It has been seen that the main object of the game of tennis is to
keep the ball in play and put it where the other person cannot reach
it. This entails more or less skill and accuracy in making shots.
The quickest way to gain this skill is, as in all things, to start
in right. Learn the correct way and form, whereby the best results
are obtained with the least effort. If a good professional is within
reach, the simplest and quickest method is to take a number of lessons
from him to get the fundamental principles of the strokes; then start
playing, keeping these instructions actively in mind until they
become more or less instinctive. A girl usually has to make more of
a conscious effort to acquire some of the fundamentals than does her
brother, for she is not accustomed to games involving a ball in flight,
nor to the quick muscular response required. She has to train both eye
and mind to their proper uses.
[Illustration: Lines M N and O P should extend only to the service
lines I J and K L, but the dotted lines show that the service side
lines may be extended to the base lines, as provided in the second
paragraph of Law 27.]
[Illustration: PLATE I.
Backhand grip, showing the thumb diagonally across the handle,
helping support the force of the stroke; the wrist well “behind”
the racket.
]
[Illustration: PLATE II.
Correct backhand grip--head of racket slightly up, but the racket
is in the same plane as the arm. (See Plate III.)
]
[Illustration: PLATE III.
Incorrect backhand position--the hand and end of the racket are
leading the stroke, the line of the arm and racket being that of a
wide V, instead of a straight line.
]
[Illustration: PLATE IV.
Forehand grip--palm of hand behind racket, head of racket up,
showing the wrist in an easy position, no strain as shown in
Plate V.
]
[Illustration: PLATE V.
Incorrect forehand grip--the head of the racket is dropped,
straining the wrist at “A.”
]
[Illustration: PLATE VI.