main reason for his lack
of form here was that his theory of the forehand
drive is quite wrong.
What I am writing now I have said to Mc-
Loughlin, and he knows well that it is true, and
probably many of my readers will see that it is.
Three times I have seen McLoughlin in trying
to drive a ball from a few feet outside the base-
line, hit it ont^ the court before it reached the
service-line.
This ball, if it could have continued its course,
would have passed about six feet below the net,
so McLoughlin 's error was only about nine feet
six inches in a distance of about forty-five feet !
We are entitled to expect more accuracy than
this from an international player.
Directly I saw this I knew that McLoughlin was
trying to produce his forehand drive in very bad
form, in fact, that he was trying to give it top
by turning the racket over it at the moment of
impact, and by trying to cut up behind the ball
far too much, instead of following his stroke
through more.
Several times in the international matches
THE DAVIS CUP 227
McLoughlin hit the ball on the wood and skied it
nearly out of the enclosure. If there had been
any doubt in my mind this would have settled
it. He was trying to produce his stroke in a way
that was absolutely opposed to all good form and
consequently he fell down, for such a method is
bad enough on a high bounding ball, but abso-
lutely fatal on a low bound.
McLoughlin further confirmed my diagnosis of
his stroke after every failure he made, for, as the
golfer "goes through the motions" after a bad
stroke, so did McLoughlin. Closely observing
his action, one could see that he brought his racket
up and around too much, and not forward enough.
In a word the follow through was defective.
McLoughlin was trying for a quick-dropping
ball in the doubles, for he wanted the cross-court
passing shots that were not so necessary in the
singles, and he overdid it. His want of form
found him out.
The foundation of tennis is the ground-game,
and unless a player has that, he has built his
house on a rotten base. A real champion should,
to borrow the language of the prize-ring, have "a
punch in each hand," in other words, he should
have a drive on both forehand and backhand. It
is not as tho these strokes were unknown. We
have in tennis splendid examples of each stroke.
Surely, one who has developed his service and
volleying so splendidly as McLoughlin has, is not
228 MODERN TENNIS
going to confess that he can not master the theory
of the backhand stroke ; and once he has the theory
the rest should be simple.
Now, in speaking thus of McLoughlin, who,
really, despite his lack of form in the ground-
game, has done some very remarkable things, one
might be laying oneself open to severe criticism
unless one were well fortified.
This is not any matter of imagination. This is
a matter of ascertained fact. So that there may
be no doubt of the truth and force of my criticism
in this matter, I must relate a conversation that
I had with McLoughlin not long ago.
Now, let it be known, McLoughlin is only too
willing to learn. He is a very sensible young
man, and quite unspoiled by his success at tennis.
He came to see me a day or two after his defeat
by E. N. Williams 2nd, at Newport. We drifted
into a discussion of the strokes of the game, and
I asked McLoughlin how he played a low back-
hand drive. He showed me.
He had not his fore-arm in line with the handle,
and I pointed out to him that it was quite natural
that, playing the stroke in that way, he should
put so many of them into the net.
McLoughlin's answer was: "It's not that
stroke I am worrying about. I want to get that
one up here, so that I can command the return of
the service," and he indicated a return off a high-
bounding ball above his shoulder.
T. R. PELL HORIZONTAL BACKHAND I>I:IVK
Here we see Mr. Pell's vigorous linisli. The racket-Cure now
is horizontal Instead of vertical. Observe carefully Mr. Pell's
grip, which is the same as mine. The end of the handle Is In his
hand. Compare this grip with mine in Plate ::i.
PLATE 45
THE DAVIS CUP 229
I said: "My dear Mac, if you will allow me
to play a backhand overhead smash, and will then
hang me up by the heels to the ceiling and see
me play the same stroke you won't know it from
a low backhand drive. The fact is that there is
only one proper method of producing the back-
hand stroke. Where the stroke happens to be
made is only a question of which point of the com-
pass it is moving in on the half circle that the
backhand covers. The stroke is identical in its
principle throughout the whole of the backhand
side, be it low drive, horizontal drive or overhead
smash"; and there can not be the least doubt that
this is so.
It is easy to see what a great handicap even
such a player as McLoughlin suffers from in not
knowing the theory of the stroke.
How much greater is this the case with thou-
sands of young players who are following in his
footsteps, and, so far as this beautiful and effec-
tive stroke is concerned, following blindly.
The way in which McLoughlin was forced out
of the court in the recent Davis Cup matches in
order to cover up his weakness on the backhand,
was one of the most remarkable things I have
ever seen in first-class tennis. The national cham-
pion did not dare to play the ball in the orthodox
way.
Next season there will, I hope, be a different
tale to tell.
230 MODERN TENNIS
McLougHin himself is a good example of form
in so far as regards his service and smash.
These are both produced in a manner which is
almost mechanically perfect. In his service, des-
pite his immense pace, his action is smooth and
graceful, and he does not take half so much out of
himself as do some other players whose service is
very similar to his in its production.
One Californian, by comparison with Mc-
Loughlin, is almost a contortionist. His service
falls right across his abdominal muscles, and the
pounding they get is fearful. It is small wonder
that he suffers from it.
McLoughlin's form in the smash should be
emulated. He throws his whole body at the
ball, which is the only proper way to smash. Eng-
lish players stand still and hit overhead with the
arm working like a railway semaphore. Apart
from this being less severe, it is less accurate, for
it requires much more skilful timing than if the
body is moving forward onto the ball.
K. Norris Williams 2nd lost both his matches
in the last Davis Cup contest. He started well
against Wilding, but fell to pieces afterward and
was badly beaten, while against Brookes his utter
absence of even the semblance of form in the first
two sets was quite painful, and it was almost as
bad in the fourth. In the third set he showed some
very good form, but, as is usual with him, it was
not sustained.
THE DAVIS CUP 231
Williams has two very serious defects in hi .5
game. One is distinctly bad form, and the other
must, I think, according to the requirements of
the modern game, be also classed as a defect of
that nature.
First, he holds his racket wrongly on the
backhand and plays the stroke nearly always with
his feet out of position. This leaves him facing
the net when striking the ball, and it is without
question the worst possible form.
The second defect in Williams 's game is that
he trusts to a trajectory which is practically un-
assisted by spin. Naturally, he has to try to play
very close to the net all the time. Very naturally,
also, he puts his ball into it far too often.
S. H. Smith, the famous English forehand
driver, did the same. When on his game he was
simply a "terror'* (I shall never forget his piti-
less driving the day he beat Holcombe Ward set-
less at Wimbledon), but when he is off he is off.
McLoughlin's perfect command of over-spin
enables him to get just enough drop to prevent his
throwing away the innumerable points in double
faults that come so naturally to Williams. This
is where form comes in.
Speaking of his match against Brookes, Wil-
liams said to me that he was "hitting the tape all
the time." So he was, for so must the player do
who drives low without any spin, unless he is an
A. W. Gore or an S. H. Smith, and there are not
many of them.
232
MODERN TENNIS
Nothing is gained by "risking the net" in a
single unless one is being attacked, and has to
play a passing shot. The net is quite our worst
antagonist, and we should always play as far
away from it as we can without interfering with
the efficacy of the shot.
When "Wilding was in his best form he regu-
larly drove a foot and eighteen inches above the
E. N. Williams, 2d, National
Champion, at the end of his
backward swing in the back-
hand stroke. This is reproduced
from a photograph. Note that
the wrong foot is in front,
which twists his bodj out of
shape and limits his backward
swing.
FIGURE 31
E. N. WILLIAMS, 2o
net with plenty of top-spin that brought the ball
down near the base-line and gave a good long
bound. This is much better form than trusting to
THE DAVIS CUP
pace and a flat drive, and be it remembered that
the forehand drive is the foundation of the game.
It can not possibly be considered good form to
take unnecessary risks. 'Williams is taking them
all the time, and he pays for doing so.
The consequence of his bad foot-work and his
low return against Brookes 's heavily cut service
was that for the first and second sets he looked
E. N. Williams, 2d, National
Champion, half-way through a
backhand stroke. Note that his
feet are still wrong, as they
nearly always are. Compare
these illustrations with Mr.
