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HOW TO rJ.AY GOLF No! 5031,: now TO TLAY FOOT BALL No. 504L. AKT OF SKATING N r05L GET WELL-KEEP WELL NO.506L. HOW TO LIVE 100 YEARS SSi'sSsl:: iVow tS YiTI'iiwN tennis; how to play TENNIS FOK BEGINNERS Stl"ot ."um!?b,5,.i, exercises No. 511L. JIU JITSU No. 512L. SPEED SWIMMING No. 513L. WINTER SPORTS nS's'IgI:: SC^HOOL tactics and maze RUNNING; CHIL- DREN'S GAMEis. Kn f-All TEN AND TWENTY MINUTE EXERCISES N0 518L. INDOOR AND OLTDOOH (JYMNASTIC GAMES No 5101 SPALDING'S OFFICIAL BASE B^\LL GUIDE ^m: ?i^OW ^S'VSy IaSE ball; HOW TO MANAGE No 524L. SPALmNG'S^LAWN TENNIS ANNUAL N0.525L. HOW TO PITCH. No. S'JGL. HOW TO BAT In addition to above, any 25 cent " Red Cover '' book liste © s 16 .§12 fe © , fi s S o '^ S^ ® fl C ^ © eS ee-r ao^S PQF Spalding's Athletic Library 33 III. The Ekror, in Doubles, of Standing Near THE Net While Your Partner Is Receiv- ing THE Serve. Damage — If your partner happens to play into the hands of tlie adversary at the net, the adver- sary has a wide oblique opening to play be- tween you and your partner. Remedy — Stay beside your partner. IV. The Error, in Doubles, of Failing to Give Advice to Your Partner. You usually have a partial side view of the ball your partner is to volley and there- fore can tell better than he whether it is going beyond the back-line. If you believe it out, say quickly, "out." If you are in doubt and he could play it on the bound, say "bound iV If your partner has had to turn his back to the net in running back for a play so that 34 Spalding s Athletic Library he luay have missed seeing the adversaries run to the net, then warn him to "lob.'' If the ball comes between you and your part- ner, either take it yourself or else say "play if This decision is usually made by the part- ner nearer the net if there is a difference. If the partners are where they belong, equally dis- tpj).t from the net and the ball is equally dis- tant from them and on the center line, then the advice should be given by the better player of the pair. The worst failure to give advice is when it occurs in connection with a feint toward play followed by leaving it for the partner to play, v/iiich is a.imost certam to spoil his play. Spalding's Athletic Library 35 TWO ERRORS IN REGARD TO THE GENERAL CAMPAIGN I. The Error of Failing to Keep Track of the Different Effects Produced on Your Present Adversary by the Different Styles of Strokes and Plays at Your Command. This error is, of course, combined with the failure to detect, select and press the particu- lar styles of play which prove effective. Damage — The error of failing to do this should be suffi- cient to cause you to lose the game, if you and your adversary are at all evenly matched. Remedy — (a) Try playing his back-hand, (b) Try rushing him back and forth by playing first one corner and then the other, (c) Try drawing him to the net by a short play and then lobbing over him, (d) Try top-spin drives, 36 Spalding's Athletic Library (e) Try straight balls, (f) Try undercuts and chops (in particular these trouble some players who rely on top- spin drives), (g) Try change of speed; that is, one or two fast and then one or two slow. (h) Try staying back, (i) Try coming to net. If you are uncertain whether a particular method (or particular stroke) is profitable or unprofitable, give a preference to it for a time and compare the result with the results fol- lowing the other methods (or following the other strokes). If the results are close and you are in doubt whether a particular stroke is profitable or un- profitable you may under some circumstances try the method (which has been satisfactorily used by the writer at times when the doubtful stroke was being used frequently and when the general mental problems of plays were not especially absorbing) . This method of keeping a mental tally is as follows : Ignore all other kinds of plays and ignore Spalding s Athletic Library 37 ail the plays of the doubtful shot which merely go into court without definitely decidijig the winning or losing of the point, counting only those which win or lose the point. Do not try to remember two numbers, but just one. To illustrate : If in doubt whether your top- spin drive is profitable, keep count (not A^'hether it is going into court or not), but of just those instances Avhen you see it lose the point and when you see it iciri the point. Keep the score mentally as follows: If lost, "one bad"; if followed by a win, mentally note '^even-'; if followed