ON THE COURTS

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 261, 6 December 1930, Page 13

ON THE COURTS

IMPORTANCE OF THE FOREHAMD DRIVE TENNIS NEWS AND VIEWS

1 1 ■ (Notes by "Racquet.")

Wllile the foreband drive is the rnost tiatilral stroke for all tennis players to control, few realise tlie vast iinportance ot producing the stroke correctly. To starfc right from the begiiming, the racquet should he lield just helow the shoulders in the left hand, immediately in front of tlie hody, the liead of tlie racquet heintr turned sliglitly to the left. The grip with the right hand should be at the extreme end of the handle. Two reasons for this are that Ihe grip is tlie simplest one to adopt, and that a plain flat stroke ivill he produced. WATCH THE BALL Timing, footwork and coiicentration are all of paramount importance. The eye niust he kept hxed on the ball, so that the player mav time his stroke perfectly and so that the hall will be struck with the eentre of the racquet. A'earlt- all faulfy returns of serrice are dne to players taking tlieir eye off tlie hall instead of followjng it right to the racquet. The weight of the body must be thrown into the stroke wlien it is made, and at tlie same time the left fqot sliould be thrown forward on the ground. The sti-iking of the hall and ihe ndTaucement of tlie left foot must he simultaneous. It is fatal to liit the hall first and then adance tlie foot. BR1SK WRISTWORR Success in producing this " matckwiniiing stroke depend largely on quick wristwork used at the last fraction of the second wlien tlie racquet conies into contact with the hall. Most players, it will he ohserved, use a lot of arm Bwiiig, hut few of them realise tlie loss ef time wliich it involves. The plain type of foreband drive gives all players an opportunity to develop a drive which can be produced when tlie ball is on the rise, shouljlerhigli. To_ attain perfect control when ref turnjng the service tlie receiver must carefully wateli the server's position hefore the ball is delivered. For tlie first deliverv the receiver should stand ahout a foot or eight inclies outside tlie haseline, -ttitli tlie left fdot sliglitly foi- , ward, in front qf tlie hody. Provided the first service is a good oue (in wliich case it will naturally carry a fair ambunt of pace and good lengtli) tlie receiver should not try to meet it with an ahnormal amount of pace, hut, striking it with medium strength and care, he content with returning it in play and gain position for tlie nexi stroke. 'AVOIDING ARM SWING Tn meeting the second deliverv of "service the receiver should move quicklv to a spot a little over a yard mside the_ baseline, and strike the ball when it is slioulder-high and on the rise. By striking it wlien it is in suoh a position the player hits it quiekly, nsing the wrist, and a lot of tiring and un-

necessary arm-swing is eliminated. Further, the trajectory of tlie ball is direeted over the net well into the court. It is of the utmost importance to make certain of a good return of service. By meeting the ball lat© and low the receiver gives the server plenty of time to anticipate the return. In otlier words, iie is immediately on the defensive. The return should be direeted to the plaver's weakness (generally his backliandi from- the right-band court, as tlie receiver lias plenty of time to anticipate the result. * * * IMPORTANT POINTS Points te he rememhered, then, are as follon-s:— 1. Grip the racquet tigktly, at tlie extieme end of the handle. 2. Concentrate on perfect control and timing before bringilig pace into use. 3 A placenient of good length is difficult to cope with. 4. Meet tlie hall early, and strike it slroulder-high, 011 the rise, as this elhuinates liiuch arm-swing. 0. M'rist-work used quiekly when the hall comes into contact with the racquet gives all liecessary pace. 6. Correet footwork means accurate tiinilig. 7. Avoid playing a stroke close to the hody, usiug a half-arm swing. This cramped style will place you m difficulties. 8. Just. as in golf and billiards, it is importunt in tennis to follow tlirougli When the drive is conipleted, firiisliing with the arm right across tlie hody. * * * AMATEUR STATUS Mention was made recently that Fritz hfercur, sixtli ranking player of tlie United States, liad been declared ineligible on account of llrtving hroken his amateur status. The faets are now to hand. The trouhle took place 111 July of last year when Mercur eiitered for the ehampionships of tlie Holley Valley Club 111 Michigan, on condition that he received several eustomers for insurance in 1'eturn for his appearanee there. Mercur is an insurance salesman. He is known as one of the best players in the world when in top forlii. I11 1028 he scored a hrilliant victory over Tilden in the Eastern Championsliips at Rye, Hew York. He was trading Jiis tennis ahility with the Holley Valle" Club, and evidently tlie club accepted liis conditions, otherwise he would rofc liave hroken the amateur rule. That being so, tlie club must also have heeu guiltv in agreeing to liis conditions.

Ayres "Championship'* Stitchless Tennis Ball has been ebosen for the 1930-81 New Zealand tennis ehampionships. iear after year this favonrite of the champions is selected for the taost impdrtant tournaments, It is British and best 1