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The Backhand Stroke

There is no is on the right foot. Observe that the stroke in the game that has been so in- control of the racket must be, in the begin- LAWN TENNIS] ning of this stroke, from the elbow and in the wrist. The main feature of the stroke is the predominance of control in the wrist. wards the net, the little-finger side of the forearm is facing the ball, and the forearm and the racket handle are in the same line.

This is of the utmost importance. Note again carefully the position of the feet.

No. III. shows the ball directly after impact. It will be seen that the ball is taken well in front of the body, much sooner, in fact, than in the forehand stroke. The face of the racket at the moment of impact is almost vertical, and it draws rapidly up across the ball when hitting it, if it is desired to impart lift to the ball. This stroke quite quite naturally gives a lot of lift to the ball.

The return keeps very low to the net, has great pace, and "dives" very well at the end of its flight.

No. IV. shows a most important position P. A. VAILE. BACKHAND DRIVE (I.). SWING BACK.

This is emphasised, because in the ordinary backhand stroke there is no wrist, and players changing their stroke are inclined to P. A. VAILE. BACKHAND DRIVE (II.). JUST BEFORE IMPACT. make this an arm-stroke, which cannot successfully be accomplished. No. II. shows the moment before impact.

Here the elbow will be seen pointing to- P. A. VAILE. BACKHAND DRIVE (III.). IMPACT. in this drive. Those who try this stroke in England have two bad faults. They play it with their feet out of position. This puts the chest in the way of the arm, and prevents a proper swing back, and in the follow through they do not allow the wrist-or rather the forearm-to turn as it is shown doing here. The forearm will, if allowed to carry out its natural tendency, turn, as it is shown doing here, so that the thumb, instead of remaining underneath the handle, turns with the racket until at the finish of the stroke it is seen as in No. V. above the handle. This is a point of the utmost importance, both as regards the grace and the effectiveness of this stroke, for if the player allows his stroke to end with his thumb below the handle, he will find that he cannot possibly get a free follow through and finish. If, on the other hand, he allows P. A. VAILE. BACKHAND DRIVE (IV.). SHOWING THUMB TURNING OVER. his forearm to turn, naturally he will get a beautiful and effective drive.

The last position in this stroke shows how the weight has all gone on to the right foot, and down it, so that the player is thrown into his stride for the net or for his next stroke.

This stroke, the only backhand drive worthy of the name, is not hard to acquire.

It may be played as a plain return off a low ball, a lifting drive off a low or medium ball, or a horizontal drive. It is a most adaptable stroke. With it one can chop, cut, lob, or smash with accuracy and strength far beyond anything possible in the ordinary stroke. The want of this stroke is the outstanding defect in the English game. This deficiency reduces many players who might otherwise be quite good to one-sided men.