the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第6章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
… Page 27…
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
27
… Page 28…
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
28
… Page 29…
THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
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 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。
29
… Page 30…
THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
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。
30
… Page 31…
THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
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。
Wa
