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should always be advanced a trifle closer to the side…line than the L so as
to bring the body clear of the swing。 The ball should be met in front of the
right leg； instead of the belt buckle； as the great tendency in backhand
shots is to slice them out of the side…line； and this will pull the ball cross
court； obviating this error。 The racquet head must be slightly in advance of
the hand to aid in bringing the ball in the court。 Do not strive for too much
top spin on your backhand。
I strongly urge that no one should ever favour one department of his
game； in defence of a weakness。 Develop both forehand and backhand；
and do not 〃run around〃 your backhand； particularly in return of service。
To do so merely opens your court。 If you should do so； strive to ace your
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
returns； because a weak effort would only result in a kill by your
opponent。
Do not develop one favourite shot and play nothing but that。 If you
have a fair cross…court drive； do not use it in practice； but strive to develop
an equally fine straight shot。
Remember that the fast shot is the straight shot。 The cross drive must
be slow； for it has not the room owing to the increased angle and height of
the net。 Pass down the line with your drive； but open the court with your
cross…court shot。
Drives should have depth。 The average drive should hit behind the
service…line。 A fine drive should hit within 3 feet of the baseline。 A cross…
court drive should be shorter than a straight drive； so as to increase the
possible angle。 Do not always play one length drive； but learn to vary your
distance according to your man。 You should drive deep against a baseliner；
but short against a net player； striving to drop them at his feet as； he comes
in。
Never allow your opponent to play a shot he likes if you can possibly
force him to one he dislikes。
Again I urge that you play your drive：
1。 With the body sideways to the net。
2。 The swing flat； with long follow through。
3。 The weight shifting just as the ball is hit。
Do not strive for terrific speed at first。 The most essential thing about
a drive is to put the ball in play。 I once heard William A。 Larned remark；
when asked the most important thing in tennis； 〃Put the ball over the net
into the other man's court。〃 Accuracy first； and then put on your speed； for
if your shot is correct you can always learn； to hit hard。
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
CHAPTER III。 SERVICE
Service is the opening gun of tennis。 It is putting the ball in play。 The
old idea was that service should never be more than merely the beginning
of a rally。 With the rise of American tennis and the advent of Dwight
Davis and Holcombe Ward； service took on a new significance。 These two
men originated what is now known as the American Twist delivery。
From a mere formality； service became a point winner。 Slowly it
gained in importance； until Maurice E。 M'Loughlin； the wonderful
〃California Comet；〃 burst across the tennis sky with the first of those
terrific cannon…ball deliveries that revolutionized the game； and caused the
old…school players to send out hurry calls for a severe footfault rule or
some way of stopping the threatened destruction of all ground strokes。
M'Loughlin made service a great factor in the game。 It remained for R。 N。
Williams to supply the antidote that has again put service in the normal
position of mere importance； not omnipotence。 Williams stood in on the
delivery and took it on the rising bound。
Service must be speedy。 Yet speed is not the be…all and end…all。 Service
must be accurate； reliable； and varied。 It must be used with discretion and
served with brains。 I believe perfect service is about 40 per cent placement；
40 per cent speed； and 20 per cent twist。
Any tall player has an advantage over a short one； in service。 Given a
man about 6 feet and allow him the 3 feet added by his reach； it has been
proved by tests that should he deliver a service； perfectly flat； with no
variation caused by twist or wind； that just cleared the net at its lowest
point （3 feet in the centre）； there is only a margin of 8 inches of the service
court in which the ball can possibly fall； the remainder is below the net
angle。 Thus it is easy to see how important it is to use some form of twist
to bring the ball into court。 Not only must it go into court； but it must be
sufficiently speedy that the receiver does not have an opportunity of an
easy kill。 It must also be placed so as to allow the server an advantage for
his next return； admitting the receiver puts the ball in play。
Just as the first law of receiving is to； put the ball in play； so of service
it is to cause the receiver to fall into error。 Do not strive unduly for clean
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
aces； but use your service to upset the ground strokes of your opponent。
There are several style services in vogue in all countries。 The
American twist has become one of the most popular forms of delivery and
as such deserves special treatment。 The usual forms of service are （1） the
slice service； （2） the American twist； （3） the reverse delivery； （4） the
〃cannon ball〃 or flat serve。
The slice service is the easiest and most natural form for all beginners；
and proves so effective that many great players use it。 It is the service of
William M。 Johnston； A。 R。 F。 Kingscote； Norman E。 Brookes； and many
others。
Service should be hit from as high a point as the server can
COMFORTABLY reach。 To stretch unnecessarily is both wearing on the
server and unproductive of results。
The slice service should be hit from a point above the right shoulder
and as high as possible。 The server should stand at about a forty…five
degree angle to the baseline； with both feet firmly planted on the ground。
Drop the weight back on the right foot and swing the racquet freely and
easily behind the back。 Toss the ball high enough into the air to ensure it
passing through the desired hitting plane； and then start a slow shift of the
weight for