the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第4节
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The Eastern American grip； which I advocate； is the English grip
without the low wrist and broken line。 To acquire the forehand grip； hold
the racquet with the edge of the frame towards the ground and the face
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perpendicular； the handle towards the body； and 〃shake hands〃 with it； just
as if you were greeting a friend。 The handle settled comfortably and
naturally into the hand； the line of the arm； hand； and racquet are one。 The
swing brings the racquet head on a line with the arm； and the whole
racquet is merely an extension of it。
The backhand grip is a quarter circle turn of hand on the handle；
bringing the hand on top of the handle and the knuckles directly up。 The
shot travels ACROSS the wrist。
This is the best basis for a grip。 I do not advocate learning this grip
exactly； but model your natural grip as closely as possible on these lines
without sacrificing your own comfort or individuality。
Having once settled the racquet in the hand； the next question is the
position of the body and the order of developing strokes。
In explaining footwork I am； in future； going to refer in all forehand
shots to the right foot as R or 〃back〃 foot； and to the left as L or 〃front。〃
For the backhand the L foot is 〃back〃 and R is 〃front。〃
All tennis strokes； should be made with the body' at right angles to the
net； with the shoulders lined up parallel to the line of flight of the ball。 The
weight should always travel forward。 It should pass from the back foot to
the front foot at the moment of striking the ball。 Never allow the weight to
be going away from the stroke。 It is weight that determines the 〃pace〃 of a
stroke； swing that； decides the 〃speed。〃
Let me explain the definitions of 〃speed〃 and 〃pace。〃 〃Speed〃 is the
actual rate with which a ball travels through the air。 〃Pace〃 is the
momentum with which it comes off the ground。 Pace is weight。 It is the
〃sting〃 the ball carries when it comes off the ground； giving the
inexperienced or unsuspecting player a shock of force which the stroke in
no way showed。
Notable examples of 〃pace〃 are such men as W。 A。 Larned； A。 W。 Gore；
J。 C。 Parke； and among the younger players； R。 N。 Williams； Major A。 R。 F。
Kingscote； W。 M。 Johnston； and； on his forehand stroke； Charles S。
Garland。
M。 E。 M'Loughlin； Willis E。 Davis； Harold Throckmorton and several
others are famous 〃speed〃 exponents。
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A great many players have both 〃speed〃 and 〃pace。〃 Some shots may
carry both。
The order of learning strokes should be：
1。 The Drive。 Fore… and backhand。 This is the foundation of all tennis；
for you cannot build up a net attack unless you have the ground stroke to
open the way。 Nor can you meet a net attack successfully unless you can
drive； as that is the only successful passing shot。
2。 The Service。
3。 The Volley and Overhead Smash。
4。 The Chop or Half Volley and other incidental and ornamental
strokes。
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CHAPTER II。 THE DRIVE
The forehand drive is the opening of every offensive in tennis； and； as
such； should be most carefully studied。 There are certain rules of footwork
that apply to all shots。 To reach a ball that is a short distance away；
advance the foot that is away from the shot and thus swing into position to
hit。 If a ball is too close to the body； retreat the foot closest to the shot and
drop the weight back on it； thus； again； being in position for the stroke。
When hurried； and it is not possible to change the foot position； throw the
weight on the foot closest to the ball。
The receiver should always await the service facing the net； but once
the serve is started on the way to court； the receiver should at once attain
the position to receive it with the body at right angles to the net。
The forehand drive is made up of one continuous swing of the racquet
that； for the purpose of analysis； may be divided into three parts：
1。 The portion of the swing behind the body； which determines the
speed of the stroke。
2。 That portion immediately in front of the body which determines the
direction and； in conjunction with weight shift from one foot to the other；
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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returns； because a weak effort would only result in a kill by your
opponent。
Do not develop one
