the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第16节
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The first essential of doubles play is to PUT the ball in play。 A double
fault is bad in singles； but it is inexcusable in doubles。 The return of
service should be certain。 After that it should be low and to the server
coming in。 Do not strive for clean aces in doubles until you have the
opening。 Remember that to pass two men is a difficult task。
Always attack in doubles。 The net is the only place in the court to play
the doubles game； and you should always strive to attain the net position。
There are two formations for the receiving team： one is the Australian
formation with the receiver's partner standing in to volley the server's
return volley； the other is the English and American style with both men
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back； thus giving the net attack to the server。 This is safer； but less likely to
produce a winning result unless the team is a wonderful lobbing
combination。 Lobbing is a sound defence in doubles； and is used to open
the court。
I believe in always trying for the kill when you see a real opening。
〃Poach〃 （go for a shot which is not really on your side of the court）
whenever you see a chance to score。 Never poach unless you go for the
kill。 It is a win or nothing shot since it opens your whole court。 If you are
missing badly do not poach； as it is very disconcerting to your partner。
The question of covering a doubles court should not be a serious one。
With all men striving to attain the net all the time every shot should be
built up with that idea。 Volley and smash whenever possible； and only
retreat when absolutely necessary。
When the ball goes toward the side…line the net player on that side
goes in close and toward the line。 His partner falls slightly back and to the
centre of the court； thus covering the shot between the men。 If the next
return goes to the other side； the two men reverse positions。 The theory of
court covering is two sides of a triangle； with the angle in the centre and
the two sides running to the side…lines and in the direction of the net。
Each man should cover overhead balls over his own head； and hit them
in the air whenever possible； since to allow them to drop gives the net to
the other team。 The only time for the partner to protect the overhead is
when the net man 〃poaches；〃 is outguessed； and the ball tossed over his
head。 Then the server covers and strives for a kill at once。
Always be ready to protect your partner； but do not take shots over his
head unless he calls for you to； or you see a certain kill。 Then say 〃Mine；〃
step in and hit decisively。 The matter of overhead balls； crossing under
them； and such incidentals of team work are matters of personal opinion；
and should be arranged by each team according to their joint views。 I only
offer general rules that can be modified to meet the wishes of the
individuals。
Use the lob as a defence； and to give time to extricate yourself and
your partner from a bad position。 The value of service in doubles cannot
be too strongly emphasized since it gives the net to the server。 Service
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should always be held。 To lose service is an unpardonable sin in first…class
doubles。 All shots in doubles should be low or very high。 Do not hit
shoulder…high as it is too easy to kill。 Volley down and hard if possible。
Every shot you make should be made with a definite idea of opening the
court。
Hit down the centre to disrupt the team work of the opposing team； but
hit to the side…lines for your aces。
Pick one man； preferably the weaker of your opponents； and centre
your attack on him and keep it there。 Pound him unmercifully； and in time
he should crack under the attack。 It is very foolish to alternate attack； since
it simply puts both men on their game and tires neither。
If your partner starts badly play safely and surely until he rounds to
form。 Never show annoyance with your partner。 Do not scold him。 He is
doing the best he can； and fighting with him does no good。 Encourage him
at all times and don't worry。 A team that is fighting among themselves has
little time left to play tennis； and after all tennis is the main object of
doubles。
Offer suggestions to your partner at any time during a match； but do
not insist on his following them； and do not get peevish if he doesn't。 He
simply does not agree with you； and he may be right。 Who knows？
Every doubles team should have a leader to direct its play； but that
leader must always be willing to drop leadership for any given point when
his partner has the superior position。 It is policy of attack not type of
stroke that the leader should determine。
Pick a partner and stick to him。 He should be a man you like and want
to play with； and he should want to play with you。 This will do away with
much friction。 His style should not be too nearly your own； since you
double the faults without greatly increasing the virtues。
I am a great believer in a brilliant man teaming up with a steady player。
Let your steady man keep the ball in play； and allow your brilliant man all
the room he wants to 〃poach〃 and kill。 Thus you get the best of both men。
Doubles is a game of finesse more than speed。 The great doubles
players； the Dohertys； Norman E。 Brookes； the greatest in the world to…day；
Roper Barrett； Beals Wright； and F。 B。 Alexander； are all men of subtle
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finesse rather than terrific speed。
It requires more than speed of shot to beat two men over a barrier 3 to
3 1/2 feet high with a distance of some 32 feet。 It is angles； pace； and
accuracy that should be the aim in a great doubles game。 Resource；
versatility； and subtlety； not speed； win doubles matches。
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
PART III： MODERN TENNIS
AND ITS FUTURE
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CHAPTER X。 THE GROWTH OF THE
MODERN GAME
Lawn tennis is the outgrowth of the old French game of the courts of
the early Louis。 It spread to England； where it gained a firm hold on public
favour。 The game divided； the original form being closely adhered to in
the game known in America as 〃Court tennis；〃 but which is called
〃Tennis〃 in England。 Lawn tennis grew out of it。
The old style game was played over a net some 5 feet high； and the
service was always from the same end； the players changing courts each
game。 It was more on the style of the present game of badminton or
battledore and shuttlecock。
Gradually the desire for active play had its effect； in a lowered net and
changed laws； and tennis； as we know it； grew into being。 From its earliest
period； which is deeply shrouded in mystery； came the terms of 〃love〃 for
〃nothing〃 and 〃deuce〃 for 〃40…all。〃 What they meant originally； or how
they gained their hold is unknown； but the terms are a tradition of the
game and just as much a part of the scoring system as the 〃game〃 or 〃set〃
call。
In 1920 the Rules Committee of the American Tennis Association
advocated a change in scoring that replaced love； 15； 30； 40 with the more
comprehensive 1； 2； 3； 4。 The real reason for the proposed change was the
belief that the word 〃love〃 in tennis made the uninitiated consider the
game effeminate and repelled possible supporters。 The loyal adherents of
the old customs of the game proved too strong； and defeated the proposed
change in scoring by an overwhelming majority。
Personally； I think there is some slight claim to consideration for t