Pell's fine foot-work. It is
almost incredible, but is the
fact, that these two pictures
were used by a tennis-journalist
in a New York magazine as an
illustration of good form on the
backhand. It would be almost
impossible to get two more
striking instances of bad form, .. _
and so long as Williams per-
sists in playing like this, he will
suffer disastrous and, to him,
unexpected reverses, such as he
met with in the Davis Cup and
the intercollegiate champion-
ship.
FIGURE 32
E. N. WILLIAMS, 2o
like a mere novice instead of an international
player.
Brookes 's photographs show in what an effort-
234 MODERN TENNIS
less manner he produces his service. A com-
parison of his methods with those of some of the
younger players, as disclosed by photographs,
will show what a fearful waste of energy there is
in some of these spectacular services.
It will probably be asked how players are to
acquire correct form at tennis. The answer is
by learning the correct theory of the game and
the production of the strokes, and then by model-
ing their strokes on those of the best exponents
of the game, who express in their actions and the
result thereof the benefits to be derived from the
judicious blending of theory and practise.
In tennis the strokes should be as clear-cut and
well defined as they are in golf. They should, in
fact, be standardized, and their production, both
theoretically and practically, should be taught in-
telligently.
At one of the leading clubs in America I once
saw a perfectly stupid fellow getting two dollars
an hour for spoiling his pupils' prospects. This
is no use to America. She has good tuition in
other branches of athletics. If she wants to win
at tennis she must have it in that game also.
It has always been a matter of wonder to me
that there is such chaos in the strokes in tennis,
for surely America has produced some players
worthy of being followed. W. A. Larned was one
of the soundest stroke-players in the world, and
he had seven championships of the United States
T. R. PELL BACKHAND DRIVE OFF HK;H HOUND
I am frequently asked how to play a high-hounding Itall on
the backhand. This picture shows how naturally this hold can
be used for this stroke, or, indeed, for a l>!ill that Is much higher.
PLATE 46
THE DAVIS CUP 235
to recommend his methods, yet how many young
players with his brand on them do we sect
It is not, however, necessary to take any one
player for all one's strokes. One may take one
stroke from one man and another from a different
source. I should have no hesitation in advising a
young player to mold his backhand drive on Mr.
T. B. Pell's, for it is at least as good as any in
the northern hemisphere; but there are other
players to whom I shxmld recommend him, in
preference to Mr. Pell, if he wanted the best pos-
sible forehand, altho Mr. Pell's stroke is not to
be despised, and, as a matter of fact, should be
known and used with a firmer wrist by every
player, for it is the natural reply to a loiv ball,
but, unfortunately, not very useful on a high
bound.
In a word then, or a few, what America requires
in order to regain her lost laurels in tennis is
more true form, especially in the ground-game, a
greater knowledge of the true theory of stroke
production, and a sounder application of it.
In McLoughlin and Williams we have two fine
young athletes, who are a credit to their country,
but it would be abject flattery to say that their
game is " rounded off" as it should be as it can
be if some one will take them in hand and do with
them as the famous Murphy was wont to do with
his team of athletes make them use the best
methods, or at leas-t try them !
236
MODEEN TENNIS
Seriously speaking, this will not be quite neces-
sary, but there can be no doubt that with the ad-
dition only of a backhand drive such as that of
Mr. Pell, both of America's representatives would
be far more formidable opponents than they are
at present.
This is reducing the question of form to a very
concrete proposition.
The two positions on this and
the following page are taken
from photographs of McLough-
lin showing his methods. The
first position shows him looking
for a low ball, whereas the
position of the racket in the
swing-back is for a horizontal
drive off a fairly high-bounding
ball. The main defect, how-
ever, is in the foot-work. Com-
pare this with Mr. Pell's foot-
work, with the position shown in
my photographs, and with the
diagram of the correct position
of the feet for the backhand
stroke. The right foot should
point much more toward the net,
particularly in the finish of the
stroke. So long as MeLoughlin
uses his feet thus, he will have
to run around his backhand to
cover its weakness. Whatever
may be said to the contrary by
FIGURE 33
M. E. McLouoHLiN
SWING-BACK IN BACKHAND
DRIVE
On international form these players are one-
sided men. They have no backhand. Mr. Pell's
THE DAVIS CUP
237
backhand drive is a well-known stroke produced
in much better form than theirs by a player who
should rank higher than he does. Why can they
not acquire it? Would America let her hurdlers
go out to represent her with an obsolete stride?
I think not.
Why then should her tennis-players go onto the
court with obsolete or defective strokes and
methods ?
ill-informed people, there is
only one correct principle of
producing the 'backhand
stroke, be it plain stroke,
lifting drive, or chop. This
is shown by the photographs
of Messrs. T. E. Pell, Nor-
man Brookes, and of myself.
The importance of thia
stroke and its thorough neg-
lect by all tennis-writers is
the reason for the most
complete illustration and
explanation of it which I
have given in this volume.
As a matter of fact, Mc-
Loughlin essays to do, on
the backhand, what his
photograph indicates, name-
ly, to play the stroke for a
ftigrTi-bounding ball on the
low ball. This puts his arm
out of line with the racket
and ruins his game on the
backhand side.
FIGURE 34
M. E. McLouoHUN
FINISH OF BACKHAND STROKE
We have, as an example of almost perfect form
in serving and smashing, McLoughlin. Williams,
238 MODERN TENNIS
with practise, could easily alter his service and
smashing. He had his day against McLoughlin,
but it must be remembered that his form carries
with it too much risk for international work, as
was shown in the Davis Cup matches, and has been
shown since, when he was defeated in the inter-
collegiate championship.
Both McLoughlin and Williams could learn to
drive on the backhand as Mr. Pell does, while on
the forehand there are many whose form is cor-
rect and at the same time severe enough to be
worthy of emulation.
It is only by strict attention to form that Amer-
ica will regain the Davis Cup. England lost it,
as I prophesied she would, through bad form,
through playing pretty pat-ball on wrong princi-
ples, instead of following the original manly game.
America must not follow her lead. She has the
players, a wonderful band of young athletes,
coming to light every day faster than in any other
country, but they must not be allowed to run wild.
They must be caught young, and taught the
technique and tactics of the game. Then America
will win and hold the Davis Cup for many years,
for she has, without doubt, the best young mate-
rial in the world.
INTERNATIONAL TENNIS
IT was in 1904 that I first drew attention to
the defective methods of the English players. At
that time Messrs. Doherty were at the height of
their fame, and English players could see no good
in any but their methods. I knew that they were
of no use for the vast majority of players, and
stated plainly that they would land England "in
the mud, ' ' which they have done. In speaking of
English tennis, Norman Brookes uses the word
that I have applied to it for years, " stagnation."
No other word can do it justice.
Brookes says he can not account for it. It is
most simple to account for it. The strokes of the
game are not known or played as they should be.
The technique of their game is all wrong. While
champions spring up in every country here there
are potential champions in bunches England's
senescent and adipose players continue to annex
cups and championships because the youth
of the country will not use its brains in a game
that calls so insistently for brains as does tennis.
I have said before, and I repeat with all the
emphasis of which I am capable, that when the
history of tennis comes to be written if it ever
is the period during which the Doherty methods
were followed in England will be clearly recog-
239
240 MODERN TENNIS
nized as a hiatus in the true game during which
English players were off the real track.
C. P. Dixon is, without doubt, the leading
exponent of the Doherty school. Norman E.
Brookes is, equally without doubt, the most fin-
ished and intelligent exponent of the real game
of tennis who is now in the game.
They met in two matches during the recent visit
of the English team to Australasia. Brookes won
both. The first was 3 0, and the aggregate score
in games was 18 to 10.
Their next meeting was a two-set match, and
the aggregate score was 12 to 0.
On the result of these two matches the score
was 30 games to 10, which about expresses the
merits of the two schools of tennis.
I have absolutely no use for English methods,
especially on the backhand. They are effeminate
and obsolete.
