| Footwork is weight control. It is correct body position | | | | All tennis strokes, should be made with the body' at |
| for strokes, and out of it all strokes should grow. In | | | | right angles to the net, with the shoulders lined up |
| explaining the various forms of stroke and footwork I | | | | parallel to the line of flight of the ball. The weight should |
| am writing as a right-hand player. Left-handers should | | | | always travel forward. It should pass from the back |
| simply reverse the feet. Racquet grip is a very | | | | foot to the front foot at the moment of striking the ball. |
| essential part of stroke, because a faulty grip will ruin | | | | Never allow the weight to be going away from the |
| the finest serving. It is a natural grip for a top forehand | | | | stroke. It is weight that determines the "pace" of a |
| drive. It is inherently weak for the backhand, as the | | | | stroke; swing that, decides the "speed." |
| only natural shot is a chop stroke. | | | | Let me explain the definitions of "speed" and "pace." |
| To acquire the forehand grip, hold the racquet with the | | | | "Speed" is the actual rate with which a ball travels |
| edge of the frame towards the ground and the face | | | | through the air. "Pace" is the momentum with which it |
| perpendicular, the handle towards the body, and | | | | comes off the ground. Pace is weight. It is the "sting" |
| "shake hands" with it, just as if you were greeting a | | | | the ball carries when it comes off the ground, giving |
| friend. The handle settled comfortably and naturally into | | | | the inexperienced or unsuspecting player a shock of |
| the hand, the line of the arm, hand, and racquet are | | | | force which the stroke in no way showed. A great |
| one. The swing brings the racquet head on a line with | | | | many players have both "speed" and "pace." Some |
| the arm, and the whole racquet is merely an extension | | | | shots may carry both. |
| of it. | | | | The order of learning strokes should be: |
| The backhand grip is a quarter circle turn of hand on | | | | 1. The Drive. Fore and backhand. This is the foundation |
| the handle, bringing the hand on top of the handle and | | | | of all tennis, for you cannot build up a net attack unless |
| the knuckles directly up. The shot travels ACROSS | | | | you have the ground stroke to open the way. Nor can |
| the wrist. This is the best basis for a grip. I do not | | | | you meet a net attack successfully unless you can |
| advocate learning this grip exactly, but model your | | | | drive, as that is the only successful passing shot. |
| natural grip as closely as possible on these lines | | | | 2. The Service. |
| without sacrificing your own comfort or individuality. | | | | 3. The Volley and Overhead Smash. |
| Having once settled the racquet in the hand, the next | | | | 4. The Chop or Half Volley and other incidental and |
| question is the position of the body and the order of | | | | ornamental strokes. |
| developing strokes. | | | | |