第 2 节
作者:雨霖铃      更新:2021-05-03 16:33      字数:9322
  match play; which I trust will shed a new light on the game。
  May I turn to the novice at my opening and speak of certain matters
  which are second nature to the skilled player?
  The best tennis equipment is not too good for the beginner who seeks
  really to succeed。 It is a saving in the end; as good quality material so far
  outlasts poor。
  Always dress in tennis clothes when engaging in tennis。 White is the
  established   colour。   Soft   shirt;   white   flannel   trousers;   heavy   white   socks;
  and rubber…soled shoes form the accepted dress for tennis。 Do not appear
  on the courts in dark clothes; as they are apt to be heavy and hinder your
  speed of movement; and also they are a violation of the unwritten ethics of
  the game。
  The question of choosing a racquet is a much more serious matter。 I do
  not   advocate   forcing   a   certain   racquet   upon   any  player。 All the   standard
  makes are excellent。 It is in weight; balance; and size of handle that the
  real value of a racquet frame depends; while good stringing is; essential to
  obtain the best results。
  The average player should use a racquet that weighs between 13 1/2
  and 14 1/2 ounces inclusive。 I think that the best results may be obtained
  by a balance that is almost even or slightly heavy on the head。 Decide your
  handle from the individual choice。 Pick the one that fits comfortably in the
  hand。 Do not use too small a handle or too light a racquet; as it is apt to
  turn in the hand。 I recommend a handle of 5 1/4 to 5 3/8 inches at the grip。
  Do   not   use   a   racquet   you   do   not   like   merely   because   your   best   friend
  advises it。 It may suit him perfectly; but would not do for you at all。 Do
  not start children playing tennis with an under…sized racquet。 It   weakens
  the wrist and does not aid the child in learning strokes。 Start a child; boy
  or girl; with a full…sized racquet of at least 13 ounces。
  After you have acquired your racquet; make a firm resolve to use good
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  tennis   balls;   as   a   regular   bounce   is   a   great   aid   to   advancement;   while   a
  〃dead〃 ball is no practice at all。
  If   you   really   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 the
  leading     players     and   strive   to  copy    their   strokes。    Read    all  the   tennis
  instruction   books   you   can   find。   They   are   a   great   assistance。   I   shall   be
  accused of 〃press… agitating〃 my own book by this statement; but such was
  my belief long before I ever thought of writing a book of my own。
  More tennis can be learned off the court; in the study of theory; and in
  watching the best players in action; than can ever be learned in actual play。
  I   do   not   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   hard   work。   Very
  few are born geniuses at the game。
  Tennis is a game that pays you dividends all your life。 A tennis racquet
  is   a   letter   of   introduction   in   any   town。   The   brotherhood   of   the   game   is
  universal; for none but a good sportsman can succeed in the game for any
  lengthy period。 Tennis provides relaxation; excitement; exercise; and pure
  enjoyment to the man who is tied hard and fast to his business until late
  afternoon。   Age   is   not   a   drawback。   Vincent   Richards   held   the   National
  Doubles   Championship   of   America   at   fifteen;   while   William A。   Larned
  won   the   singles   at   past   forty。   Men   of   sixty   are   seen   daily   on   the   clubs'
  courts of England and America enjoying their game as keenly as any boy。
  It   is   to   this   game;   in   great   measure;   that   they   owe   the   physical   fitness
  which enables them to play at their advanced age。
  The tennis players of the world wrote a magnificent page in the history
  of the World War。 No branch of sport sent more men to the colours from
  every country in the world than tennis; and these men returned with glory
  or paid the supreme sacrifice on the field of honour。
  I   transgressed   from   my   opening   to   show   you   that   tennis   is   a   game
  worth playing and playing well。 It deserves your best; and only by learning
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  it correctly can you give that best。
  If in my book I help you on your way to fame; I feel amply repaid for
  all the time spent in analysing the strokes and tactics I set before you in
  these pages。
  I   am   going   to   commence   my   explanation   by   talking   to   the   players
  whose games are not yet formed。 At least once every season I go back to
  first   principles   to   pull   myself   out   of   some   rut   into   which   carelessness
  dropped me。
  From a long and; many times; sad experience over a period of some
  ten    years    of   tournament      tennis;   I  believe    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。
  Tennis   is   a   game   of   intimate   personal   relation。 You   constantly   find
  yourself     meeting    some    definite    idea  of   your   opponent。     The   personal
  equation   is   the   basis   of   tennis   success。   A   great   player   not   only   knows
  himself; in both strength and weakness; but he must study is opponent at
  all times。 In order to be able to do this a player must not be hampered by a
  glaring weakness in the fundamentals of his own game; or he will be so
  occupied trying to hide it that he will have no time to worry his opponent。
  The   fundamental   weakness   of   Gerald   Patterson's   backhand   stroke   is   so
  apparent     that   any   player   within    his  class   dwarfs    Patterson's   style   by
  continually   pounding   at   it。   The   Patterson   overhead   and   service   are   first
  class; yet both are rendered impotent; once a man has solved the method
  of returning low to the backhand; for Patterson seldom succeeds in taking
  the offensive again in that point。
  I am trying to make clear the importance of such first principles as I
  will now explain。
  CONCENTRATION
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  Tennis   is   played   primarily   with   the   mind。   The   most   perfect   racquet
  technique in the world will not suffice if the directing mind is wandering。
  There are many causes of a wandering mind in 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 be willing to
  do   the   drudgery   necessary   in   learning   the   game   correctly。   Give   it   up   at
  once unless you are willing to work。 Conditions of play or the noises in
  the gallery often confuse and bewilder experienced match…players playing
  under new surroundings。 Complete 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 the player。 An amusing example; to all
  but the player affected; occurred at the finals of the Delaware State Singles
  Championship   at   Wilmington。   I   was   playing   Joseph   J。   Armstrong。   The
  Championship   Court   borders   the   No。   1   hole   of   the   famous   golf   course。
  The score stood at one set all and 3…4 and 30…40; Armstrong serving。 He
  served   a   fault   and   started   a   second   delivery。   Just   as   he   commenced   his
  swing; a loud and very lusty 〃Fore!〃 rang out from the links。 Armstrong
  unconsciously  looked   away   and   served   his   delivery   to   the   backstop   and
  the game to me。 The umpire refused to 〃let〃 call and the incident closed。
  Yet a wandering mind in that case meant the loss of a set。
  The surest way to hold a match in mind is to play for every set; every
  game   in   the   set;   every   point   in   the   game   and;   fin