Now it must be clearly understood that such
sterling players as J. C. Parke, H. Roper Barrett,
M. J. G. Ritchie, and A. W. Gore do not use the
English strokes.
I have seen Parke play many times, but never
since he beat Brookes at Melbourne, in Australia.
He has a fine forehand drive. There is no ball-
waving in it. He runs onto the ball and gives it
all his weight.
The tennis writers in England delight in calling
Brookes an unorthodox player. Really, if they
NORMAN E. BKOOKES BACKHAND STROKE
This remarkable picture shows Brookes pluyliig a backhand
stroke in his stride. It Is a wonderful lesson on the true and
only backhand. Notice the grip of the racket and the absolutely
perfect line of the arm and the racket-handle. This Is a perfect
grip for volleying or playing off the ground.
PLATE 47
INTERNATIONAL TENNIS 241
only knew it, he is the most orthodox player in
the world. Every stroke is produced on correct
mechanical principles, and he gets the maximum
of results for the expenditure of energy that he
sees fit to use, for, be it understood, Brookes cal-
culates things out to finer points, probably, than
any other player in the game. One never sees
him doing any sharp turns or contortion acts.
These mean wear and tear. He has his idea even
in his funny little semi-circular turn just before
he serves.
Brookes seemed to me to play a different game
from what he showed on his first visit to England.
Then he was always close up to the net when he
got a chance, and volleying at sharp angles across
court. During the last international matches he
ran in and got his first volley at or about the
service-line, and put it back, as, indeed, from his
position he had to do, much straighter than during
his first visit to England. He would frequently
get a little nearer on his second stroke and score
off that. It seemed to me that he was volleying
much farther from the net all the time. Possibly
he has settled it with himself that he can not stand
galloping up to the net all the time, and so has
decided to take the trip in two stages. That is
what it looked like to me. Brookes certainly is a
wonder at sparing himself, and he is the only
man I ever saw playing who seems, by his action,
242 MODERN TENNIS
to justify the journalistic cliche that "he moves
like a piece of well-oiled machinery."
Brookes 's performance last year is, and prob-
ably always will be, unique in tennis history. It
is, I believe, the greatest feat ever accomplished
in a tennis season. To come up from the anti-
podes, to win the championship of the world, and
to lift the Davis Cup with, of course, some slight
assistance was a very remarkable performance.
McLoughlin, on account of his defeat of both
Brookes and Wilding, was hailed as the greatest
player in the world. This, of course, is a great
mistake. If this idea were to prevail it would be
a misfortune for the game. In saying this I do
not depreciate McLoughlin 's play in the slightest
degree. Nobody knows better than McLoughlin
that playing a bye in a Davis Cup contest is noth-
ing compared with battling for the championship
of the world through the All England tournament
at Wimbledon, with match after match on the try-
ing center court, and the constant strain on one.
Moreover, if championships of the world can be
handed out so easily there is one whose claim to
it is stronger than McLoughlin 's, to wit, J. C.
Parke.
McLoughlin is a splendid young athlete, and
undoubtedly a great player, but it will do neither
him nor the game any good to take a distorted
view of his fine performance at Forest Hills
last year. In serving, smashing, volleying at
INTERNATIONAL TENNIS 243
and above the height of the net and in receiving
the service McLoughlin is worthy of the study of
players, but off the ground he lacks clear knowl-
edge of the technique of the game, and in low vol-
leying he still has a good deal to learn. Of course,
with his rapid start, and consequent early arrival
at the net, he does not require to use low volleys
very much, but if his departure for the net were
delayed by about four feet, he would require to
cultivate a better low volley than he has hitherto
shown.
Wilding's great strength lay, when playing in
England, in his forehand drive, which kept coming
back with monotonous regularity and much useful
pace. I thought Wilding was not the Wimbledon
Wilding. I am afraid that he must have "eased
up" after Brookes beat him in England. Wilding
is of the habit of body that piles up adipose tissue
very rapidly. I saw him taking his first practise
at Forest Hills. It was a warm afternoon, cer-
tainly, but nothing to worry about. After half
an hour Wilding looked hotter than I have ever
seen him at Wimbledon, except on the memorable
occasion of the finish between him and Roper Bar-
rett on that roasting summer afternoon. More-
over, his forehand drive seemed shorter and more
"poky," but that is all in the game. McLoughlin
beat him fairly and squarely. Wilding's greatest
asset always has been his endurance, and he al-
ways had it with him in England and on the
244 MODERN TENNIS
Continent. If he left it at home this time it was
not McLoughlin's fault.
I have heard Wilding's backhand extolled. I
can not see it compared with Norman Brookes'
stroke, especially for all volleying. It is a hybrid
form, being neither the English stroke nor the
Colonial. In an important match in England we
once took account of mistakes on the backhand
made by Wilding off balls which he should have
returned. It totaled up to forty after we had
allowed him the benefit of all doubtful balls.
Brookes 's backhand is infinitely better, sounder,
and severer than most people realize, and it is
produced in the most perfect truth, which Wild-
ing's is not.
Any backhand such as Wilding's or B. N. Wil-
liams 's must suffer in severe work. Williams
never had the beginning of a backhand compared
with Andre Gobert at his best, and I have seen
A. W. Gore, with his famous forehand drive,
pound the volatile Frenchman on that side so
that he did not know what he was doing. Against
severe work, particularly in the modern game, it
is practically impossible with the English grip to
drive a straight ball down the side-line con-
sistently. I have seen all the greatest backhand
players of the Doherty school, and none of them
can do this. They can wave it across the court,
but even then they can not control its direction.
Thomas C. Bundy is a good foil for McLouglilin
x i- -
INTERNATIONAL TENNIS 245
and Williams. In arriving at a true, estimate of
their form, past, present, and particularly future,
one must allow a tremendous discount for pyro-
technics, especially with Williams, but with Bundy
this is not so. What he delivers is all tennis, and
much better and cleverer than most people know.
His service is most effective. I have heard many
players speak slightingly of it. Why, I can not
understand. I have never seen any of these treat
it slightingly. Both it and its near relation, the
reverse cut service, are very serviceable deliveries.
Bundy worthily filled his place in the last Davis
Cup matches, and it should go without my saying
it that he is at all times a most dangerous oppo-
nent in a double, an astucious and courageous
player to the last stroke of the rest and the
match.
LAWS OF TENNIS
THE COURT
1. The Court is 78 feet long and 27 feet wide. It
is divided across the middle by a net, the ends of
which are attached to two posts, A and B, stand-
ing 3 feet outside of the court on either side. The
height of the net is 3 feet 6 inches at the posts,
and 3 feet in the middle. At each end of the court,
parallel with the net, an'd 39 feet from it, are
drawn the base-lines D E and F G, the ends of
which are connected by the side-lines D F and
E G. Halfway between the side-lines, and par-
allel with them, is drawn the half-court line I H,
246
LAWS OF TENNIS 247
dividing the space on each side of the net into two
equal parts, the right and left courts. On each
side of the net, at a distance of 21 feet from it,
and parallel with it, are drawn the service-lines
K L and M N.
THE BALLS
2. The Balls shall measure not less than 2y 2
inches, nor more than 2 9-16 inches in diameter;
and shall weigh not less than 1 15-16 ounces, nor
more than 2 ounces.
THE GAME
3. The choice of sides, and the right to serve in
the first game, shall be decided by toss ; provided
that, if the winner of the toss choose the right to
serve, the other player shall have choice of sides,
and vice versa, or the winner of the toss may in-
sist upon a choice by his opponent. If one player
choose the court, the other may elect not to serve.
4. The players shall stand on opposite sides of
the net ; the player who first delivers the ball shall
be called the server, and the other the striker-out.
5. At the end of the first game the striker-out
shall become server, and the server shall become
striker-out; and so on alternately in all the sub-
sequent games of the set and following sets.
FOOT-FAULT RULE
LAW 6. The server shall before commencing to
serve stand with both feet at rest behind (i.e.,
further from the net than) the base-line and within
248 MODERN TENNIS
the limits of the imaginary continuation of the
half -court and side-lines, and thereafter the server
shall not run, walk, hop or jump before the service
has been delivered, but the server may raise one
foot from (and, if desired, replace it on) the
ground, provided that both feet are kept behind
the base-line until the service has been delivered.
