the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第7节
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position。 Do not think that a service and volley will suffice against first…
class tennis。
I am not a believer in the 〃centre〃 theory。 Briefly expressed the centre
theory is to hit down the middle of the court and follow to the net； since
the other player has the smallest angle to pass you。 That is true； but
remember that he has an equal angle on either side and； given good ground
strokes； an equal chance to pass with only your guess or intention to tell
you which side he will choose。
I advise hitting to the side…line with good length and following up to
the net； coming in just to the centre side of the straight returns down the
line。 Thus the natural shot is covered and your opponent's court is opened
for an angle volley 'cross。 Should your opponent try the cross drive； his
chances of beating you clean and keeping the ball in court are much less
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
than his chances of error。
Strive to kill your volleys at once； but should your shot not win； follow
the ball 'cross and again cover the straight shot。 Always force the man
striving to pass you to play the hardest possible shot。
Attack with your volleys。 Never defend the ball when at the net。 The
only defensive volley is one at your feet as you come in。 It is a mid…court
shot。 Volleys should win with placement more than speed； although speed
may be used on a high volley。
Closely related to the volley； yet in no way a volley stroke； is the
overhead smash。 It is the Big Bertha of tennis。 It is the long range terror
that should always score。 The rules of footwork； position； and direction
that govern the volley will suffice for the overhead。 The swing alone is
different。 The swing should be closely allied to the slice service； the
racquet and arm swinging freely from the shoulder； the wrist flexible and
the racquet imparting a slight twist to the ball to hold it in court。 The
overhead is mainly a point winner through speed； since its bounce is so
high that a slow placement often allows time for a recovery。
The overhead is about 60 per cent speed； and 40 per cent combined
place and twist。 Any overhead shot taken on or within the service…line
should be killed。 Any overhead； behind the service…line； and back to the
baseline； should be defended and put back deep to； allow you another
advance to the net。
The average overhead shot that is missed is netted。 Therefore hit deep。
It is a peculiar fact that over 75 per cent of all errors are nets with only 25
per cent outs。 Let this be a constant reminder to you of the fact that all
ground strokes should have a clear margin of safety of some 8 inches to a
foot above the net； except when attempting to pass a very active volleyer。
In the latter case the shot must be low； and the attendant risk is
compensated by the increased chances of winning the point with a pass。
Do not leap in the air unnecessarily to hit overhead balls。 Keep at least
one foot； and when possible both feet； on the ground in smashing； as it
aids in regulating the weight； and gives better balance。 Hit flat and
decisively to the point if desired。
Most missed overhead shots are due to the eye leaving the ball； but a
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
second class of errors are due to lack of confidence that gives a cramped；
half… hearted swing。 Follow through your overhead shot to the limit of
your swing。
The overhead is essentially a doubles shot； because in singles the
chances of passing the net man are greater than lobbing over his head；
while in doubles two men cover the net so easily that the best way to open
the court is to lob one man back。
In smashing； the longest distance is the safest shot since it allows a
greater margin of error。 Therefore smash 'cross court when pressed； but
pull your short lobs either side as determined by the man you are playing。
Never drop a lob you can hit overhead； as it forces you back and gives
the attacking position to your opponent。 Never smash with a reverse twist；
always hit with a straight racquet face and direct to the opening。
Closely connected to the overhead since it is the usual defence to any
hard smash； is the lob。
A lob is a high toss of the ball landing between the service…line and the
baseline。 An excellent lob should be within 6 feet of the baseline。
Lobs are essentially defensive。 The ideas in lobbing are： （1） to give
yourself time to recover position when pulled out of court by your
opponent's shot； （2） to drive back the net man and break up his attack； （3）
to tire your opponent； （4） occasionally to； win cleanly by placement。 This
is usually a lob volley from a close net rally； and is a slightly different
stroke。
There is （1） the chop lob； a heavily under…cut spin that hangs in the air。
This； is the best defensive lob； as it goes high and gives plenty of time to
recover position。 （2） The stroke lob or flat lob； hit with a slight top spin。
This is the point…winning lob since it gives no time to； the player to run
around it； as it is lower and faster than the chop。 In making this lob； start
your swing like a drive； but allow the racquet to slow up and the face to
tilt upward just as you meet the ball。 This； shot should seldom go above 10
feet in the air； since it tends to go out with the float of the ball。
The chop lob； which is a decided under cut； should rise from 20 to 30
feet； or more； high and must go deep。 It is better to lob out and run your
opponent back； thus tiring him； than to lob short and give him confidence
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by an easy kill。 The value of a lob is mainly one of upsetting your
opponent； and its effects are very apparent if you unexpectedly bring off
one at the crucial period of a match。
I owe one of my most notable victories to a very timely and somewhat
lucky lob。 I was playing Norman E。 Brookes in the fifth round of the
American Championships at Forest Hills； in 1919。 The score stood one set
all； 3…2 and 30…15； Brookes serving。 In a series of driving returns from his
forehand to my backhand； he suddenly switched and pounded the ball to
my forehand corner and rushed to the net。 I knew Brookes crowded the net；
and with 40…15 or 30…all at stake on my shot； I took a chance and tossed
the ball up in the air over Brookes' head。 It was not a great lob； but it was a
good one。 For once Brookes was caught napping； expecting a drive down
the line。 He hesitated； then turned and chased the ball to the back stop；
missing it on his return。 I heard him grunt as he turned； and knew that he
was badly winded。 He missed his volley off my return of the next service；
and I led at 30…40。 The final point of the game came when he again threw
me far out of court on my forehand； and； expecting the line drive again；
crowded the net； only to have the ball rise in the air over his head。 He
made a desperate effort at recovery； but failed； and the game was mine： 3…
all。 It proved the turning…point in the match； for it not only tired Brookes；
but it forced him to hang back a little from the net so as to protect his
overhead； so that his net attack weakened opportunely； and I was able to
nose out the match in 4 sets。
Another famous match won by a lob was the Johnston…Kingscote
Davis Cup Match at Wimbledon； in 1920。 The score stood 2 sets all； and
5…3 Kingscote leading with Kingscote serving and the score 30…all。
Johnston served and ran in。 Kingscote drove sharply down Johnston's
forehand side…line。 Johnston made a remarkable recovery with a half
volley； putting the ball high in the air and seemingly outside。 A strong
wind was blowing down the court and caught the ball and held its flight。 It
fell on the baseline。 Kingscote made a remarkable recovery with a fine lob
that
