The Art of Lawn Tennis | Page 4

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.
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

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

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION PREFACE TO NEW EDITION
PART I: TENNIS TECHNIQUE--STROKES AND

FUNDAMENTALS OF THE GAME
CHAPTER I
FOR NOVICES ONLY II THE DRIVE III SERVICE IV THE
VOLLEY AND OVERHEAD SMASH V CHOP, HALF VOLLEY,
AND COURT POSITION
PART II: THE LAWS OF TENNIS PSYCHOLOGY VI GENERAL
TENNIS PSYCHOLOGY VII THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MATCH
PLAY VIII THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PHYSICAL FITNESS IX THE
PSYCHOLOGY OF SINGLES AND DOUBLES
PART III: MODERN TENNIS AND ITS FUTURE X THE GROWTH
OF THE MODERN GAME XI THE PROBABLE FUTURE OF THE
GAME
PART IV: SOME SIDELIGHTS ON FAMOUS PLAYERS
INTRODUCTORY XII AMERICA XIII BRITISH ISLES XIV
FRANCE AND JAPAN XV SPAIN AND THE CONTINENT XVI
THE COLONIES XVII FAMOUS WOMEN PLAYERS

THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
PART I: TENNIS TECHNIQUE--STROKES AND
FUNDAMENTALS OF THE GAME
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