Official Interpretation of law 6: // a foot be
lifted and replaced, there must be no change of
position that can possibly be considered a step.
LAW 7. The service shall be delivered from the
right and left courts alternately, beginning from
the right in every game, even tho odds be given or
owed, and the ball served shall drop within the
service-line, half-court line and side-line of the
court which is diagonally opposite to that from
which it was served or upon any such line.
LAW 8. It is a fault if the server commit any
breach of Law 7, or if the service be delivered
from the wrong court, or if the ball served drop
in the net or beyond the service-line, or if it drop
out of court or in the wrong court. If the server
in attempting to serve, miss the ball altogether, it
does not count a fault; but if the ball be touched,
no matter how slightly, by the racket, a service is
thereby delivered, and the laws governing the
service at once apply.
8. It is a fault if the ball served drop in the
net, or beyond the service-line, or out of court, or
in the wrong court ; or if the server do not stand
LAWS OF TENNIS 249
as directed by law 6. If the server, in attempting
to serve, miss the ball altogether, it does not count
a fault, but if the ball be touched, no matter how
slightly, by the racket, a service is thereby de-
livered, and the laws governing the service at once
apply.
9. A fault can not be taken.
10. After a fault the server shall serve again
from the same court from which he served that
fault, unless it was a fault because he served from
the wrong court.
11. A fault can not be claimed after the next
service is delivered.
12. The server shall not serve till the striker-
out is ready. If the latter attempt to return the
service, he shall be deemed ready.
13. A service or fault delivered when the
striker-out is not ready counts for nothing.
14. The service shall not be volleyed, that is,
taken before it has touched the ground.
15. A ball is in play on leaving the server's
racket, except as provided for in law 8, and re-
mains in play till the stroke is decided.
16. It is a good return, altho the ball touch the
net; but a service, otherwise good, which touches
the net shall count for nothing.
17. The server wins a stroke if the striker-out
volley the service, or if he fail to return the serv-
ice or the ball in play ; or if he return the service
or the ball in play so that it drops outside of
250 MODERN TENNIS
his opponent's court; or if he otherwise lose a
stroke, as provided by law 20.
18. The striker-out wins a stroke if the server
serve two consecutive faults; or if he fail to
return the ball in play; or if he return the ball in
play so that it drops outside of his opponent's
court ; or if he otherwise lose a stroke as provided
by law 20.
19. A ball falling on a line is regarded as fall-
ing in the court bounded by that line.
20. Either player loses a stroke if the ball touch
him, or anything that he wears or carries, except
his racket in the act of striking; or if he touch
the ball with his racket more than once; or if he
touch the net or any of its supports while the ball
is in play; or if he volley the ball before it has
passed the net.
21. In case a player is obstructed by any acci-
dent, not within his control, the ball shall be con-
sidered a "let." But when a permanent fixture
of the court is the cause of the accident, the point
shall be counted. The benches and chairs placed
around the court shall be considered permanent
fixtures. If, however, a ball in play strike a per-
manent fixture of the court (other than the net or
posts) before it touches the ground, the point is
lost ; if after it has touched the ground, the point
shall be counted.
22. On either player winning his first stroke,
the score is called 15 for that player; on either
LAWS OF TENNIS 251
player winning his second stroke, the score is
called 30 for that player; on either player win-
ning his third stroke, the score is called 40 for
that player; and the fourth stroke won by either
player is scored game for that player, except as
below. If both players have won three strokes,
the score is called deuce,- and the next stroke won
by either player is scored advantage for that
player. If the same player win the next stroke,
he wins the game ; if he lose the next stroke the
score returns to deuce, and so on until one player
wins the two strokes immediately following the
score of deuce, when game is scored for that
player.
23. The player who first wins six games wins
the set ; except as below : If both players win five
games the score is called games all,- and the next
game won by either player is scored advantage
game for that player. If the same player win the
next game, he wins the set; if he lose the next
game, the score returns to games all; and so on,
until either player wins the two games immedi-
ately following the score of games all, when he
wins the set. But the committee having charge of
any tournament may in their discretion modify
this rule by the omission of advantage sets.
24. The players shall change sides at the end of
the first, third and every subsequent alternate
game of each set and at the end of each set, unless
the number of games in such set be even. It shall,
252 MODERN TENNIS
however, be open to the players by mutual consent
and notification to the umpire before the opening
of the second game of the match to change sides
instead at the end of every set until the odd and
concluding set, in which they shall change sides
at the end of the first, third and every subsequent
alternate game of such set.
*25. In all contests the play shall be continuous
from the first service till the match be concluded ;
provided, however, that at the end of the third set
either player is entitled to a rest, which shall not
exceed seven minutes ; and provided, further, that
in case of an unavoidable accident, not within the
control of the contestants, a cessation of play
which shall not exceed two minutes may be allowed
between points; but this proviso shall be strictly
construed, and the privilege never granted for the
purpose of allowing a player to recover his
strength or wind. The referee in his discretion
may at any time postpone the match on account
of darkness or condition of the ground or weather.
In any case of postponement, the previous score
shall hold good. Where the play has ceased for
more than an hour, the player who at the cessa-
tion thereof was in the court first chosen shall
have the choice of courts on the recommencement
*A11 matches in which women take part in tournaments
held under the auspices of the United States National Lawn-
Tennis Association shall be the best two in three sets, with a
rest not exceeding seven minutes after the second set.
LAWS OF TENNIS
253
of play. He shall stay in the court he chooses
for the remainder of the set. The last two sen-
tences of this rule do not apply when the players
change every alternate game as provided by law
24.
26. If a player serve out of his turn, the umpire,
as soon as the mistake is discovered, shall direct
the player to serve who ought to have served.
But all strokes scored before such discovery shall
be counted. If a game shall have been completed
before such discovery, then the service in the next
alternate game shall be delivered by the player
who did not serve out of his turn, and so on in
regular rotation.
27. The above laws shall apply to the three-
handed and four-handed games, except as below:
THE THREE-HANDED AND FOUR-HANDED GAMES
A
K
M
N
254 MODEEN TENNIS
28. For the three-handed and four-handed
games the court shall be 36 feet in width ; 4^ feet
inside the side-lines, and parallel with them, are
drawn the service side-lines K M and L N. The
service-lines are not drawn beyond the point at
which they meet the service side-lines, as shown
in the diagram.
29. In the three-handed game, the single player
shall serve in every alternate game.
30. In the four-handed game, the pair who have
the right to serve in the first game shall decide
which partner shall do so ; and the opposing pair
shall decide in like manner for the second game.
The partner of the player who served in the first
game shall serve in the third, and the partner of
the player who served in the second game shall
serve in the fourth, and the same order shall be
maintained in all the subsequent games of the set.
31. At the beginning of the next set, either
partner of the pair which struck out in the last
game of the last set may serve; and the same
privilege is given to their opponents in the second
game of the new set.
32. The players shall take the service alter-
nately throughout the game ; a player can not re-
ceive a service delivered to his partner; and the
order of service and striking out once established
shall not be altered, nor shall the striker-out
change courts to receive the service, till the end
of the set.
LAWS OF TENNIS
255
33. It is a fault if the ball served do not drop
between the service-line, half-court line, and serv-
ice side-line of the court, diagonally opposite to
that from which it was served.
34. It is a fault if the ball served do not drop
as provided in law 35, or if it touch the server's
partner or anything he wears or carries.
ODDS
THE SIXTHS SYSTEM OP HANDICAPPING
In the case of received odds :
(a) One-sixth of fifteen is one stroke given in
every six games of a set in the position shown by
the annexed table.
(b) Similarly, two-sixths, three-sixths, four-
sixths, and five-sixths of fifteen are respectively
two, three, four, and five strokes given in every
six games of a set in the position shown by the
table.
