the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第5章
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the pace of the shot。
3。 The portion beyond the body； comparable to the golfer's 〃follow
through；〃 determines spin； top or slice； imparted to the ball。
All drives should be topped。 The slice shot is a totally different
stroke。
To drive straight down the side…line； construct in theory a
parallelogram with two sides made up of the side…line and your shoulders；
and the two ends； the lines of your feet； which should； if extended； form
the right angles with the side…lines。 Meet the ball at a point about 4 to 4
1/2 feet from the body immediately in front of the belt buckle； and shift
the weight from the back to the front foot at the MOMENT OF
STRIKING THE BALL。 The swing of the racquet should be flat and
straight through。 The racquet head should be on a line with the hand； or； if
anything； slightly in advance； the whole arm and the racquet should turn
slightly over the ball as it leaves the racquet face and the stroke continue
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to the limit of the swing； thus imparting top spin to the ball。
The hitting plane for all ground strokes should be between the knees
and shoulders。 The most favourable plane is on a line with the waist。
In driving across the court from the right （or No。 1） court； advance the
L or front foot slightly towards the side…line and shift the weight a fraction
of a second sooner。 As the weight shifts； pivot slightly on the L foot and
drive flat； diagonally； across the court。 Do not 〃pull〃 your cross…court
drive； unless with the express purpose of passing the net man and using
that method to disguise your shot。
NEVER STEP AWAY FROM THE BALL IN DRIVING CROSS
COURT。 ALWAYS THROW YOUR WEIGHT IN THE SHOT。
The forehand drive from the No。 2 （or left） court is identically the
same for the straight shot down your opponent's forehand。 For the cross
drive to his backhand； you must conceive of a diagonal line from your
backhand corner to his； and thus make your stroke with the footwork as if
this imaginary line were the side…line。 In other words； line up your body
along your shot and make your regular drive。 Do not try to 〃spoon〃 the
ball over with a delayed wrist motion； as it tends to slide the ball off your
racquet。
All drives should be made with a stiff； locked wrist。 There is no wrist
movement in a true drive。 Top spin is imparted by the arm； not the wrist。
The backhand drive follows closely the principles of the forehand；
except that the weight shifts a moment sooner； and the R or front foot
should always be advanced a trifle closer to the side…line than the L so as
to bring the body clear of the swing。 The ball should be met in front of the
right leg； instead of the belt buckle； as the great tendency in backhand
shots is to slice them out of the side…line； and this will pull the ball cross
court； obviating this error。 The racquet head must be slightly in advance of
the hand to aid in bringing the ball in the court。 Do not strive for too much
top spin on your backhand。
I strongly urge that no one should ever favour one department of his
game； in defence of a weakness。 Develop both forehand and backhand；
and do not 〃run around〃 your backhand； particularly in return of service。
To do so merely opens your court。 If you should do so； strive to ace your
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
returns； because a weak effort would only result in a kill by your
opponent。
Do not develop one favourite shot and play nothing but that。 If you
have a fair cross…court drive； do not use it in practice； but strive to develop
an equally fine straight shot。
Remember that the fast shot is the straight shot。 The cross drive must
be slow； for it has not the room owing to the increased angle and height of
the net。 Pass down the line with your drive； but open the court with your
cross…court shot。
Drives should have depth。 The average drive should hit behind the
service…line。 A fine drive should hit within 3 feet of the baseline。 A cross…
court drive should be shorter than a straight drive； so as to increase the
possible angle。 Do not always play one length drive； but learn to vary your
distance according to your man。 You should drive deep against a baseliner；
but short against a net player； striving to drop them at his feet as； he comes
in。
Never allow your opponent to play a shot he likes if you can possibly
force him to one he dislikes。
Again I urge that you play your drive：
1。 With the body sideways to the net。
2。 The swing flat； with long follow through。
3。 The weight shifting just as the ball is hit。
Do not strive for terrific speed at first。 The most essential thing about
a drive is to put the ball in play。 I once heard William A。 Larned remark；
when asked the most important thing in tennis； 〃Put the ball over the net
into the other man's court。〃 Accuracy first； and then put on your speed； for
if your shot is correct you can always learn； to hit hard。
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
CHAPTER III。 SERVICE
Service is the opening gun of tennis。 It is putting the ball in play。 The
old idea was that service should never be more than merely the beginning
of a rally。 With the rise of American tennis and the advent of Dwight
Davis and Holcombe Ward； service took on a new significance。 These two
men originated what is now known as the American Twist delivery。
From a mere formality； service became a point winner。 Slowly it
gained in importance； until Maurice E。 M'Loughlin； the wonderful
〃California Comet；〃 burst across the tennis sky with the first of those
terrific cannon…ball deliveries that revolutionized the game； and caused the
old…school players to send out hurry calls for a severe footfault rule or
some way of stopping the threatened destruction of all ground strokes。
M'Loughlin made service a great factor in the game。 It remained for R。 N。
Williams to supply the antidote that has again put service in the normal
position of mere importance； not omnipotence。 Williams stood in on the
delivery and took it on the rising bound。
Service must be speedy。 Yet speed is not the be…all and end…all。 Service
must be accurate； reliable； and varied。 It must be used with discretion and
served with brains。 I believe perfect service is about 40 per cent placement；
40 per cent speed； and 20 per cent twist。
Any tall player has an advantage over a short one； in service。 Given a
man about 6 feet and allow him the 3 feet added by his reach； it has been
proved by tests that should he deliver a service； perfectly flat； with no
variation caused by twist or wind； that just cleared the net at its lowest
point （3 feet in the centre）； there is only a margin of 8 inches of the service
court in which the ball can possibly fall； the remainder is below the net
angle。 Thus it is easy to see how important it is to use some form of twist
to bring the ball into court。
