第 4 节
作者:雨霖铃      更新:2021-05-03 16:33      字数:9321
  The   Eastern   American   grip;        which   I   advocate;   is    the   English    grip
  without the low wrist and broken line。 To acquire the forehand grip; hold
  the   racquet   with   the   edge   of   the   frame   towards   the ground   and   the   face
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  perpendicular; the handle towards the body; and 〃shake hands〃 with it; just
  as   if  you   were   greeting   a   friend。  The   handle    settled   comfortably   and
  naturally into the hand; the line of the arm; hand; and racquet are one。 The
  swing   brings   the   racquet   head   on   a   line   with   the   arm;   and   the   whole
  racquet is merely an extension of it。
  The   backhand   grip   is   a   quarter   circle   turn   of   hand   on   the   handle;
  bringing the hand on top of the handle and the knuckles directly up。 The
  shot travels ACROSS the wrist。
  This is the  best basis for  a grip。 I  do not advocate  learning this grip
  exactly; but model your natural grip as closely as possible on these lines
  without sacrificing your own comfort or individuality。
  Having once settled the racquet in the hand; the next question is   the
  position of the body and the order of developing strokes。
  In explaining footwork I am; in future; going to refer in all forehand
  shots to the right foot as R or 〃back〃 foot; and to the left as L or 〃front。〃
  For the backhand the L foot is 〃back〃 and R is 〃front。〃
  All tennis strokes; should be made with the body' at right angles to the
  net; with the shoulders lined up parallel to the line of flight of the ball。 The
  weight should always travel forward。 It should pass from the back foot to
  the front foot at the moment of striking the ball。 Never allow the weight to
  be going away from the stroke。 It is weight that determines the 〃pace〃 of a
  stroke; swing that; decides the 〃speed。〃
  Let me explain the definitions of 〃speed〃 and 〃pace。〃 〃Speed〃 is the
  actual    rate   with   which    a  ball   travels   through    the  air。  〃Pace〃    is  the
  momentum with which it comes off the ground。 Pace is weight。 It is the
  〃sting〃     the  ball   carries   when     it  comes    off   the   ground;    giving    the
  inexperienced or unsuspecting player a shock of force which the stroke in
  no way showed。
  Notable examples of 〃pace〃 are such men as W。 A。 Larned; A。 W。 Gore;
  J。 C。 Parke; and among the younger players; R。 N。 Williams; Major A。 R。 F。
  Kingscote;      W。   M。   Johnston;     and;  on   his   forehand    stroke;   Charles    S。
  Garland。
  M。 E。 M'Loughlin; Willis E。 Davis; Harold Throckmorton and several
  others are famous 〃speed〃 exponents。
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  A great many players have both 〃speed〃 and 〃pace。〃 Some shots may
  carry both。
  The order of learning strokes should be:
  1。 The Drive。 Fore… and backhand。 This is the foundation of all tennis;
  for you cannot build up a net attack unless you have the ground stroke to
  open the way。 Nor can you meet a net attack successfully unless you can
  drive; as that is the only successful passing shot。
  2。 The Service。
  3。 The Volley and Overhead Smash。
  4。  The   Chop   or  Half  Volley  and   other  incidental  and  ornamental
  strokes。
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  CHAPTER II。 THE DRIVE
  The forehand drive is the opening of every offensive in tennis; and; as
  such; should be most carefully studied。 There are certain rules of footwork
  that   apply   to   all   shots。   To   reach   a   ball   that   is   a   short   distance   away;
  advance the foot that is away from the shot and thus swing into position to
  hit。 If a ball is too close to the body; retreat the foot closest to the shot and
  drop the  weight back   on it; thus;  again; being  in   position for the  stroke。
  When hurried; and it is not possible to change the foot position; throw the
  weight on the foot closest to the ball。
  The receiver should always await the service facing the net; but once
  the serve is started on the way to court; the receiver should at once attain
  the position to receive it with the body at right angles to the net。
  The forehand drive is made up of one continuous swing of the racquet
  that; for the purpose of analysis; may be divided into three parts:
  1。   The   portion   of   the   swing   behind   the   body;   which   determines   the
  speed of the stroke。
  2。 That portion immediately in front of the body which determines the
  direction and; in conjunction with weight shift from one foot to the other;
  the pace of the shot。
  3。   The   portion   beyond   the   body;   comparable   to   the   golfer's   〃follow
  through;〃 determines spin; top or slice; imparted to the ball。
  All   drives   should    be  topped。    The   slice  shot   is  a  totally   different
  stroke。
  To     drive    straight    down     the    side…line;    construct     in   theory    a
  parallelogram with two sides made up of the side…line and your shoulders;
  and the two ends; the lines of your feet; which should; if extended; form
  the right angles with the side…lines。 Meet the ball at a point about 4 to 4
  1/2 feet from the body immediately in front of the belt buckle; and shift
  the    weight    from    the   back    to  the   front   foot   at  the   MOMENT          OF
  STRIKING   THE   BALL。   The   swing   of   the   racquet   should   be   flat   and
  straight through。 The racquet head should be on a line with the hand; or; if
  anything; slightly in advance; the whole arm and the racquet should turn
  slightly over the ball as it leaves the racquet face and the stroke continue
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  to the limit of the swing; thus imparting top spin to the ball。
  The hitting plane for all ground strokes should be between the knees
  and shoulders。 The most favourable plane is on a line with the waist。
  In driving across the court from the right (or No。 1) court; advance the
  L or front foot slightly towards the side…line and shift the weight a fraction
  of a second sooner。 As the weight shifts; pivot slightly on the L foot and
  drive   flat;   diagonally;   across   the   court。   Do   not   〃pull〃   your   cross…court
  drive; unless with the express purpose of passing the net man and using
  that method to disguise your shot。
  NEVER        STEP   AWAY   FROM           THE     BALL   IN     DRIVING        CROSS
  COURT。 ALWAYS THROW YOUR WEIGHT IN THE SHOT。
  The   forehand   drive   from   the   No。   2   (or   left)   court   is   identically   the
  same for the straight shot down your opponent's forehand。 For the cross
  drive   to   his   backhand;   you   must   conceive   of   a   diagonal   line   from   your
  backhand corner to his; and thus make your stroke with the footwork as if
  this imaginary line were the side…line。 In other words; line up your body
  along your   shot and   make your   regular drive。  Do not   try to   〃spoon〃   the
  ball over with a delayed wrist motion; as it tends to slide the ball off your
  racquet。
  All drives should be made with a stiff; locked wrist。 There is no wrist
  movement in a true drive。 Top spin is imparted by the arm; not the wrist。
  The   backhand   drive   follows   closely   the   principles   of   the   forehand;
  except   that   the   weight   shifts   a   moment   sooner;   and   the   R   or   front   foot
  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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  returns;    because     a  weak     effort  would     only   result   in  a  kill  by   your
  opponent。
  Do   not   develop   one