GROWTH OF TENNIS TACTICS THROUGH THE YEARS

Articles In This Section:

· GROWTH OF TENNIS TACTICS THROUGH THE YEARS

· TYPES OF PLAYERS MET ON THE COURTS (TILDEN'S CLASSIFICATION)

· TYPES OF GAMES

· STRATEGY POINTS

· DOUBLES AND SINGLES - Part 1

· DOUBLES AND SINGLES - Part 2

· DOUBLES AND SINGLES - Part 3

· DOUBLES AND SINGLES - Part 4

· DOUBLES AND SINGLES - Part 5

· ADVICE TO PLAYERS - Part 1

· ADVICE TO PLAYERS - Part 2

· TENNIS ETIQUETTE FOR THE PLAYER

1. Tennis started as a backcourt game, the players staying near the baseline, never coming to the net. The game was slow because the players waited until the ball bounced very low before hitting it. A lifting stroke with lots of top spin was a favorite, introduced by an Englishman named Lawford, for whom the stroke was named.

2. Net play next developed, and it was found that a player at the net could win over the backcourt player using the Lawford stroke. This resulted in the popularity of net play over the backcourt type of game.

3. Next came the players (Tilden is the great example) who were equally at home in the backcourt and at-the-net. This type of player is called "the all court" player and could beat either the baseline expert or the net expert. The "all court" game is the game of the present, and no one can predict what the game of the future will be. a. The "all court" player must have the following strokes at his command:

The forehand and backhand drives............................. as a foundation for his game.

The forehand and backhand chops or slices................ as accessory strokes mixed in with the drives.

Two types of serves........... in order to assure the winning of his service games.

The volley and overhead smash.......................... weapons for net play.

The lob.............................. defence against net play.

The half volley................... weapon against balls bouncing at his feet.

1'. The "all court" player must feel equally at home at the net, or in the backcourt, while serving or receiving, and in executing strokes imparting top spin, back or side spin to the ball, as well as the punch stroke without spin. If he is caught in midcourt, he must be able to use a half volley.