| In Tennis, a chop stroke is a shot where the angle | | | | it should only be made as a last resort, when caught |
| towards the player and behind the racquet, made by | | | | out of position by your opponent's shot. It is a |
| the line of flight of the ball, and the racquet traveling | | | | desperate attempt to extricate yourself from a |
| down across it, is greater than 45 degrees and may | | | | dangerous position without retreating. never |
| be 90 degrees. The racquet face passes slightly | | | | deliberately half volley. |
| outside the ball and down the side, chopping it, as a | | | | A tennis court is 39 feet long from baseline to net. |
| man chops wood. The spin and curve is from right to | | | | There are only two places in a tennis court that a |
| left. It is made with a stiff wrist. | | | | tennis player should be to await the ball. |
| The slice shot merely reduced the angle mentioned | | | | 1. About 3 feet behind the baseline near the middle |
| from 45 degrees down to a very small one. The | | | | of the court, or |
| racquet face passes either inside or outside the ball, | | | | 2. About 6 to 8 feet back from the net and almost |
| according to direction desired, while the stroke is | | | | opposite the ball. |
| mainly a wrist twist or slap. This slap imparts a | | | | The first is the place for all baseline players. The |
| decided skidding break to the ball, while a chop | | | | second is the net position. |
| "drags" the ball off the ground without break. | | | | If you are drawn out of these positions by a shot |
| The rules of footwork for both these shots should | | | | which you must return, do not remain at the point |
| be the same as the drive, but because both are | | | | where you struck the ball, but attain one of the two |
| made with a short swing and more wrist play, | | | | positions mentioned as rapidly as possible. |
| without the need of weight, the rules of footwork | | | | The distance from the baseline to about 10, feet |
| may be more safely discarded and body position not | | | | from the net may be considered as "no-man's-land" |
| so carefully considered. | | | | or "the blank." Never linger there, since a deep shot |
| Both these shots are essentially defensive, and are | | | | will catch you at your feet. After making your shot |
| labour-saving devices when your opponent is on the | | | | from the blank, as you must often do, retreat behind |
| baseline. A chop or slice is very hard to drive, and will | | | | the baseline to await the return, so you may again |
| break up any driving game. | | | | come forward to meet the ball. If you are drawn in |
| It is not a shot to use against a volley, as it is too | | | | short and cannot retreat safely, continue all the way |
| slow to pass and too high to cause any worry. It | | | | to the net position. |
| should be used to drop short, soft shots at the feet | | | | Never stand and watch your shot, for to do so |
| of the net man as he comes in. Do not strive to pass | | | | simply means you are out of position for your next |
| a net man with a chop or slice, except through a big | | | | stroke. Strive to attain a position so that you always |
| opening. | | | | arrive at the spot the ball is going to before it |
| The drop-shot is a very soft, sharply-angled chop | | | | actually arrives. Do your hard running while the ball is |
| stroke, played wholly with the wrist. It should drop | | | | in the air, so you will not be hurried in your stroke |
| within 3 to 5 feet of the net to be of any use. The | | | | after it bounces. |
| racquet face passes around the outside of the ball | | | | It is in learning to do this that natural anticipation |
| and under it with a distinct "wrist turn." Do not swing | | | | plays a big role. Some players instinctively know |
| the racquet from the shoulder in making a drop shot. | | | | where the next return is going and take position |
| The drop shot has no relation to a stop-volley. The | | | | accordingly, while others will never sense it. It is to |
| drop shot is all wrist. The stop-volley has no wrist at | | | | the latter class that I urge court position, and |
| all. | | | | recommend always coming in from behind the |
| Use all your wrist shots, chop, slice, and drop, merely | | | | baseline to meet the ball, since it is much easier to |
| as an auxilliary to your orthodox game. They are | | | | run forward than back. |
| intended to upset your opponent's game through the | | | | Should you be caught at the net, with a short shot |
| varied spin on the ball. | | | | to your opponent, do not stand still and let him pass |
| This shot requires more perfect timing, eyesight, and | | | | you at will, as he can easily do. Pick out the side |
| racquet work than any other, since its margin of | | | | where you think he will hit, and jump to, it suddenly |
| safety is smallest and its manifold chances of mishaps | | | | as he swings. If you guess right, you win the point. If |
| numberless. | | | | you are wrong, you are no worse off, since he |
| It is a pick-up. The ball meets the ground and racquet | | | | would have beaten you anyway with his shot. |
| face at nearly the same moment, the ball bouncing | | | | Your position should always strive to be such that |
| off the ground, on the strings. This shot is a | | | | you can cover the greatest possible area of court |
| stiff-wrist, short swing, like a volley with no follow | | | | without sacrificing safety, since the straight shot is |
| through. The racquet face travels along the ground | | | | the surest, most dangerous, and must be covered. It |
| with a slight tilt over the ball and towards the net, | | | | is merely a question of how much more court than |
| thus holding the ball low; the shot, like all others in | | | | that immediately in front of the ball may be guarded. |
| tennis, should travel across the racquet face, along | | | | A well-grounded knowledge of court position saves |
| the short strings. The racquet face should always be | | | | many points, to say nothing of much breath |
| slightly outside the ball. | | | | expended in long runs after hopeless shots. |
| The half volley is essentially a defensive stroke, since | | | | |