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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
pace。
Try for service aces whenever reasonable； but never do so at the risk of
double faulting。 The first ball is the ball to ace。 The second should never
be risked。 Your aces must at least equal your double faults； or your service
is a handicap and not an advantage。
The importance of service in doubles is more pronounced than in
singles as regards holding it； but the need for individual brilliancy is not so
great； as you have a partner already at the net to kill off any weak returns。
Service is an attack； and a successful attack should never break down。
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
CHAPTER IV。 THE VOLLEY AND OVERHEAD
SMASH
The net attack is the heavy artillery of tennis。 It is supposed to crush
all defence。 As such it must be regarded as a point…winning stroke at all
times； no matter whether the shot is volley or smash。
Once at the net hit from the point at the first opportunity given to get
the racquet squarely on the ball。 All the laws of footwork explained for the
drive are theoretically the same in volleying。 In practice you seldom have
time to change your feet to a set position； so you obviate trouble by
throwing the weight on the foot nearest to the ball and pushing it in the
shot。
Volleys are of two classes： （1） the low volley； made from below the
waist； and （2） the high volley； from the waist to the head。 In
contradistinction to the hitting plane classification are the two styles
known as （1） the deep volley and （2） the stop volley。
All low volleys are blocked。 High volleys may be either blocked or hit。
Volleys should never be stroked。 There is no follow through on a low
volley and very little on a high one。
You will hear much talk of 〃chop〃 volleys。 A chop stroke is one where
the racquet travels from above the line of flight of the ball； down and
through it； and the angle made behind the racquet is greater than 45
degrees； and many approach 90 degrees。 Therefore I say that no volleys
should be chopped； for the tendency is to pop the ball up in the air off any
chop。 Slice volleys if you want to； or hit them flat； for both these shots are
made at a very small angle to the flight…line of the ball； the racquet face
travelling almost along its plane。
In all volleys； high or low； the wrist should be locked and absolutely
stiff。 It should always be below the racquet head； thus bracing the racquet
against the impact of the ball。 Allow the force of the incoming shot； plus
your own weight； to return the ball； and do not strive to 〃wrist〃 it over。
The tilted racquet face will give any required angle to the return by
glancing the ball off the strings； so no wrist turn is needed。
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
Low volleys can never be hit hard； and owing to the height of the net
should usually be sharply angled； to allow distance for the rise。 Any ball
met at a higher plane than the top of the net may be hit hard。 The stroke
should be crisp； snappy； and decisive； but it should stop as it meets the ball。
The follow through should be very small。 Most low volleys should be soft
and short。 Most high volleys require speed and length。
The 〃stop〃 volley is nothing more than a shot blocked short。 There is
no force used。 The racquet simply meets the oncoming ball and stops it。
The ball rebounds and falls of its own weight。 There is little bounce to
such a shot； and that may be reduced by allowing the racquet to slide
slightly under the ball at the moment of impact； thus imparting back spin
to the ball。
Volleying is a science based on the old geometric axiom that a straight
line is the shortest distance between two points。 I mean that a volleyer
must always cover the straight passing shot since it is the shortest shot
with which to pass him； and he must volley straight to his opening and not
waste time trying freakish curving volleys that give the base… liner time to
recover。 It is Johnston's great straight volley that makes him such a
dangerous net man。 He is always 〃punching〃 his volley straight and hard
to the opening in his opponent's court。
A net player must have ground strokes in order to attain the net
position。 Do not think that a service and volley will suffice against first…
class tennis。
I am not a believer in the 〃centre〃 theory。 Briefly expressed the centre
theory is to hit down the middle of the court and follow to the net； since
the other player has the smallest angle to pass you。 That is true； but
remember that he has an equal angle on either side and； given good ground
strokes； an equal chance to pass with only your guess or intention to tell
you which side he will choose。
I advise hitting to the side…line with good length and following up to
the net； coming in just to the centre side of the straight returns down the
line。 Thus the natural shot is covered and your opponent's court is opened
for an angle volley 'cross。 Should your opponent try the cross drive； his
chances of beating you clean and keeping the ball in court are much less
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
than his chances of error。
Strive to kill your volleys at once； but should your shot not win； follow
the ball 'cross and again cover the straight shot。 Always force the man
striving to pass you to play the hardest possible shot。
Attack with your volleys。 Never defend the ball when at the net。 The
only defensive volley is one at your feet as you come in。 It is a mid…court
shot。 Volleys should win with placement more than speed； although speed
may be used on a high volley。
Closely related to the volley； yet in no way a volley stroke； is the
overhead smash。 It is the Big Bertha of tennis。 It is the long range terror
that should always score。 The rules of footwork； position； and direction
that govern the volley will suffice for the overhead。 The swing alone is
different。 The swing should be closely allied to the slice service； the
racquet and arm swinging freely from the shoulder； the wr