the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第9节
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out of position for your next stroke。 Strive to attain a position so that you
always arrive at the spot the ball is going to before it actually arrives。 Do
your hard running while the ball is in the air； so you will not be hurried in
your stroke after it bounces。
It is in learning to do this that natural anticipation plays a big role。
Some players instinctively know where the next return is going and take
position accordingly； while others will never sense it。 It is to the latter
class that I urge court position； and recommend always coming in from
behind the baseline to meet the ball； since it is much easier to run forward
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than back。
Should you be caught at the net； with a short shot to your opponent； do
not stand still and let him pass you at will； as he can easily do。 Pick out the
side where you think he will hit； and jump to； it suddenly as he swings。 If
you guess right； you win the point。 If you are wrong； you are no worse off；
since he would have beaten you anyway with his shot。
A notable example of this method of anticipation is Norman E。
Brookes； who instinctively senses the stroke； and suddenly bobs up in
front of your best shot and kills it。 Some may say it is luck； but； to my
mind； it is the reward of brain work。
Your position should always strive to be such that you can cover the
greatest possible area of court without sacrificing safety； since the straight
shot is the surest； most dangerous； and must be covered。 It is merely a
question of how much more court than that immediately in front of the
ball may be guarded。
A well…grounded knowledge of court position saves many points； to
say nothing of much breath expended in long runs after hopeless shots。
It is the phenomenal knowledge of court position that allows A。 R。 F。
Kingscote； a very short man； to attack so consistently from the net。
Wallace F。 Johnson is seldom caught out of position； so his game is one of
extreme ease。 One seldom sees Johnson running hard on a tennis court。 He
is usually there awaiting the ball's arrival。
Save your steps by using your head。 It pays in the end。 Time spent in
learning where to play on a tennis court is well expended； since it returns
to you in the form of matches won； breath saved； and energy conserved。
It is seldom you need cover more than two…thirds of a tennis court； so
why worry about the unnecessary portions of it？
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PART II： THE LAWS OF TENNIS
PSYCHOLOGY
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CHAPTER VI。 GENERAL TENNIS
PSYCHOLOGY
Tennis psychology is nothing more than understanding the workings of
your opponent's mind； and gauging the effect of your own game on his
mental viewpoint； and understanding the mental effects resulting from the
various external causes on your own mind。 You cannot be a successful
psychologist of others without first understanding your own mental
processes； you must study the effect on yourself of the same happening
under different circumstances。 You react differently in different moods and
under different conditions。 You must realize the effect on your game of the
resulting irritation； pleasure； confusion； or whatever form your reaction
takes。 Does it increase your efficiency？ If so； strive for it； but never give it
to your opponent。
Does it deprive you of concentration？ If so； either remove the cause； or
if that is not possible strive to ignore it。
Once you have judged accurately your own reaction to conditions；
study your opponents； to decide their temperaments。 Like temperaments
react similarly； and you may judge men of your own type by yourself。
Opposite temperaments you must seek to compare with people whose
reactions you know。
A person who can control his own mental processes stands an
excellent chance of reading those of another； for the human mind works
along definite lines of thought； and can be studied。 One can only control
one's； mental processes after carefully studying them。
A steady phlegmatic baseline player is seldom a keen thinker。 If he
was he would not adhere to the baseline。
The physical appearance of a man is usually a pretty clear index to his
type of mind。 The stolid； easy…going man； who usually advocates the
baseline game； does so because he hates to stir up his torpid mind to think
out a safe method of reaching the net。 There is the other type of baseline
player； who prefers to remain on the back of the court while directing an
attack intended to break up your game。 He is a very dangerous player； and
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a deep； keen… thinking antagonist。 He achieves his results by mixing up his
length and direction； and worrying you with the variety of his game。 He is
a good psychologist。 Such players include J。 C。 Parke； Wallace F。 Johnson；
and Charles S。 Garland。 The first type of player mentioned merely hits the
ball with little idea of what he is doing； while the latter always has a
definite plan and adheres to it。 The hard…hitting； erratic； net…rushing player
is a creature of impulse。 There is no real system to his attack； no
understanding of your game。 He will make brilliant coups on the spur of
the moment； largely by instinct； but there is no； mental power of consistent
thinking。 It is an interesting； fascinating type。 Such men as Harold
Throckmorton； B。 I。 C。 Norton； and at times R。 N。 Williams； are examples；
although Williams is really a better psychologist than this sounds。
The dangerous man is the player who mixes his style from back to fore
court at the direction of an ever…alert mind。 This is the man to study and
learn from。 He is a player with a definite purpose。 A player who has an
answer to every query you propound him in your game。 He is the most
subtle antagonist in the world。 He is of the school of Brookes。 Second only
to him is the man of dogged determination that sets his mind on one plan
and adheres to it； bitterly； fiercely fighting to the end； with never a thought
of change。 He is the man whose psychology is easy to understand； but
whose mental viewpoint is hard to upset； for he never allows himself to
think of anything except the business at hand。 This man is your Johnston
or your Wilding。 I respect the mental capacity of Brookes more； but I
admire the tenacity of purpose of Johnston。
Pick out your type from your own mental processes； and then work out
your game along the lines best suited to you。 Few of us have the mental
brilliance of Brookes； but all can acquire the dogged determination of
Johnston； even if we have not his tennis ability。
When two men are； in the same class； as regards stroke equipment； the
determining factor in any given match is the mental viewpoint。 Luck； so…
called； is often grasping the psychological value of a break in the game；
and turning it to your own account。
We hear a great deal about the 〃shots we have made。〃 Few realize the
importance of the 〃shots we have missed。〃 The science of missing shots is
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as important as that of making them； and at times a miss by an inch is of
more value than a； return that is killed by your opponent。
Let me explain。 A player drives you far out of court with an angle…shot。
You run hard to it； and reaching； drive it hard and fast down the side… line；
missing it by an inch。 Your opponent is surprised and shaken； realizing
that your shot might as well have gone in as out。 He will expect you to try
it again； and will not take the risk next time。 He will try to play the ball；
and may fall into error。 You have thus taken som