1st
Game
2d
Game
3d
Game
4th
Game
5th
Game
6th
Game
% of 15
15
% of 15
15
15
% of 15
15
15
15
% of 15
15
15
15
15
% of 15
15
15
15
15
15
256
MODERN TENNIS
In the case of owed odds :
(a) One-sixth of fifteen is one stroke owed in
every six games of a set in the position shown by
the annexed table.
(&) Similarly, two-sixths, three-sixths, four-
sixths, and five-sixths of fifteen are respectively
two, three, four, and five strokes owed in every
six games of a set in the position shown by the
following table:
1st
Game
2d
Game
3d
Game
4th
Game
5th
Game
6th
Game '
% of 15
15
2/6 Of 15
15
15
% of 15
15
15
15
% of 15
15
15
15
15
% of 15
15
15
15
15
15
CEITICISM OF THE LAWS
I HAVE referred to the looseness with which the
laws of tennis are drawn. I may, perhaps, give a
few instances of what I mean.
Law 1 says (inter alia) : "The Court is 78 feet
long and 27 feet wide." It would be well to say,
"The court is a rectangle 78 feet long by 27 feet
wide." None of the measurements given are in-
compatible with the court's being a rhomboid, and
if it were marked out as directed it would have a
greater chance of being a rhomboid than a rect-
angle. A correct scale-plan of the court, with
named parts, should be given, and should be
specifically incorporated in the rules.
Law 4 says (inter alia): "The players shall
stand on opposite sides of the net. ..." For
"stand" we should have "play from" or similar
words.
Law 7 reads: "The service shall be delivered
from the right and left courts alternately, begin-
ning from the right in every game, even tho
odds be given or owed; and the ball served shall
drop within the service-line, half-court line and
side-line of the court which is diagonally opposite
to that from which it was served, or upon any
such line." There seems to be needed some rule
257
258 MODEEN TENNIS
or rules defining and naming the different portions
of the court. That portion of the tennis-court on
either side of the net is divided into the right and
left courts. A line runs down the middle from
base-line to base-line, but the custom now is to
carry it only from service-line to service-line.
The letters I. H. on the plan of the court and
rule No. 1 show clearly, however, that its full
length is still recognized, for rule 1 says that the
line I H divides ' * the space on each side of the net
into two equal parts, the right and left courts."
In the early days of the game the full length of
the line was necessary, as a player in a match
would sometimes handicap himself to play into one
half -court only. That, however, was long before
my time, and is merely a matter of history; but
it has a bearing on the subject under discussion,
as will be seen. When one speaks of a subdivision
of a lawn-tennis court as a " court" simply, so
far as I know, the term can only mean the right
court or the left court, each of which contains
two other subdivisions, the service-court and the
back-court, but the rules do not use the terms
service-court and back-court.
Now, the rule says: "The ball served shall
drop within the service-line, half-court line and
side-line of the court which is diagonally opposite
to that from which it was served."
Let us say it was served from the right court.
Then it is very evident that it must drop into
CRITICISM OF THE LAWS 259
the right court on the other side of the net "within
the service-line, half-court line and side-line of
the court which is diagonally opposite to that from
which it was served. " As we are only given three
boundaries, and as these three boundaries are
common to both the service-court and the back
court, it follows that the whole of the diagonally
opposite right single court, from the net to the
base-line, is, in this case, open to the server. This,
so far as I can see, is irrefutable as a point of
tennis law. It follows that the same holds good
of the left court. The wording of the rule is
somewhat different in the laws of the three-handed
and four-handed games, and may not bear this in-
terpretation.
The trouble, which arises apparently from the
misuse of the word court for service-court, would
have been obviated had the fourth boundary been
given. The draughtsman evidently meant to say
that the ball served shall drop into the opponent's
"service-court" which is on that side of the center
(or half -court) line farther from the server, and
that it must drop within the area contained by
the net, the center-line, the service-line, and the
side-line of such court, in no case produced beyond
the limits of the said service-court, or upon any
such line within such limits, and even with this
definition there should go a properly drawn and
named plan of the court.
Law 8. It will be seen that this rule has been
260 MODERN TENNIS
in part duplicated. This, I am informed, has been
unofficially rectified in some of the published
copies of the laws. I give it here, however, as it
is in the latest copy of the Association's rules that
I could get.
The second rule 8 states that it is a fault if the
player do not "stand as directed by law 6." This
declaration it seems is insufficient and should at
least read "or if the server do not comply with
the provisions of law 6."
The provision that it is not a fault if one in
serving miss the ball altogether should be abol-
ished. What would be thought of a similar law
with regard to air-strokes in golf?
Law 7 says that ' ' The service shall be delivered
from the right and left courts alternately, begin-
ning from the right in every game. . . . "
Law 8 shows clearly that by means of a fault
"a service is thereby delivered, and the laws gov-
erning the service at once apply." Therefore, to
keep the service alternating one must after one
fault go into the next court to serve; but let us
read law 10, which says that "After a fault the
server shall serve again from the same court from
which he served that fault, unless it was a fault
because he served from the wrong court."
It would almost seem from this law that if a
man had six, or more, consecutive faults to serve
he would have to deliver them all from the same
court ! In fact, notwithstanding the peculiar laws
CEITICISM OF THE LAWS 2G1
(7 and 8) which make it necessary to serve alter-
nate balls, even if faults, from right and left
courts, this law apparently condemns us to go on
serving in the same court so long as we serve con-
secutive faults. This requires some clarifying.
The clumsy term "striker-out" should be
abolished. The * * striker, " or the ' ' receiver, " is all
that is necessary.
Law 19 says: "A ball falling on a line is re-
garded as falling in the court bounded by that
line."
This law might be better exprest. I am serving
from the right court. My ball pitches on the
center-line within the limits of the service-court.
Under the rule there are two courts to which it
may legally be adjudged, my opponent's right and
left service-courts. In the first case it would be
good, in the second, bad. Everyone, of course,
knows to which it belongs, but a law should be
explicit and not capable of two interpretations.
Law 20 provides that "Either player loses a
stroke if the ball touch him, or anything that he
wears or carries, except his racket in the act of
striking. . . .
This law obviously requires adaptation to the
double game. Also it should read ' * if the ball when
in play touch him . . ." while the words "in
the act of striking, ' ' in the absence of definition of
the word ' ' striking, ' ' should be deleted. At pres-
ent, if one returned a ball close to the net by the
262 MODERN TENNIS
mere rebound off a rigidly held racket it would
count against him, as it could not be called an
"act of striking.*'
The terms " Three-handed" and "Four-
handed" should be abolished, and any rules deal-
ing with the old three-handed or "unicorn" game
should be expunged. It no longer exists. It is
obsolete, as dead as the dodo, and therefore should
not encumber modern laws of a great and pro-
gressive game. Singles and doubles are, so far
as the laws are concerned, the two games known.
Law 32 says (inter alia): "The players shall
take the service alternately throughout the game. ' '
What is meant by this is that the strikers shall
receive or play the service alternately during each
game. "Take the service" in tennis language
usually means "to serve."
Law 34, which is the last law, says that it is a
fault if the ball "do not drop as provided in law
35." I have the authority of Mr. Robert D.
Wrenn, the President of the United States Lawn-
Tennis Association, for stating that "35" means
"33," and indeed that is obvious; but laws are
laws, and I should not have taken upon myself
to do this. It is bad enough to try to interpret
and carry out the law provided, without pre-
suming to say what was in the minds of the law-
makers.
These few instances and many more might be
given will show the necessity for a careful re-
CRITICISM OF THE LAWS 263
vision of the laws of the game. A committee
should be appointed to draw the laws in an intelli-
gent manner. They should then be universally
criticized and ultimately, with alterations where
necessary, adopted throughout the world.
REGULATIONS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL
LAWN-TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
(DAVIS CUP)
Revised and adopted by United States, Great
Britain, France, Belgium, Austria, Australia,
1906:
1. The Competition shall be called "The Inter-
national Lawn-Tennis Championship," and shall
be open to any Nation which has a recognized
Lawn-Tennis Association or Corresponding Or-
ganization; and, for the purposes of these Regu-
lations, Australia with New Zealand, the British
Isles, British South Africa, Canada, India, and
the United States of America shall, among others,
be regarded as separate Nations.
