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passing through the desired hitting plane； and then start a slow shift of the
weight forward； at the same time increasing the power of the swing
forward as the racquet commences its upward flight to the ball。 Just as the
ball meets the racquet face the weight should be thrown forward and the
full power of the swing smashed into the service。 Let the ball strike the
racquet INSIDE the face of the strings； with the racquet travelling directly
towards the court。 The angle of the racquet face will impart the twist
necessary to bring the ball in court。 The wrist should be somewhat flexible
in service。 If necessary lift the right foot and swing the whole body
forward with the arm。 Twist slightly to the right； using the left foot as a
pivot。 The general line of the racquet swing is from RIGHT to LEFT and
always forward。
At this point and before I take up the other branches of serving； let me
put in a warning against footfaulting。 I can only say that a footfault is
crossing or touching the line with either foot before the ball is delivered；
or it is a jump or step。 I am not going into a technical discussion of
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footfaults。 It is unnecessary； and by placing your feet firmly before the
service there is no need to footfault。
It is just as unfair to deliberately footfault as to miscall a ball； and it is
wholly unnecessary。 The average footfault is due to carelessness； over…
anxiety； or ignorance of the rule。 All players are offenders at times； but it
can quickly be broken up。
Following this outburst of warning let me return to the American twist
service。 The stance for this is the same as for the slice； but the ball is
thrown slightly to the left of the head while the racquet passes up and over
the call； travelling from left to right and slightly forward。 The result is a
curve to the left and the break of the bound to the right。 This service is not
fast； but gives an excellent chance to follow to the net； since it travels high
and slowly and its bound is deep。 The American twist service should be hit
with the muscles of the side。 The slice is a shoulder swing。
The reverse twist is of an absolutely distinct type。 The stance is facing
the net with both toes fronting the line。 The racquet is gripped as a club。
The ball is thrown in front of the body and not high。 The swing is a sharp
wrist twist from right to left； the ball carried for some distance on the face
of the racquet。 The curve is from left to right while the bound is high and
breaks sharply to the left。 This delivery is slow； ineffective and very
uncertain。 There is little opportunity to follow it to the net。
The 〃cannon…ball〃 service is nothing but a slice as regards swing and
stance； but it is hit with a flat racquet face； thus imparting no spin to the
ball。 It is a case of speed alone。 This service is a point winner when it goes
in； but its average must necessarily be poor since its margin of error is so
small。 It is only useful to a tall man。
Varied pace and varied speed is the keynote to a good service。 I spent
hours in serving alone； striving to disguise the twist and pace of the ball。 I
would take a box of a dozen balls out on the court and serve the whole
dozen to No。 1 court with one style of delivery。 Then； crossing； I would
serve them back with another type of service。 Next； I would try the left
court from both sides。 My next move would be to pick out a certain
section of the service court； and serve for that until I could put the ball
where I wanted it。 Finally； I would strive to put it there with speed。
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All the time spent in this practice has stood me in good stead； for to…
day it is my service that pulls me out of many a deep hole； and causes
many a player to wish he was delivering the ball。 William M。 Johnston； the
American Champion； has a remarkable service for so short a man。 He
times his stroke perfectly； and hits it at the top of his reach； so that he gets
the full benefit of every inch of his stature and every pound of his weight。
He uses the slice delivery in the majority of matches。
Do not try freak services。 They are useless against high…class players。
Sharp breaking underhand cuts can be easily angled off for points by a
man who knows anything of the angles and effects of twist。 These
deliveries are affectation if used more than once or twice in a long match。
A sudden shift may surprise your opponent； but to continue to serve these
freaks is to destroy their use。
Mishu； the Rumanian star； has many very peculiar deliveries； but；
when playing against high…class tennis； he has brains enough to use a
straight service。 The freak services delight and yet annoy a gallery； for
once the novelty has worn off； nothing but the conceit remains。
The object of service is to obtain the maximum return with the
minimum effort。 This statement holds true for all tennis strokes； but in
none so strongly as in service。
The average player hits； his first service so hard； and with so little
regard for direction； that about nine out of ten first deliveries are faults。
Thus； one half your chances are thrown away； and the chance of double
faulting increased proportionately。
There is a well…known tennis saying to the effect that one fault is a
mistake； but two faults are a crimethat sums up the idea of service
adequately。 A player should always strive to put his first delivery in court。
In the first place it is apt to catch your opponent napping； as he half
expects a fault。 Secondly； it conserves your energy by removing the need
of a second delivery； which； in a long five…set match； is an item of such
importance that it may mean victory or defeat。
I urge all players to put their service into court with just as much speed
as they can be sure of； but to serve both deliveries at about the same speed。
Do not slog the first ball and pat the second； but hit both with average
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