tennis for everyone

Tennis is at once an art and a science. 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 hopes to attain a high degree of efficiency
should have a clearly defined method of development and adhere to
it. They should be certain that it is based on sound principles
and, once assured of that, follow it, even though their progress
seems slow and discouraging.

I began tennis wrong. My strokes were wrong and my viewpoint
clouded. I had no early training. 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
graduated from school, beating some fairly good players, but losing
some matches to opponents 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 withquestions that, frankly, Idid not know
the answers to, 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 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 TERMS

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 ball short in its flight.
Half Volley or Trap Shot=A pick up.
The Smash=Hitting on the full any overhead ball.
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.

THE COURT

Playing Lines

The outside dimensions of the playing lines shall be as follows:
Doubles 36' x 78' (10.973 m x 23.774 m)
Singles 27' x 78' (8.230 m x 23.774 m)
All lines shall be not less than 1" (2.54 cm) or more than 2" (5 cm) in width,
except the base line which may be up to 4' (10 cm) in width and the center line
which shall be 2" (5 cm) in width.
This allowable variation in line width results in non-uniformity and confusion and,
therefore, the U.S. Tennis Court and Track Builders Association recommends
that all lines be 2" (5 cm) in width, except the base line which may be up to 4"
(10 cm) in width.
All measurements shall be to the outer edge of the lines except the center line
and the center mark which shall be on the center line of the court.

Tolerance

The lines shall be laid out and applied as close to the exact measurements as is
possible within the limitations of the surface on which they are being applied. At
no time shall the line dimensions vary more then one-quarter inch from the exact
measurement. The type of surface and intended purpose of the court, i.e.
recreation, club, tournament, etc., however, shall be the factors considered in
determining the allowed tolerance.

Back Space

Tournament play requires a minimum 21' (6.401 m) from base line to fixed
obstruction (i.e. backstop, wall, etc.). In non-tournament play, this distance may
be reduced to 18' (5.486 m).

Side Space

Not less than 12' (3.658 m) from side line to fixed obstruction (i.e. sidestop, light
pole, wall, etc.).
For indoor courts where netting is used between courts, the netting is considered
to be a movable obstruction, in which case 9' (2.743 m) is considered a minimum
between sideline and netting. Only where space limitations become a factor and
the 12' (3.658 m) minimum cannot be provided may the side space from side line
to a fixed obstruction be reduced to a minimum of 9-1/2' (2.896 m). This
dimension does not restrict obstructions at the net line; for example, the net post
of the adjacent courts or light standards.

Net Posts

Net posts shall be set 3' (.914 m) outside the side line 33' (10.058 m) singles, 42'
(12.802 m) doubles, center to center of posts. The top of the net at the inside
face of the posts or supports when used to support a net for singles play on a
doubles court shall be exactly 42" (1.067 m) above the court surface. There shall
be no obstruction above the top of the net at any point, including at the post.

Playing Lines

Base lines shall be not more than four inches (4") wide and playing lines not
more than two inches (2") wide, accurately positioned in accordance with
regulations of the United States Tennis Association.