by three more Avins, note "three good" ; then, if followed by one lost, sub- tract and note "two good." You are thus able to keep track, by having only one number in mind at a time. If the figures stay on the "good" side, then that shot is worth Avhile; if they stay on the "bad" side, then abandon that shot against that opponent (or at least do so, unless you are being beaten anyway and all your other shots wken tested, prove Avorse). Caution — But keep in mind the accompanying effect of 38 Spalding's Athletic Library any especial element of exhaustion involved in any particular play or style of play, on the part of either yourself or your adversary. II. The Error of Failing to Work Out That Particular Degree of Rashness or Mod- eration IN Your General Play Which Cannot Successfully Be Met by Your Present Adversary. This is the element which finally determines most close matches. Regarding it, see the fol- loAving theory : A Theory (Never Before Stated) Upon Which to Conduct a Match. You must select that particuJar degree of rashness or moderation in pour general playing ivhich ivill overcome the particular adversary before you. This is labeled, "A Theory Never Before Stated," which is believed correct, but you will notice the refraining from calling it a ^^NEW^ theorj^, which refraining is because the prin- Spalding s Athletic Library 89 ciple probably has been unconsciously followed by most players. But though followed, it seems never to have been stated. The nearest approach to stating it has been the very dif- ferent advice to "try out the adversary to find which 2)(irticular style of strokes arc successful against him/^ It is true that the selection of the "style of strokes/' in the case of certain strokes, affects the "rashness" or "moderation" of the play, but not in the other cases ; nor is the "selection of style of strokes^' in any general way the same thing as the "selection of the particular degree of rashness or moderation of the plays.'' Most of the strokes may be played either rashly or moderately. Under this theory the "rashness" depends upon the degree in which the plays possess (1) Speed', (2) Twist, and (3) Olose-placement. 'fhe rashness may include all three or any one or a combination of any two of these ele- 40 Spalding's Athletic Library ments. It is most often concerned with speed, hut if the player has a predilection for twist or placement, then his particular rashness is apt to consist mainly in that characteristic. T?iis threefold "rashness'' is as great a fault as •^moderation/' and as great a virtue. That iSj tlie extreme of either is a fault If one plaj^s so rashly as to put less than half in court, of course he loses; but so also does the man lose who tries to make every f)lay as safe as pos- sible. If a man is pla^dng very moderately he may possibl}' play 95 per cent, into court. If piay- ing recklessly, he could drive them all oat of court, but unless he plays at least 50 per cent into court he cannot possibly win. The application of tliis newly stated theory is that In OiiDER TO Win, a Player Must SELrJ^:;? That Degree of Moderation or RashnI'JSS Which Enables Him to Place in Court a Percentage of Plays Large Enough to Win IN SriTE of the Percentag.s' "^-^^^tich Come Back. Spalding's AtJiletic Library 41 To illustrate : If you are playing carefully from the back line and getting 90 per cent, in court, yon will lose if your adversary is playing more than 90 per cent, into court and so you must change to something else. If you increase your rashness in speed and twist and close placement until only 80 per cent, of your plays are going into court, the question of continuing that degree of rashness depends on whether more or less than 80 per cent, of your adversary's plays are going into court. If you try 70 per cent., then are 70 per cent, of your adversary's plays going into court? If 60 per cent., are 60 per cent, of his in court? You, of course, cannot use a very small margin over 50 per cent, unless in playing ^^kills" or sma,shes which are so fierce that they cannot possibly come back. It might be that you could win at either of two different percentages, and, of course, you would take the more successful of the two. Brookes, Wilding and Dixon in international 42 Spalding s Athletic Library play exhibited a degree of care approximating 90 per cent, of plays in court and W. A. Larned was probably only a little less accurate. McLoughlin's accuracy is probably between TO per cent, and 80 per cent., and Williams' accuracy (?) is probably between 60 per cent, and 70 per cent. But Williams makes up in fierce rashness what he lacks in accuracy, so that on his moderately accurate days he be- comes formidable. He drives every shot with practically all possible speed, some top-spin and all possible fineness of placement. It is not known whether he could play a slow, safe game or not, for no one ever saw him try. In a general way the slow, safe player is as apt to win against the extremely reckless players as he is against his own ^tjle of play, for he wins not on his own good plays, but on his adver- sary's errors. Some men like W. A. Larned (in his prime) are masters both of the reckless and also of the careful style. Williams appar- ently knoAvs only the fierce style. McLoughlin originally played only the fierce attack, but later sought to master careful accuracy. When Spalding s Athletic Library 43 the Pacific Coast players encounter Eastern adversaries, they employ usually fierce rash- ness against moderate accuracy. But con- spicuous exceptions among the Easterners are Williams and Behr. Some players have a particular degree of rashness in their play, no matter whether their adversary is playing rashly or moderately. Others accommodate either in whole or in part their degree of rashness or moderation to make it correspond (or nearly correspond) to their opponent of the moment. Many, possibly most players, have an established habit in this re- spect which they do not vary. But the only sensible toay is to try out one or tivo different degrees of rashness and one or two different de- f/rees of moderation (giving tliree or four, or possibly five, different degrees of fierceness of style) to find lohich is the most successful one against your adversary of the moment, and then persist in that style so long as it remains successful. This is the reasoning underneath the situa- tion when it is desirable to try out some change 44 Spalding's Athletic Library in style to avert defeat, and you hear a player in doubles say to his partner "try playing them harder," or else hear him say, "try them slowly and carefully." It fe not the style of play as to rashness or moderation on the part of your adversary which determines the style of play on your part which will defeat him. It may be that he is a reckless player. From that fact you do not know whether your best chance of beating him is in playing recklessly or in a medium manner or most moderately, and the only way you can find out is by trying all three ways. If your adversary is a careful, moderate player, you have the same doubt until you test out whether reckless or medium or moderate style is required to defeat him. The same thing is true if your adversary possesses any par- ticular degree of rashness or moderation, or if he is classed exactly between the extremes. In any event you can only tell the degree of your own recklessness or moderation to em- ploy against any particular adversary by try- ing out the effect of all the degrees of rashness Spalding's Athletic Library 45 and moderation you possess and selecting the one that works the best on him. This is prob- ably often the real method of those players who have the habit of losing the first few games or of losing the first set and then "after having felt their man out," turn around and win the match. It is true that it often may be the other theory of selection of strokes, or the success of superior stamina, but probably a majority of close matches are decided by the accidental or intentional following of, or refusal to fol- low, this theory of testing out and thereafter following the most serviceable degree of your rashness or moderation against that particular opponent. The trying out, testing or proving of differ- ent degrees of rashness is not at variance with the advice above given regarding pressing and under-play. Strictly speaking, that degree of rashness which in that particular match has proved the most effective, is the standard by which pressing and under-play in that match are to be determined. Any play more rash 46 Spalding's Athletic Library than the proved effective degreCj is pressing, and any play more moderate than the proved effective degree, is under-play. The particular proved standard will change in each new match. The fact of pressing above, or under- Ijlay below, this changing, proved standard, will exist the same, whether you take the trouble to ascertain it or not, and the mere fact of your refusal to ascertain the facts and to understand the reasons