| I trust this initial effort of mine in the world of letters will | | | | Tennis is a game that pays you dividends all your life. |
| find a place among both novices and experts in the | | | | A tennis racquet is a letter of introduction in any town. |
| tennis world. I am striving to interest the student of the | | | | The brotherhood of the game is universal, for none but |
| game by a somewhat prolonged discussion of match | | | | a good sportsman can succeed in the game for any |
| play, which I trust will shed a new light on the game. | | | | lengthy period. Tennis provides relaxation, excitement, |
| May I turn to the novice at my opening and speak of | | | | exercise, and pure enjoyment to the man who is tied |
| certain matters which are second nature to the skilled | | | | hard and fast to his business until late afternoon. Age |
| player? | | | | is not a drawback. The tennis players of the world |
| The best tennis equipment is not too good for the | | | | wrote a magnificent page in the history of the World |
| beginner who seeks really to succeed. It is a saving in | | | | War. No branch of sport sent more men to the |
| the end, as good quality material so far outlasts poor. | | | | colours from every country in the world than tennis, |
| Always dress in tennis clothes when engaging in tennis. | | | | and these men returned with glory or paid the |
| The question of choosing a racquet is a much more | | | | supreme sacrifice on the field of honour. |
| serious matter. I do not advocate forcing a certain | | | | The following order of development produces the |
| racquet upon any player. All the standard makes are | | | | quickest and most lasting results: 1. Concentration on |
| excellent. It is in weight, balance, and size of handle that | | | | the game. 2. Keep the eye on the ball. 3. Foot-work |
| the real value of a racquet frame depends, while good | | | | and weight-control. 4. Strokes. 5. Court position. 6. |
| stringing is, essential to obtain the best results. | | | | Court generalship or match play. 7. Tennis psychology. |
| After you have acquired your racquet, make a firm | | | | Concentration. |
| resolve to use good tennis balls, as a regular bounce is | | | | Tennis is played primarily with the mind. The most |
| a great aid to advancement, while a "dead" ball is no | | | | perfect racquet technique in the world will not suffice if |
| practice at all. | | | | the directing mind is wandering. There are many |
| If you really desire to succeed at the game and | | | | causes of a wandering mind in a tennis match. The |
| advance rapidly, I strongly urge you to see all the good | | | | chief one is lack of interest in the game. No one should |
| tennis you can. Study the play of the leading players | | | | play tennis with an idea of real success unless he |
| and strive to copy their strokes. Read all the tennis | | | | cares sufficiently about the game to be willing to do |
| instruction books you can find. They are a great | | | | the drudgery necessary in learning the game correctly. |
| assistance. | | | | Give it up at once unless you are willing to work. |
| More tennis can be learned off the court, in the study | | | | Conditions of play or the noises in the gallery often |
| of theory, and in watching the best players in action, | | | | confuse and bewilder experienced match-players |
| than can ever be learned in actual play. I do not mean | | | | playing under new surroundings. Complete |
| miss opportunities to play. Far from it. Play whenever | | | | concentration on the matter in hand is the only cure for |
| possible, but strive when playing to put in practice the | | | | a wandering mind, and the sooner the lesson is learned |
| theories you have read or the strokes you have | | | | the more rapid the improvement of the player. |
| watched. | | | | The surest way to hold a match in mind is to play for |
| Never be discouraged at slow progress. The trick | | | | every set, every game in the set, every point in the |
| over some stroke you have worked over for weeks | | | | game and, finally, every shot in the point. A set is |
| unsuccessfully will suddenly come to you when least | | | | merely a conglomeration of made and missed shots, |
| expected. Tennis players are the product of hard | | | | and the man who does not miss is the ultimate victor. |
| work. Very few are born geniuses at the game. | | | | |