2. The Nation for the time being holding the
International Lawn-Tennis Championship shall
hereinafter be termed "The Champion Nation."
3. The Competition shall take place in accord-
ance with the following Regulations, and, except
in so far as may be agreed upon by the competing
Nations for their own Tie, with the Laws and
Regulations of the game for the time being
sanctioned by the Champion Nation.
4. The management of the Competition shall be
entrusted to a Committee, hereafter termed "the
Committee of Management," which shall be ap-
264
INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 265
pointed annually by the Lawn-Tennis Association
or Corresponding Organization of the Champion
Nation.
5. The Committee of Management shall make
all arrangements for the preliminary Tie or Ties
(if any) of the Competition where such prelimi-
nary Tie or Ties are to be played in the Country
of the Champion Nation, and also for the Chal-
lenge Tie, and its decision in respect of all such
arrangements shall be final. The Committee of
Management shall also have power to depute to
others, in any preliminary Tie or Ties, the making
of all or any such arrangements as may be deemed
necessary.
6. Any Nation wishing to compete shall give
notice to the Secretary of the Lawn-Tennis Asso-
ciation or Corresponding Organization of the
Champion Nation, so that it shall reach him not
later than the first Monday in March of the year
in which the Competition is to take place. Should
more than one Nation challenge, they shall com-
pete among themselves for the right to play the
Champion Nation in the Challenge Tie. The
Draw, at which each challenging Nation may be
represented, shall be made by the Committee of
Management on the day following the first Mon-
day in March, and particulars shall be notified to
the respective Secretaries for the time being of
the Lawn-Tennis Associations or Corresponding
Organizations of the several competing Nations,
266 MODERN TENNIS
with an intimation of the latest date by which the
Tie or Ties shall be concluded. Failure to con-
clude a Tie by the date fixt by the Committee of
Management shall render both Sides liable to be
scratched, unless, in the opinion of the Committee
of Management, the weather or other unavoidable
hindrance, shall have made completion impossible.
Competing Nations shall arrange among them-
selves for the playing of their respective Ties upon
a ground or grounds, and upon a date or dates
convenient to those concerned ; but, in the event of
an agreement not being arrived at, the prelimi-
nary Tie or Ties shall be played in the country
of the Champion Nation upon a ground or
grounds, and upon a date or dates, to be fixt upon
by the Committee of Management.
7. When gate-money shall be taken, one-half of
the profit shall belong to the visiting Nation; or,
in the case of -a Tie being played on neutral
ground, one third each to the visiting Nations, and
the remaining fraction of profit in each case shall
go to the Nation in whose Country the Tie shall
be played.
8. The Challenge Tie shall be played in the
Country of the Champion Nation at a date and
upon a ground to be agreed upon by common con-
sent. In the event of an agreement not being
arrived at, the fixing of the date and ground shall
be submitted to Arbitration.
9. A player shall be qualified to represent a
INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 267
Nation, if he shall have been born in that Nation,
or shall have resided therein for at least two
years immediately preceding a Tie, provided al-
ways that he be a bona fide Amateur; but no one
shall be entitled to play for more than one Nation
in this Competition during the same year. During
the time that a player may be qualifying to play
for a Nation under the residential qualification,
he may play for the Nation for which he shall have
been last previously qualified.
10. The Lawn-Tennis Association or Corres-
ponding Organization of each of the Nations con-
cerned shall appoint a Captain of its Side. In
default of such appointee a Side shall choose
its own Captain.
11. For each Tie a Eeferee, from whose decision
there shall be no appeal, shall be appointed by
common consent of the Captains of the competing
Sides. He shall have power to appoint Umpires.
He shall decide any point of law which an Umpire
may profess himself unable to decide, or which
may be referred to him on appeal from the de-
cision of an Umpire by the players. He shall
decide, if he be called upon to decide by the
Captain of either Side, whether or not a Match or
Matches shall be stopt owing to the state of
the courts, the state of the weather, darkness, or
other unavoidable hindrance.
12. (a) Each competing Nation shall, twenty-one
days before the date fixt for the commencement of
268 MODERN TENNIS
a Tie, nominate to the Committee of Management
not more than four players, without specifying
who shall play in Singles and Doubles. Different
players, however, may be nominated by a Nation
for different Ties.
(b) Each Captain shall, twenty-four hours
before the time fixt for the commencement of play
in each Contest, give notice of the composition of
his Team to the Executive Committee, and his
Team shall be selected from the four players pre-
viously nominated for the Tie. Such selection by
the Captain, however, shall be regarded as solely
for the convenience of the Executive Committee,
and may be varied by him before the commence-
ment of play.
(c) For the Second Bound of the Singles Con-
test in any Tie, the Bef eree may sanction the sub-
stitution of another of the players nominated by
a Nation for that Tie in the place of any player,
who, in the opinion of the Beferee, is incapaci-
tated by illness, accident, or other unavoidable
hindrance ; provided that such substitute shall not
be the player who has already competed in the
Singles Contest.
13. The time of cessation of play shall be fixt
before the commencement of each day's play by
the Captains of the opposing Sides, or by the
Beferee if they shall disagree. It shall be the
duty of the Beferee to stop play when this time
arrives; provided, nevertheless, that he may ex-
INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 269
tend the time with the consent of the Captains of
the opposing Sides. A player shall not be called
upon to play more than one Match a day, except
with the unanimous consent of the Captains of
the opposing Sides and the majority of the Ex-
ecutive Committee.
14. Each Tie shall be decided by the combined
results of Singles and Doubles, and the Side which
shall win the majority of Matches shall be the
winner of a Tie.
15. In the Singles, each Team shall, subject to
Eegulation 12, Clause c, consist of two players,
who shall play each against each of the opposing
Team the best of five advantage sets. The order
of play and courts shall be decided by lot. In the
Doubles, each Team shall consist of two players,
who shall play against the opposing Team the best
of five advantage sets.
16. Unless otherwise arranged by the unani-
mous consent of the Captains of the opposing
Sides and the majority of the Executive Com-
mittee, the Doubles shall take place between the
two rounds of the Singles Contest. If, however,
a player be chosen for both the Singles and
Doubles Contests, and if, by a change in the above
arrangements, he be called upon to play his two
Singles Matches on consecutive days, then there
shall be an interval of one day between the second
and the third days' play. Provided, nevertheless,
that if there be an interval between the first and
270 MODEEN TENNIS
second days' play, either from postponement,
arrangement, or the interval of a Sunday, there
shall not be an interval between the second and
third days' play.
17. If any player be absent when called upon
to play by the Eeferee, the opposing Side shall
be entitled to three love sets.
18. Any Competing Nation whose Lawn-Tennis
Association or Corresponding Organization, or
whose Eepresentatives shall fail to conform to the
above Eegulations, may be disqualified by the
Committee of Management in respect of the Com-
petition for the year wherein such failure shall
occur.
19. Winners of a preliminary Tie shall notify
the result without delay to the Committee of
Management, by telegram, which shall be con-
firmed by letter.
20. For purposes of correspondence and the
giving of notices required by these Eegulations,
the Secretary for the time being of the Lawn-
Tennis Association or Corresponding Organiza-
tion of the Champion Nation shall be regarded as
representing the Committee of Management.
21. The above Eegulations shall be binding
upon the Nations concerned, and shall not be
altered except with, the consent of two-thirds of
the Associations or Corresponding Organizations
whose Nation shall have from time to time
competed and who shall record their votes.
INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 271
NOTE. In the above Regulations, one Nation
playing against another is regarded as a "Tie";
Singles and Doubles are regarded as separate
"Contests," and the best of five advantage sets
is regarded as a "Match." The players in
Singles and Doubles are regarded as separate
"Teams"; and the players in the combined Con-
tests as a "Side."
KEGULATIONS FOB THE MANAGEMENT
OF TENNIS TOURNAMENTS
1. At Tournaments held by Clubs belonging to
the United States National Lawn-Tennis Associa-
tion or by Clubs belonging to Associations which
belong to the National Association or by Associa-
tions belonging to said National Association, the
Laws of Lawn-Tennis, as adopted for the time
being by said National Association, and the Regu-
lations hereinafter contained shall be observed.
