The Fundamentals of Tennis.

I trust that this initial foray of mine into the world of letters will find a place with both novices and experts in the tennis world. I am striving to interest the student of the game by a somewhat lengthy discussion of match play, which I trust will cast a new light on the game of tennis.

I will turn to the beginner in my opening article and speak of certain matters which are second nature to the experienced tennis player. The best tennis equipment is not much use for the novice even if he really is trying to improve. Nevertheless, one has to purchase good quality; it is a saving eventually, as high quality goods far outlasts poor quality gear.

It is important to always dress in tennis clothes when engaging in tennis. The question of choosing a tennis racquet is a much more serious matter. I do not advocate forcing a certain racquet upon any player. All the standard makes are excellent. It is on the weight, balance, and size of handle that the real value of a racquet frame depends, while good stringing is essential to obtain the best results.

After having selected your racquet, make a firm resolve to use only quality tennis balls, as a regular bounce is a great aid to advancement, while a “dead” ball is of no use at all. If you really want to advance at the game and progress rapidly, I strongly urge you to see all the good tennis you can. Study the play of the leading players and try to emulate their strokes. Read all the tennis instruction books you can find. They are a great help.

Much more tennis can be picked up off the tennis court in the study of theory and in watching the best players in play, than can ever be learned in one’s own actual play. I do not mean that you should miss opportunities to play tennis, far from it. Play tennis whenever you can, but strive when playing to put into practice the theories you have read about or the strokes you have watched.

Never become discouraged by slow progress. The trick of playing some stroke you have worked on for weeks unsuccessfully, will suddenly come to you when you least expect it. Good tennis players are the product of hard work. Very few players are born geniuses at the game. Tennis is a game that pays you interest all your life. A tennis racquet is a letter of introduction in any town.

The fellowship of the game is universal, since none but an athletic sportsman can succeed in the game for any lengthy period of time. Tennis provides relaxation, excitement, exercise, and pure enjoyment to the player who is tied fast to his business until late afternoon.

The order of development that produces the quickest and most lasting results is: a. Concentration on the game. b. Keep the eye on the ball. c. Foot-work and weight-control. d. Strokes. e. Court position. f. Court generalship or match play. g. Tennis psychology.

Concentration. Tennis is played primarily with the mind. The best racquet technique invented will not suffice if the playing mind is wandering. There are many reasons for a wandering mind in a tennis match. The chief one is loss of interest in the game. No one should play tennis with any hope of real success unless he cares enough about the game to be willing to do the spadework necessary to learn the game properly.

Pack it in immediately unless you are willing to work very hard. The weather, conditions of play or the noises in the gallery often bewilder even experienced match-players playing in new surroundings. Utter concentration on the game is the only cure for a wandering mind, and the sooner that lesson is learned the quicker the advancement of the player.

The best way to keep a game in focus is to go for every set, every game in the set, every point in the game and, eventually, every shot in the point. A set is merely a collection of made and missed shots, and the man who misses the least is the ultimate winner.

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