by Gail Jones
I expect that this, my initial literary work will be found useful by both novices and experts alike in the tennis world. I am striving to arouse interest in the student of the game of tennis by a somewhat lengthy discussion of match play, which I hope will shed a new light on the game of tennis.
I will turn to the novice in my opening article and speak of certain things which are second nature to the experienced tennis player. The best tennis equipment is not much use to the novice even if he really is trying to succeed. Nevertheless, one has to purchase good quality; it is a saving eventually, as good quality material far outlasts poor quality equipment.
It is important to always dress in tennis attire when playing tennis. The question of choosing a tennis racquet is a much more serious matter. I do not advise forcing a certain make of racquet upon any player, since all the famous makes are excellent. However, it is on the 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.
After you have selected your racquet, make a firm resolve to use only quality tennis balls, as a consistent bounce is a great aid to advancement, while a “dead” ball is no use at all. If you really want to succeed at tennis and advance rapidly, I strongly urge you to watch 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 help.
More tennis can be learned off the court, in the study of theory, and in watching the top players in action, than can ever be learned in actual play. I do not advise miss opportunities to play tennis. Far from it. Play whenever possible, but try when playing to put in practice the theories you have read or the strokes you have seen.
Do not allow yourself to become discouraged by lack of progress. The trick of playing some stroke you have worked at over weeks in vain, will suddenly come to you when you least expect it. Good tennis players are the result of hard work. Very few players 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 city.
The brotherhood of tennis is universal, since none but a fit sportsman can succeed in the game for any long period of time. Tennis offers relaxation, excitement, exercise, and pure enjoyment to the player who is tied hard to his business until late afternoon.
The order of development that produces the quickest and most lasting results is: a. Concentration on the game. b. Keep the eye on the ball. c. Foot-work and weight-control. d. Strokes. e. Court position. f. Court generalship or match play. g. Tennis psychology.
Concentration. Tennis is played first with the mind. The most perfect racquet technique in the world will not suffice if the directing mind is erring. There are many reasons for a wandering mind in a tennis match. The main one is loss of interest in the game. No one should play tennis with any hope of real success unless he cares enough about the game to be willing to do the drudgery necessary to learn the game correctly.
Jack it in right now if you are not willing to work very hard. The weather, conditions of play or the noises in the gallery usually confuse even very experienced match-players playing in new surroundings. Complete and utter concentration on the game is the only cure for an erring mind, and the sooner that lesson is learned the quicker the advancement of the player.
The best way to keep a game in mind is to play for every set, every game in the set, every point in the game and, finally, every shot in the point. A set is merely a collection of made and missed shots, and the man who misses the least is the final winner.