2. The Officers of the Club holding the Tour-
nament shall have full power over all details con-
cerning said Tournament, but shall be entitled to
delegate their power to a Committee. In case no
special Committee shall be appointed by the Offi-
cers of the Club holding the Tournament, the
powers and functions hereinafter delegated to the
Committee shall be vested in and performed by
the Officers of said Club.
3. A circular shall be issued by the Committee
specifying the conditions of the competition, and
including names of Tournament Committee and
of the Referee.
4. No cheques, orders for money, or cash pay-
ments in any form shall be given as prizes, and
the amount actually paid for each prize shall in
no case be below the advertised value of the same,
if included in circular. If any challenge cup is
offered it shall be deeded to the National Lawn-
272
TOURNAMENTS 273
Tennis Association. (See form of deed of gift
on following page.) The winner of a Challenge
Cup shall be entitled to the possession of the cup
until one month previous to the next competition
for the cup, possession being conditional on the
giving of a bond by the winner satisfactory to the
Club. Should the Club give possession without
such bond, it shall be liable to the National Asso-
ciation for the value of the cup.
5. The Committee shall elect a Referee, with
power to appoint a substitute to be approved by
them. The Referee or his duly appointed sub-
stitute must be present at all times when play is
in progress.
6. The Referee or such other member or mem-
bers of the Committee as may be selected for the
purpose, shall have power to appoint Umpires and
Linesmen, to assign courts and to start matches,
and the Referee shall decide any point of law
which an Umpire may profess himself unable to
decide, or which may be referred to him on appeal
from the decision of an Umpire, and such decision
shall be final.
7. The Referee shall, during the Tournament,
be ex-officio a member of the Committee.
8. The Committee shall help to keep order on
the ground, and shall consult and decide upon any
question arising out of the competition, if sum-
moned for that purpose by the Referee or by any
two of their number; and they shall have power,
274 MODERN TENNIS
when so convened, the misconduct of a Competitor
having been reported to them by a member of the
Committee or an Umpire, to disqualify the
offender, and further to order him off the ground,
should his misconduct appear to them to justify
such action, but before such action shall be taken,
an opportunity of offering an explanation shall
be afforded to the competitor, whose misconduct
has been reported to them. When the whole of
the Committee of a Club or even a quorum there-
of may not be available, the members of the Com-
mittee that are available shall have power to act
in cases left to the Committee of the Club.
"DEED OF GIFT" FORM FOE CHALLENGE CUPS
Know All Men by These Presents:
THAT hereby presents to
the United States National Lawn-Tennis Associa-
tion the cup tendered herewith, to be called and
known as and to represent
to be held under the aus-
pices of the United States National Lawn-Tennis
Association, according to such Rules and Regu-
lations as may be, from time to time, prescribed
by said Association. The winner of the said
championship shall be entitled to the possession
of the cup for the period during which he holds
the championship, being responsible, however, for
the production of the cup at the next champion-
ship contest. This cup shall become the property
TOURNAMENTS
275
of the player who shall win said championship at
annual championship con-
tests
If for any reason no contest for said champion-
ship should be held for a period of two years, the
United States National Lawn-Tennis Association
shall have the right to dispose of said cup as
shall seem proper.
(Signature)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
9. It is the duty of an Umpire
(a) To ascertain that the net is at the right
height before the commencement of play, and to
measure and adjust the net during play, if asked
to do so, or if, in his opinion, its height has altered.
(6) To call the faults (subject to Regulation
10) and lets unless he delegates such power.
(c) To call the strokes when won, or when he
is asked to call them, and to record them upon
the Umpire's scoring-sheet.*
*Example :
The strokes are scored by means of pencil marks in the
spaces beneath the word "STROKES/' thus:
I
Initials
of
Players
STROKES
Game
won
by
;
IA.B.
l
1
1
1
C. D.
1
1
]
!C. D.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
...
...
A. B.
1
i
1
1
i
276
MODERN TENNIS
The Scoring Sheet shows that in the first game the score
ran, and would have been called, thus: "15 love, 30 love,
3015, 4015, 4030, game (A.B.)" In the second game:
"Love 15, 15 all, 1530, 30 all, 4030, deuce, advantage
(C.D.), deuce, advantage (A.B.), deuce, advantage (C.D.),
game (C.D.)"
The score of the Server should be called first.
(d) To call the games and the sets at the end
of each, or when asked to call them, and to record
them on the Umpire's scoring-sheet.
NOTE At the end of each game the games should be called
with the name of the player who is in advance, thus : "2 games
to 1, B wins" or, "B leads." If the games are level the score
In scoring handicap matches, the odds received should be
marked by crosses on the right of the first perpendicular
thick line before the commencement of each game, thus:
Game
Initials of
Players
a
TR
OK
;s
Game
won by
1
A.B.
+
C. D.
C.D.
A.B.
+
+
8,
A.B.
+
C.D.
4.
C. D.
A.B.
+
+
5<
iA.B.
+
1
C. D.
6
C.D.
A.B.
+
+
Here A. B. is receiving 15 and 3-sixths of 15.
TOURNAMENTS
277
should be called thus, "three games all," or as the case may
be. At the end of each set the sets should be called in like
manner.
(e) To direct the Competitors to change sides,
in accordance with Law 24.
(/) When appealed to during a rally, whether
a doubtful ball is "in play'* or not, to call "play,"
and at the conclusion of the rally to give his de-
cision (subject to Eegulation 11) or direct the
Competitors to play the stroke again.
(g) To decide all doubtful or disputed strokes,
and all points of law (subject to Regulations 10
When odds are owed, they should be marked on the left
of the first thick perpendicular line before the commencement
of each game, thus:
Game
Initials
T,
Players
s-
rue
)KF
s
Game
won by
1
A. B.
1
1
C. D.
C. D.
A.B.
i
1
o J
IA. B.
1
1
O <
1
C. D.
i !
iC. D.
i
A.B.
1
J
!A. B.
1
O *
<
C. D.
iC. D.
1
A.B.
1
278
MODERN TENNIS
and 11), and to be responsible for the proper con-
duct of the match.
(h) In handicap matches to call the odds at the
commencement of each set.
(i) To sign the Umpire's scoring-sheets, and
to deliver them at the conclusion of the match to
such person as the Committee may authorize to
receive them.
Provided, that no omission of any of the fore-
going duties on the part of an Umpire shall of
itself invalidate any stroke, game, or match.
and should be crossed off one by one when the player owing
wins a stroke, thus:
Game
initials
Players
Si
HO
KE
3
Game
won by
1
A. B.
+
f
C. D.
C. D.
A.B.
+
I A. B.
-f
+
I
C. D.
1C. D.
*
A.B.
+
5
!A. B.
+
C. D.
C. D.
A.B.
+
Here A. B. owes 15 and 2-sixths of 15.
TOUKNAMENTS 279
10. It is the duty of the Linesman to call faults
and to decide strokes relating to the line or lines
to which he is assigned and to said line or lines
only, and such decision shall be final. [Words
limiting the finality of the decision of the Lines-
man to questions of fact are here desirable. The
right of appeal from him to the Umpire on a
question of law should be stated. P. A. V.]
Should the Linesman be unable to give a decision,
the Umpire shall decide or shall direct the stroke
to be played again.
11. The decision of an Umpire shall be final
upon every question of fact, and no competitor
may appeal from it ; but if an Umpire be in doubt
as to a point of law, or if a competitor appeal
against his decision on such a point, the Umpire
shall submit it to the Referee whose decision shall
be final.
NOTE A question of fact relates to events that actually
happened. A question of law is the construction and appli-
cation of the laws of the game to the admitted facts.
12. The Eeferee shall not bet on a match nor
shall an Umpire or Linesman on the match to
which he is assigned. An infraction of this rule
shall be followed by the immediate removal of the
offending Referee, Umpire, or Linesman on the
complaint of any competitor.
