| The forehand drive is the opening of every offensive | | | | footwork as if this imaginary line were the side-line. In |
| in tennis, and, as such, should be most carefully studied. | | | | other words, line up your body along your shot and |
| There are certain rules of footwork that apply to all | | | | make your regular drive. Do not try to "spoon" the ball |
| shots. To reach a ball that is a short distance away, | | | | over with a delayed wrist motion, as it tends to slide |
| advance the foot that is away from the shot and thus | | | | the ball off your racquet. |
| swing into position to hit. If a ball is too close to the | | | | All drives should be made with a stiff, locked wrist. |
| body, retreat the foot closest to the shot and drop the | | | | There is no wrist movement in a true drive. Top spin is |
| weight back on it, thus, again, being in position for the | | | | imparted by the arm, not the wrist. |
| stroke. When hurried, and it is not possible to change | | | | The backhand drive follows closely the principles of |
| the foot position, throw the weight on the foot closest | | | | the forehand, except that the weight shifts a moment |
| to the ball. | | | | sooner, and the R or front foot should always be |
| The receiver should always await the service facing | | | | advanced a trifle closer to the side-line than the L so |
| the net, but once the serve is started on the way to | | | | as to bring the body clear of the swing. The ball should |
| court, the receiver should at once attain the position to | | | | be met in front of the right leg, instead of the belt |
| receive it with the body at right angles to the net. | | | | buckle, as the great tendency in backhand shots is to |
| The forehand drive is made up of one continuous | | | | slice them out of the side-line, and this will pull the ball |
| swing of the racquet that, for the purpose of analysis, | | | | cross court, obviating this error. The racquet head |
| may be divided into three parts: | | | | must be slightly in advance of the hand to aid in |
| 1. The portion of the swing behind the body, which | | | | bringing the ball in the court. Do not strive for too much |
| determines the speed of the stroke. | | | | top spin on your backhand. |
| 2. That portion immediately in front of the body which | | | | I strongly urge that no one should ever favour one |
| determines the direction and, in conjunction with weight | | | | department of his game, in defence of a weakness. |
| shift from one foot to the other, the pace of the shot. | | | | Develop both forehand and backhand, and do not "run |
| 3. The portion beyond the body, comparable to the | | | | around" your backhand, particularly in return of service. |
| golfer's "follow through," determines spin, top or slice, | | | | To do so merely opens your court. If you should do so, |
| imparted to the ball. | | | | strive to ace your returns, because a weak effort |
| All drives should be topped. The slice shot is a totally | | | | would only result in a kill by your opponent. |
| different stroke. | | | | Do not develop one favourite shot and play nothing but |
| To drive straight down the side-line, construct in theory | | | | that. If you have a fair cross-court drive, do not use it |
| a parallelogram with two sides made up of the side-line | | | | in practice, but strive to develop an equally fine straight |
| and your shoulders, and the two ends, the lines of your | | | | shot. |
| feet, which should, if extended, form the right angles | | | | Remember that the fast shot is the straight shot. The |
| with the side-lines. Meet the ball at a point about 4 to 4 | | | | cross drive must be slow, for it has not the room |
| 1/2 feet from the body immediately in front of the belt | | | | owing to the increased angle and height of the net. |
| buckle, and shift the weight from the back to the front | | | | Pass down the line with your drive, but open the court |
| foot at the MOMENT OF STRIKING THE BALL. The | | | | with your cross-court shot. |
| swing of the racquet should be flat and straight | | | | Drives should have depth. The average drive should hit |
| through. The racquet head should be on a line with the | | | | behind the service-line. A fine drive should hit within 3 |
| hand, or, if anything, slightly in advance; the whole arm | | | | feet of the baseline. A cross-court drive should be |
| and the racquet should turn slightly over the ball as it | | | | shorter than a straight drive, so as to increase the |
| leaves the racquet face and the stroke continue to the | | | | possible angle. Do not always play one length drive, but |
| limit of the swing, thus imparting top spin to the ball. | | | | learn to vary your distance according to your man. |
| The hitting plane for all ground strokes should be | | | | You should drive deep against a baseliner, but short |
| between the knees and shoulders. The most | | | | against a net player, striving to drop them at his feet |
| favourable plane is on a line with the waist. | | | | as, he comes in. |
| Never step away from the ball in driving cross court. | | | | Never allow your opponent to play a shot he likes if |
| always throw your weight in the shot. | | | | you can possibly force him to one he dislikes. |
| The forehand drive from the left court is identically the | | | | Again I urge that you play your drive: 1. With the body |
| same for the straight shot down your opponent's | | | | sideways to the net. 2. The swing flat, with long follow |
| forehand. For the cross drive to his backhand, you | | | | through. 3. The weight shifting just as the ball is hit. |
| must conceive of a diagonal line from your backhand | | | | To read about tennis racquets and the history of |
| corner to his, and thus make your stroke with the | | | | tennis, visit the Tennis Rules website. |