the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第8节
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fell on the baseline。 Kingscote made a remarkable recovery with a fine lob
that forced Johnston back。 Kingscote took the net and volleyed decisively
to Johnston's backhand。 Johnston again lobbed； and by a freak of
coincidence the ball fell on the baseline within a foot of his previous shot。
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Kingscote again lobbed in return； but this time short； and Johnston killed it。
Johnston ran out the game in the next two points。
If a shot can win two such matches as these； it is a shot worth
learning to use； and knowing when to use。 The lob is one of the most
useful and skilful shots in tennis。 It is a great defence and a fine attack。
The strokes already analysed； drive； service； volley； overhead and lob；
are the orthodox strokes of tennis； and should be at every player's
command。 These are the framework of your game。 Yet no house is
complete with framework alone。 There are certain trimmings； ornaments；
and decorations necessary。 There are the luxuries of modern improvements；
and tennis boasts of such improvements in the modern game。
Among the luxuries； some say the eccentricities； of the modern game
one finds （1） the chop stroke； （2） the slice stroke （a close relative）； （3） the
drop shot； （4） the half…volley or 〃trap〃 shot。
All these shots have their use。 None should be considered a stock shot。
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CHAPTER V。 CHOP； HALF VOLLEY； AND
COURT POSITION
I am called at times a chop…stroke player。 I SELDOM CHOP。 My
stroke is a slice。
A chop stroke is a shot where the angle towards the player and behind
the racquet； made by the line of flight of the ball； and the racquet
travelling down across it； is greater than 45 degrees and may be 90 degrees。
The racquet face passes slightly OUTSIDE the ball and down the side；
chopping it； as a man chops wood。 The spin and curve is from right to left。
It is made with a stiff wrist。 Irving C。 Wright； brother of the famous Beals；
is a true chop player； while Beals himself； being a left… hander； chopped
from the left court and sliced from the right。
The slice shot merely reduced the angle mentioned from 45 degrees
down to a very small one。 The racquet face passes either INSIDE or
OUTSIDE the ball； according to direction desired； while the stroke is
mainly a wrist twist or slap。 This slap imparts a decided skidding break to
the ball； while a chop 〃drags〃 the ball off the ground without break。
Wallace F。 Johnson is the greatest slice exponent in the world。
The rules of footwork for both these shots should be the same as the
drive； but because both are made with a short swing and more wrist play；
without the need of weight； the rules of footwork may be more safely
discarded and body position not so carefully considered。
Both these shots are essentially defensive； and are labour…saving
devices when your opponent is on the baseline。 A chop or slice is very
hard to drive； and will break up any driving game。
It is not a shot to use against a volley； as it is too slow to pass and too
high to cause any worry。 It should be used to drop short； soft shots at the
feet of the net man as he comes in。 Do not strive to pass a net man with a
chop or slice； except through a big opening。
The drop…shot is a very soft； sharply…angled chop stroke； played
wholly with the wrist。 It should drop within 3 to 5 feet of the net to be of
any use。 The racquet face passes around the outside of the ball and under it
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with a distinct 〃wrist turn。〃 Do not swing the racquet from the shoulder in
making a drop shot。 The drop shot has no relation to a stop…volley。 The
drop shot is all wrist。 The stop…volley has no wrist at all。
Use all your wrist shots； chop； slice； and drop； merely as an auxilliary
to your orthodox game。 They are intended to upset your opponent's game
through the varied spin on the ball。
THE HALF VOLLEY
I have now reached the climax of tennis skill： the half volley or trap
shot。 In other words； the pick…up。
This shot requires more perfect timing； eyesight； and racquet work
than any other； since its margin of safety is smallest and its manifold
chances of mishaps numberless。
It is a pick…up。 The ball meets the ground and racquet face at nearly the
same moment； the ball bouncing off the ground； on the strings。 This shot is
a stiff…wrist； short swing； like a volley with no follow through。 The racquet
face travels along the ground with a slight tilt over the ball and towards the
net； thus holding the ball low； the shot； like all others in tennis； should
travel across the racquet face； along the short strings。 The racquet face
should always be slightly outside the ball。
The half volley is essentially a defensive stroke； since it should only be
made as a last resort； when caught out of position by your opponent's shot。
It is a desperate attempt to extricate yourself from a dangerous position
without retreating。 NEVER DELIBERATELY HALF VOLLEY。
Notwithstanding these truths； there are certain players who have
turned the half volley into a point winner。 The greatest half volleyer of the
past decadein fact； one of the greatest tennis geniuses of the world
George Caridia； used the stroke successfully as a point winner。 R。 N。
Williams； the leading exponent of the stroke in the present day； achieves
remarkable results with it。 Major A。 R。 F。 Kingscote wins many a point；
seemingly lost； by his phenomenal half…volley returns； particularly from
the baseline。 These men turn a defence into an attack； and it pays。
So much for the actual strokes of the game。 It is in the other
departments such as generalship and psychology that matches are won。
Just a few suggestions as to stroke technique； and I will close this section。
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Always play your shot with a fixed； definite idea of what you are
doing and where it is going。 Never hit haphazard。
Play all shots across the short strings of the racquet； with the racquet
head and handle on the same hitting plane for ground strokes and the head
above the handle for volleys。 The racquet head should be advanced
slightly beyond the wrist for ground strokes。
COURT POSITION
A tennis court is 39 feet long from baseline to net。 Most players think
all of that territory is a correct place to stand。 Nothing could be farther
from the truth。 There are only two places in a tennis court that a tennis
player should be to await the ball。
1。 About 3 feet behind the baseline near the middle of the court； or
2。 About 6 to 8 feet back from the net and almost opposite the ball。
The first is the place for all baseline players。 The second is the net
position。
If you are drawn out of these positions by a shot which you must
return； do not remain at the point where you struck the ball； but attain one
of the two positions mentioned as rapidly as possible。
The distance from the baseline to about 10； feet from the net may be
considered as 〃no…man's…land〃 or 〃the blank。〃 Never linger there； since a
deep shot will catch you at your feet。 After making your shot from the
blank； as you must often do； retreat behind the baseline to await the return；
so you may again come forward to meet the ball。 If you are drawn in short
and cannot retreat safely； continue all the way to the net position。
Never stand and watch your shot； for to do so simply means you are
out of position for your next stroke。 Strive to attain a position so that you
al