13. No Competitor may transfer his entry to
another player.
280 MODERN TENNIS
14. Competitors shall have a right, by them-
selves or their deputies, to be present at the draw.
15. The draw shall be conducted in the follow-
ing manner: Each Competitor's name shall be
written on a separate card or paper, and these
shall be placed in a bowl or hat, drawn out one
by one at random, and copied on a list in the
order in which they have been drawn.
Infraction of this rule renders a Club or other
organization liable to loss of its tournament for
the following year; except that in invitation
tournaments, and competitions between nations,
states, cities, clubs, and similar bodies where the
competition is really between such bodies and not
between the players as individuals, players may be
placed in such manner as agreed upon by the man-
agement of the competition, and except that in In-
tercollegiate and Interscholastic matches the draw
shall be arranged to prevent members of the same
college or school from meeting each other in the
first and second rounds, the draw in other ways be-
ing arranged absolutely by chance.
16. When the number of Competitors is 4, 8,
16, 32, 64, or any higher power of 2, they shall
meet in pairs, in accordance with the system
shown by the following diagram :
TOURNAMENTS 281
IST ROUND
A 1 2o ROUND
? B^i
B J SD ROUND
01 D j
n
D j DJ
E 1 n
F J
G -I
\> TT
H J
17. When the number of Competitors is not a
power of 2 there shall be byes in the first round.
The number of byes shall be equal to the differ-
ence between the number of Competitors and the
next higher power of 2, and the number of pairs
that shall meet in the first round shall be equal
to the difference between the number of Com-
petitors and the next lower power of 2. The byes,
if even in number, shall be divided, as the names
are drawn, in equal proportions at the top and
bottom of the list, above and below the pairs. If
uneven in number, there shall be one more bye at
the bottom than at the top. Thus
282
MODERN TENNIS
-B
SERIES 1
From 5 to 8 Competitors
IST ROUND
A (a bye)
B
C
D (a bye) !
E (a bye) 1
With 6, there will be one bye at the top, and 1 bye at the
bottom. With 7, 1 bye at the bottom. With 8, no byes.
SERIES 2
From 9 to 16 Competitors
With 9, 3 byes at the top, and 4 byes at the bottom.
IST ROUND
A (a bye). ... A'
-E
B (a bye) ---- B
C (a bye) . . . . C
-B
-E
F (a bye)
G (a bye)
H (a bye)..
I (a bye)..
F
G
..H
.. I
-E
-G
-G
With 10, 3 byes at the top and 3 at the bottom.
With 11, 2 byes at the top, and 3 at the bottom.
With 12, 2 byes at the top, and 2 at the bottom.
With 13, 1 bye at the top, and 2 at the bottom.
With 14, 1 bye at the top, and 1 at the bottom.
With 15, 1 bye at the bottom.
With 16, no byes.
TOURNAMENTS
283
SERIES 3
From 17 to 32 Competitors.
With 17, 7 byes at the top, and 8 byes at the bottom.
FIRST
SECOND THIRD
FOURTH FIFTH
ROUND
ROUND
ROUND
ROUND ROUND
A (a bye)
t
A l
B (a bye)
, ,
B!
n^
C (a bye)
C)
D (a bye)
,
D 3
n ""
E (a bye)
E)
F (a bye)
. ,
}
I
- i
T
G (a bye)
Hi
..
G l
J
HJ
J
T (
- 1 1
^
ft
J (a bye)
t f
Ji
*}
K (a bye)
K J
L
i
L (a bye)
. ,
L)
\ "
Ml
M (a bye)
..
M}
o
N (a bye)
. .
N)
\s
O (a bye)
CM
rv
P (a bye)
, 4
PI
o
J __
Q (a bye)
..
Q*
y,
With 18,
7
byes
at
the
top,
and
7
byes
at
the bottom.
With 19,
byes
at
the
top,
and
T
byes
at
the bottom.
With 20,
byes
at
the
top,
and
byes
at
the bottom.
With 21,
5
byes
at
the
top,
and
(i
byes
at
the bottom.
With 22,
5
byes
at
the
top,
and
5
byes
at
the bottom.
With 23,
4
byes
at
the
top,
and
5
byes
at
the bottom.
With 24,
4
byes
at
the
top,
and
4
byes
at
the bottom.
With 25,
3
byes
at
the
top,
and
4
byes
at
the bottom.
With 26,
3
byes
at
the
top,
and
3
byes
at
the bottom.
With 27,
2
byes
at
the
top,
and
3 byes
at
the bottom.
With 28,
2
byes
at
the
top,
and
2
byes
at
the bottom.
With 29,
1
bye
at
the
top,
and
2 byes
at
the bottom.
With 30,
1
bye
at
the
top,
and
1 bye
at
the bottom.
With 31,
1
bye
at
the
bottom.
With 32,
no byes.
And so on
with
larger numbers
in
the
same manner.
284
MODEBN TENNIS
18. If a Competitor be absent when called upon
to play, or shall refuse to play, or shall have given
previous notice to the Eeferee or to a member of
the Committee that he can not play in the next
round, his adversary shall win in that round,
unless said Competitor shall have been formally
excused for a definite period by the Beferee.
19. In handicap matches the competitors shall
be handicapped by the Committee, or by a Handi-
capper appointed by the Committee.
20. The method of handicapping shall be by
classes as below:
Class
GIVEN ODDS
Class (Scratch)
1 receives 1-sixth of 15.
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
2-sixths of 15.
3-sixths of 15.
4-sixths of 15.
5-sixths of 15.
15.
15 and 1-sixth of 15.
15 and 2-sixths of 15.
15 and 3-sixths of 15.
15 and 4-sixths of 15.
15 and 5-sixths of 15.
30.
30 and 1-sixth of 15.
30 and 2-sixths of 15.
30 and 3-sixths of 15.
30 and 4-sixths of 15.
30 and 5-sixths of 15.
40.
When two players in different classes below
scratch meet, the superior player shall start from
scratch, and the odds received by the inferior
player are as shown by the annexed table, No. 1.
To use the table, find in the diagonal line of figures
TOURNAMENTS 285
the number representing the class of the superior
player, then travel along the horizontal column
until the vertical column is reached which bears
at the top the number of the class of the inferior
player. The odds specified at the intersection of
the two columns are the odds required.
Example. If class 3 has to meet class 9, start
from the figure 3 in the diagonal line of figures,
and look horizontally until the vertical column is
reached headed by the figure 9. The odds given
at the point of intersection of the two columns
(vis., 15 and 1-6 of 15) are the odds required.
When the difference between the best and the
worst players entered is great (say more than 30),
it is desirable to handicap the best players at owed
odds. The players above scratch (i.e., owing
odds) should be classified as follows:
OWED ODDS
Class 1 owes 1-sixth of 15.
" 2 " 2-sixths of 15.
" 3 " 3-sixths of 15.
" 4 " 4-sixths of 15.
" 5 " 5-sixths of 15.
" 6 " 15.
" 7 " 15 and 1-sixtb of 15.
" 8 " 15 and 2-sixths of 15.
" 9 " 15 and 3-sixths of 15.
" 10 " 15 and 4-sixths of 15.
" 11 " 15 and 5-sixths of 15.
" 12 " 30.
" 13 " 30 and 1-sixth of 15.
" 14 " 30 and 2-sixths of 15.
" 15 " 30 and 3-sixths of 15.
" 16 " 30 and 4-sixths of 15.
" 17 " 30 and 5-sixths of 15.
" 18 " 40.
HANDICAPS. TABLE No. 1. (Received Odds)
TS, both In receipt of odds, meet, the player receiving the smaller odds Is put back to scratch. The follow-
x>lnt at which tne other should then start. The number at the left of the horizontal columns denotes the
to scratch, those at the head of the vertical columns the player who still receives odds ; and the num-
nns show the odds to be received by the player whose number stands at the bead of the column.
00
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In the case of received odds
8
TtM i-l O5 ,-( > r^
(M IO iH O T*< '% ...
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This table was calculated upon the
following data:
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286
M
I
TAB
HANDICAPS
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