Tennis. How to.

I trust this initial effort of mine in the world of letters will discover a spot among both novices and authorities in the tennis world. I'm striving to interest the student of your game by a somewhat prolonged discussion of match play, which I trust will shed a new light on the game.

May I turn towards the novice at my opening and speak of certain matters which are second nature towards the skilled player?

The very best tennis equipment is not too good towards the beginner who seeks extremely to succeed. It is a saving in the end, as good quality materials so far outlasts poor.

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

After you have acquired your racquet, make a firm resolve to use good tennis balls, as a regular bounce is a terrific aid to advancement, while a "dead" ball is no practice at all.

Whenever you highly desire to succeed at the game and advance rapidly, I strongly urge you to see all the good tennis you can. Study the play of your leading players and strive to copy their strokes. Read all the tennis instruction books you can locate. These are an excellent assistance.

More tennis can be learned off the court, in the study of theory, and in watching the very best players in action, than can ever be learned in actual play. I tend not to mean miss opportunities to play. Far from it. Play whenever possible, but strive when playing to put in practice the theories you have read or the strokes you have watched.

Never be discouraged at slow progress. The trick over some stroke you have worked over for weeks unsuccessfully will suddenly come to you when least expected. Tennis players are the product of challenging perform. Quite few are born geniuses at the game.

Tennis is a game that pays you dividends all your lifestyle. A tennis racquet is a letter of introduction in any town. The brotherhood of your game is universal, for none but a good sportsman can succeed in the game for any lengthy period. Tennis gives relaxation, excitement, exercise, and pure enjoyment for the man who is tied challenging and fast to his business until late afternoon. Age is not a drawback. The tennis players of your world wrote a magnificent page in the history of your World War. No branch of sport sent more men for the colors from every country in the world than tennis, and these men returned with glory or paid the supreme sacrifice on the field of honour.

The following order of development produces the quickest and most lasting results:

1. Concentration on the game.

2. Keep the eye on the ball.

3. Foot-work and weight-control.

4. Strokes.

5. Court position.

6. Court generalship or match play.

7. Tennis psychology.

concentration.

Tennis is played mainly with the mind. The most best racquet program in the world will not suffice if the directing mind is wandering. There are numerous causes of a wandering mind within a tennis match. The chief one is lack of interest in the game. No one should play tennis with an idea of real success unless he cares sufficiently about the game to become willing to do the drudgery necessary in learning the game properly. Provide it up at once unless you are willing to operate. Conditions of play or the noises in the gallery often confuse and bewilder experienced match-players playing under new surroundings. Total concentration on the matter in hand is the only cure for a wandering mind, and the sooner the lesson is learned the more rapid the improvement of one's player.

The surest way to hold a match in mind is to play for every set, every game in the set, every issue in the game and, finally, every shot in the issue. A set is merely a conglomeration of created and missed shots, and the man who does not miss is the ultimate victor.