will not exempt you from such damages as follow from pressing and from under-play. Spalding's Athletic Library 47 THE FINAL ERROR The Error of Failing to Examine Your Own Play at Stated Intervals to Discover AND Correct These Common Faults. Possibly some may be "born great" tennis players, but most of them "achieve" the qual- ity through as much mental as physical effort (and I have never known of the greatness be- ing "thrust upon" any). The average player is much below the ability which he might readily achieve, Not so much because he cannot understand his faults, Nor even because he does not know of the existence of such faults (in others) (for he usually knows of such faults), As it is, because he fails to examine his own play in a search for faults with a vieio to cor- recting them. The inferiority of players who stand below the average (if not due to the physical inability 48 Spalding's Athletic Library to execute any shot properly) is usually due not merely to one error, nor to a few errors, but rather is due to the combination of a con- siderable number of the foregoing thirty-four errors. It is due to the "tout ensemble" (which has been "Yankeeized'^ into the "demned total") of many known simple mis- takes. If you are not in the habit of periodically examining your play for errors, then "get busy" and check up against your play the thirty- four items enumerated. I sS'bs"t!ItVTHE SPALDING TRADEMARK '^K;"^ QUALITY lu^fh n >JiM i tficM M* ipacial CuadiM CiUlof ^S^SeTHE SPALDING A. G. Spalding & Bros. OFFICIAL TWO-PIECE TENNIS BALL No. OOII SPEEDY ACCURATE DURABLE \ U/.^^^ OFFICIAL 1920 PAT AUG 24 1915 '"1 2D TWO-PIECE Patented Auk. 24. 1915 THE NEW TWO-PIECE SPALDING WAY PERFECT FLIGHT AND BOUND. All around evenness of wall and ab- sence of plug assures this. COVER PERMANENCY. Made from the very highest grade of Australian wool, cemented on by new process, assuring permanent adhesion. No sewed seams. NO "RATTLERS." This annoyance eliminated, because there is no plug to get loose. NO LEAKAGE. No Plug — the ball is blown up before being vulcanized — doing away with leakage. FRESH BALLS. Shipments of balls from our factory to our branch stores are timed to parallel the demand. This service assures a perfect ball reaching you. Each, 60c. Doz. $7.20 Spalding Practice Tennis Ball No. 1. Well made balls of new stock. For practice or wet weather play. Plain rubber, not covered. Each, 35c. Dozen. $4.00 Wright & Ditson "Championship" Tennis Ball No. 5. Best quality W. & D. balls. Each, 60c. Dozen, $7.20 THE OLD FOUR-PIECE PLUG STYLE Illustrated to show the kind that Spalding does NOT make. ATTENTION 6IVEN TO ANT COMMUNICATIONS ADDIESSEOTOUS A.G.SPALDING &, BROS. LARGE CITIES FOR COMPLETE LIST OF STORES SEE INSIOE FRONT COVEII OF THIS BOOK PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE Fw a»di» prie«. m. .p««>.i c«i«aua cuio««« &r7fteti a/nd t(nn»i£n SPALDING SPORT SPECIALTY SHOPS, carrying apparel for Men and Women for the Country Life — the out-of-doors — are located in connection with Spalding Stores in the following cities New York (523 Fifth Avenue) Philadelphia Syracuse Atlanta New Orleans Chicago Cleveland St. Louis Denver Salt Lake City San Francisco Oakland Los Angeles Pordand Seattle Another Spalding Improvement in Tennis Balls Having suc- cessfully over- come— in the in- vention of the Spalding Official Two-Piece (plug- less) Ball — the obstacles of im- perfect flight and Dound, which are inseparable from the former four-piece, plug style method of manufacture, we then turned our attention to the cover. We now have perfected a cover which completely eliminates the necessity of sewing — and consequent liability to rip— a factor which will greatly prolong the life and use of the nail. The new cover on the Spalding Official Two-Piece Unsewed Tennis Ball was successfully tried out last autumn in a number of tournaments and met with immediate favor. Tournament committees on several occasions, after ordering the usual quan- tity for an event, found that they had a supply left over. This was due to the remarkable wearing quality of the cover, which has been found to outlast the old cover two to one. Players who used the ball at Southern resorts last winter confirmed these favorable reports. It is with much pleasure, therefore, that we offer the Spald- ing Official Two-Piece Tennis Ball, which combines all the essentials of accurate play with the economical feature of durability. _x LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 005 823 204 A