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The Art of Lawn Tennis

Chapter 9 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SINGLES AND DOUBLES

Word Count: 1688    |    Released on: 28/11/2017

s in this phase of the game that the personal equation reaches its crest

e former a famous Harvard University football and baseball player, the latter a football star at Princeton, both of whom are famous tenni

dependent upon you, you can afford to risk error for the possibility of speedy victory. Much of what I wrote under match play is mo

relations that show the idiosyncrasies of each player far more acutely than doubles. The spectator

ubles. Go out for your shot in singles whenever there is a reasonable chance of getting it. Hit harde

F. Wilding, M. E. M'Loughlin, or Gerald Patterson of playing great doubles? All these men are wonderful singles players, playing singles on a double court alongside some suffering partner. The daring that makes for a great singles player is an eternal appeal to a gallery. None of the notable doubles players, who have little

imagination, doubles a

eader definition. I only used that so as not to be accu

a certain type of team work dependent wholly upon individual brilliancy. Where both players are in the same class, a team is as strong as its weakest player at any given time, for here it is even team work with an equal division of the court that should be

ble in doubles. The return of service should be certain. After that it should be low and to the server coming in. Do

one is the Australian formation with the receiver's partner standing in to volley the server's return volley; the other is the English and American style with both men back, thus giving the net att

side of the court) whenever you see a chance to score. Never poach unless you go for the kill. It is a win or nothing

striving to attain the net all the time every shot should be built up with that i

entre of the court, thus covering the shot between the men. If the next return goes to the other side, the two men reverse positions. The theory of

em to drop gives the net to the other team. The only time for the partner to protect the overhead is when the net ma

step in and hit decisively. The matter of overhead balls, crossing under them, and such incidentals of team work are matters of personal opinion, and

nce it gives the net to the server. Service should always be held. To lose service is an unpardonable sin in first-class doubles. All shots in doubles should be low or ver

team work of the opposing team; but

p it there. Pound him unmercifully, and in time he should crack under the attack. It is very

scold him. He is doing the best he can, and fighting with him does no good. Encourage him at all times and don't worry. A te

not insist on his following them, and do not get peevish if he doesn'

ys be willing to drop leadership for any given point when his partner has the superio

should want to play with you. This will do away with much friction. His style should not

Let your steady man keep the ball in play, and allow your brilliant man al

tys, Norman E. Brookes, the greatest in the world to-day, Roper Barrett, Beals Wri

th a distance of some 32 feet. It is angles, pace, and accuracy that should be the aim in

DERN TENNIS

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