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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
THE ART OF LAWN
TENNIS
by WILLIAM T。 TILDEN； 2D
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
To R。 D。 K。 AND M。 W。 J。 MY 〃BUDDIES〃 W。 T。 T。 2D
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
INTRODUCTION
Tennis is at once an art and a science。 The game as played by such
men as Norman E。 Brookes； the late Anthony Wilding； William M。
Johnston； and R。 N。 Williams is art。 Yet like all true art； it has its basis in
scientific methods that must be learned and learned thoroughly for a
foundation before the artistic structure of a great tennis game can be
constructed。
Every player who helps to attain a high degree of efficiency should
have a clearly defined method of development and adhere to it。 He should
be certain that it is based on sound principles and； once assured of that；
follow it； even though his progress seems slow and discouraging。
I began tennis wrong。 My strokes were wrong and my viewpoint
clouded。 I had no early training such as many of our American boys have
at the present time。 No one told me the importance of the fundamentals of
the game； such as keeping the eye on the ball or correct body position and
footwork。 I was given a racquet and allowed to hit the ball。 Naturally； like
all beginners； I acquired many very serious faults。 I worried along with
moderate success until I had been graduated from school； beating some
fairly good players； but losing some matches to men below my class。 The
year following my graduation the new Captain of my Alma Mater's team
asked me if I would aid him in developing the squad for next year。 Well；
〃Fools rush in where angels fear to tread；〃 so I said Yes。
At that point my tennis education began。
The youngsters comprising our tennis squad all knew me well and felt
at perfect liberty to ask me as many questions as they could think up。 I was
besieged with requests to explain why Jones missed a forehand drive
down the side…line； or Smith couldn't serve well； or Brown failed to hit the
ball at all。 Frankly； I did not know； but I answered them something at the
moment and said to myself it was time I learned some fundamentals of
tennis。 So I began to study the reasons why certain shots are missed and
others made。 Why certain balls are hit so much faster though with less
effort than others； and why some players are great while most are only
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
good。 I am still studying； but my results to date have resulted in a definite
system to be learned； and it is this which I hope to explain to you in my
book。
Tennis has a language all its own。 The idioms of the game should be
learned； as all books on the game are written in tennis parlance。 The
technical terms and their counterpart in slang need to be understood to
thoroughly grasp the idea in any written tennis account。
I do not believe in using a great deal of space carefully defining each
blade of grass on a court； or each rule of the game。 It gets nowhere。 I do
advocate teaching the terms of the game。
1。 THE COURT。
The Baseline=The back line。
The Service…line=The back line of the service court； extending from
side…line to side…line at a point 21 feet from the net。
The Alleys=The space on each side of the court between the side
service…line and the outside sideline of a doubles court。 They are used only
when playing doubles and are not marked on a single court。
The Net=The barrier that stretches across the court in the exact centre。
It is 3 feet high at the centre and 3 feet 6 inches high at the posts which
stand 3 feet outside the sidelines。
2。 STROKES （Two General Classes）。
A。 Ground strokes=All shots hit from the baselines off the bounce of
the ball。
B。 Volleys=Shots hit while the ball is in flight through the air； previous
to its bound。
The Service=The method of putting the ball in play。
The Drive=A ground stroke hit with a flat racquet face and carrying
top spin。
The Chop=An undercut ground stroke is the general definition of a
chop。 The slice and chop are so closely related that； except in stroke
analysis； they may be called chop。
Stop Volley=Blocking a hall short in its flight。
Half Volley or Trap Shot=A pick up。
The Smash=Hitting on the full any overhead ball。
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
The Lob=Hitting the ball in a high parabola。
3。 TWIST ON THE BALL。
Top Spin=The ball spins towards the ground and in the direction of its
flight。
Chop； Cut； or Drag=The ball spins upwards from the ground and
against the line of flight。 This is slightly deviated in the slice； but all these
terms are used to designate the under…struck； back…spinning ball。
Reverse Twist=A ball that carries a rotary spin that curves one way and
bounces the opposite。
Break=A spin which causes the ball to bounce at an angle to its line of
flight。
4。 LET=A service that touches the net in its flight yet falls in court； or
any illegal or irregular point that does not count。
5。 FAULT=An illegal service。
6。 OUT=Any shot hit outside legal boundaries of the court。
7。 GOOD=Any shot that strikes in a legal manner prescribed by rules
of the game。
8。 FOOTFAULT=An illegal service delivery due to incorrect position
of the server's feet。
9。 SERVER=Player delivering service。
10。 RECEIVER or STRIKER=Player returning service。 W。 T。
T。 WIMBLEDON； July 1920
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
PREFACE TO NEW EDITION
The season of 1921 was so epoch…making in the game of tennis；
combining as it did the greatest number of Davis Cup matches that have
ever been held in one year； the invasion of France and England by an
American team； the first appearance in America of Mlle。 Suzanne Lenglen
and her unfortunate collapse； and finally the rise to prominence of Japan
as a leading factor in the tennis world that I have incorporated a record of
the season's outstanding features and some sidelights and personality
sketches on the new stars in the new addition of this book。
The importance of women's tennis has grown so tremendously in the
past few years that I have also added a review of the game and its progress
in America。 Not only has Mlle。 Lenglen placed her mark indelibly on the
pages of tennis history but 1921 served to raise Mrs。 Molla Bjurstedt
Mallory to the position in the world that she rightly deserves； that of the
greatest match winner of all women。 The past season brought the return to
American courts of Mrs。 May Sutton Bundy and Miss Mary Browne； in
itself an event of sufficient importance to set the year apart as one of
highest value。
The outstanding performances of the two juniors； Vincent Richards
and Arnold Jones； must be regarded as worthy of permanent recognition
and among the outstanding features of a noteworthy year。 Thus it is with a
sense of recording history… making facts that I turn to the events of 1921。
WILLIAM T。 TILDEN 2D GERMANTOWN； PHILADELPHIA
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
PART I： TENNIS TECHNIQUE
STROKES AND FUNDAMENTALS
OF THE GAME
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
CHAPTER I。 FOR NOVICES ONLY
I trust this initial effort of mine in the world of letters will find a place
among both novices and experts in the tennis world。 I am striving to
interest the student of the game by a somewhat prolonged discussion of
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 racq
