I expect that this, my initial dissertation on the fundamentals of tennis, will be found useful by both novices and experts alike in the tennis world. I am trying to arouse interest in the student of the game of tennis by a somewhat prolonged discussion of match play, which I trust will shed a new light on the game of tennis.

I will turn to the novice in my opening article and write of certain matters which are second nature to the experienced tennis player. The best tennis equipment is not a lot of use to the beginner even if he really is trying to improve. Nevertheless, one has to purchase good quality; it is a saving eventually, as high quality goods far outlasts poor quality gear.

It is important to always dress in tennis attire when playing tennis. The question of selecting 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 standard brands 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 get the best results.

After having bought your racquet, make a firm resolve to buy only good tennis balls, as a consistent bounce is a great aid to advancement, while a “dead” ball is of no use at all. If you really desire to advance at the game and progress rapidly, I strongly recommend you to watch all the good tennis you can. Observe the play of the best players and strive to emulate their strokes. Read all the tennis instruction manuals you can get your hands on. They are a great help.

Much more tennis can be learned off the tennis court in the study of theory and in watching the best players in action, than can ever be learned in one’s own actual play. I do not advise that you should miss opportunities to play tennis, far from it. Play tennis whenever possible, but strive when playing to put into practice the theories you have read about or the strokes you have watched.

Never let yourself become discouraged by slow progress. The way of playing some stroke you have worked on over weeks unsuccessfully, will suddenly come to you when you least expect it. Good tennis players are the product of very 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 town.

The brotherhood of the game is universal, since none but a fit sportsman can succeed in the game for any lengthy period of time. Tennis provides relaxation, excitement, exercise, and pure enjoyment to the player who is tied fast to his job 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 invented will not suffice if the directing mind is wandering. There are many causes of a distracted mind in a tennis match. The main one is lack 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.

Give it up at once unless you are willing to work hard. Conditions of play or the noises in the gallery often confuse and bewilder experienced match-players playing in new surroundings. Complete concentration on the matter in hand is the only remedy for a wandering mind, and the sooner the lesson is learned the quicker the improvement of the player.

The best way to keep a game in focus is to go for every set, every game in the set, every point in the game and, eventually, every shot in the point. A set is just a conglomeration of made and missed shots, and the man who misses the least is the ultimate winner.

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