the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第6节
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uncertain。 There is little opportunity to follow it to the net。
The 〃cannon…ball〃 service is nothing but a slice as regards swing and
stance； but it is hit with a flat racquet face； thus imparting no spin to the
ball。 It is a case of speed alone。 This service is a point winner when it goes
in； but its average must necessarily be poor since its margin of error is so
small。 It is only useful to a tall man。
Varied pace and varied speed is the keynote to a good service。 I spent
hours in serving alone； striving to disguise the twist and pace of the ball。 I
would take a box of a dozen balls out on the court and serve the whole
dozen to No。 1 court with one style of delivery。 Then； crossing； I would
serve them back with another type of service。 Next； I would try the left
court from both sides。 My next move would be to pick out a certain
section of the service court； and serve for that until I could put the ball
where I wanted it。 Finally； I would strive to put it there with speed。
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
All the time spent in this practice has stood me in good stead； for to…
day it is my service that pulls me out of many a deep hole； and causes
many a player to wish he was delivering the ball。 William M。 Johnston； the
American Champion； has a remarkable service for so short a man。 He
times his stroke perfectly； and hits it at the top of his reach； so that he gets
the full benefit of every inch of his stature and every pound of his weight。
He uses the slice delivery in the majority of matches。
Do not try freak services。 They are useless against high…class players。
Sharp breaking underhand cuts can be easily angled off for points by a
man who knows anything of the angles and effects of twist。 These
deliveries are affectation if used more than once or twice in a long match。
A sudden shift may surprise your opponent； but to continue to serve these
freaks is to destroy their use。
Mishu； the Rumanian star； has many very peculiar deliveries； but；
when playing against high…class tennis； he has brains enough to use a
straight service。 The freak services delight and yet annoy a gallery； for
once the novelty has worn off； nothing but the conceit remains。
The object of service is to obtain the maximum return with the
minimum effort。 This statement holds true for all tennis strokes； but in
none so strongly as in service。
The average player hits； his first service so hard； and with so little
regard for direction； that about nine out of ten first deliveries are faults。
Thus； one half your chances are thrown away； and the chance of double
faulting increased proportionately。
There is a well…known tennis saying to the effect that one fault is a
mistake； but two faults are a crimethat sums up the idea of service
adequately。 A player should always strive to put his first delivery in court。
In the first place it is apt to catch your opponent napping； as he half
expects a fault。 Secondly； it conserves your energy by removing the need
of a second delivery； which； in a long five…set match； is an item of such
importance that it may mean victory or defeat。
I urge all players to put their service into court with just as much speed
as they can be sure of； but to serve both deliveries at about the same speed。
Do not slog the first ball and pat the second； but hit both with average
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
pace。
Try for service aces whenever reasonable； but never do so at the risk of
double faulting。 The first ball is the ball to ace。 The second should never
be risked。 Your aces must at least equal your double faults； or your service
is a handicap and not an advantage。
The importance of service in doubles is more pronounced than in
singles as regards holding it； but the need for individual brilliancy is not so
great； as you have a partner already at the net to kill off any weak returns。
Service is an attack； and a successful attack should never break down。
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
CHAPTER IV。 THE VOLLEY AND OVERHEAD
SMASH
The net attack is the heavy artillery of tennis。 It is supposed to crush
all defence。 As such it must be regarded as a point…winning stroke at all
times； no matter whether the shot is volley or smash。
Once at the net hit from the point at the first opportunity given to get
the racquet squarely on the ball。 All the laws of footwork explained for the
drive are theoretically the same in volleying。 In practice you seldom have
time to change your feet to a set position； so you obviate trouble by
throwing the weight on the foot nearest to the ball and pushing it in the
shot。
Volleys are of two classes： （1） the low volley； made from below the
waist； and （2） the high volley； from the waist to the head。 In
contradistinction to the hitting plane classification are the two styles
known as （1） the deep volley and （2） the stop volley。
All low volleys are blocked。 High volleys may be either blocked or hit。
Volleys should never be stroked。 There is no follow through on a low
volley and very little on a high one。
You will hear much talk of 〃chop〃 volleys。 A chop stroke is one where
the racquet travels from above the line of flight of the ball； down and
through it； and the angle made behind the racquet is greater than 45
degrees； and many approach 90 degrees。 Therefore I say that no volleys
should be chopped； for the tendency is to pop the ball up in the air off any
chop。 Slice volleys if you want to； or hit them flat； for both these shots are
made at a very small angle to the flight…line of the ball； the racquet face
travelling almost along its plane。
In all volleys； high or low； the wrist should be locked and absolutely
stiff。 It should always be below the racquet head； thus bracing the racquet
against the impact of the ball。 Allow the force of the incoming shot； plus
your own weight； to return the ball； and do not strive to 〃wrist〃 it over。
The tilted racquet face will give any required angle to the return by
glancing the ball off the strings； so no wrist turn is needed。
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Low volleys can never be hit hard； and owing to the height of the net
should usually be sharply angled； to allow distance for the rise。 Any ball
met at a higher plane than the top of the net may be hit hard。 The stroke
should be crisp； snappy； and decisive； but it should stop as it meets the ball。
The follow through should be very small。 Most low volleys should be soft
and short。 Most high volleys require speed and length。
The 〃stop〃 volley is nothing more than a shot blocked short。 There is
no force used。 The racquet simply meets the oncoming ball and stops it。
The ball rebounds and falls of its own weight。 There is little bounce to
such a shot； and that may be reduced by allowing the racquet to slide
slightly under the ball at the moment of impact； thus imparting back spin
to the ball。
Volleying is a science based on the old geometric axiom that a straight
line is the shortest distance between two points。 I mean that a volleyer
must always cover the straight passing shot since it is the shortest shot
with which to pass him； and he must volley straight to his opening and not
waste time trying freakish curving volleys that give the base… liner time to
recover。 It is Johnston's great straight volley that makes him such a
dangerous net man。 He is always 〃punching〃 his volley straight and hard
to the opening in his opponent's court。
A net player must have ground strokes in order to attain the net
position。 Do not think that a service and volley will suffice against first…
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