Some backhand advice from 1922!

Here’s something that you might find interesting from my antique tennis collection.

Below is some text from the 1922 coaching book ‘Lawn Tennis Do’s & Dont’s’ by A E Crawley, with it’s eccentric and amusing technical advice on hitting a backhand. What a difference 85 years makes!

Judging by the photo on the book, knee bend was not a priority in 1922!

“To practise this backhand grip, and thereby the backhand strokes, it is best to begin with a very bent arm and do some ‘tapping’ at the net. The bending and straightening of the arm come quite easily, and there you have the kernel of the backhand strokes. It is the same stroke as in jiu-jitsu, in which you strike with the heel of the hand the adversary’s jugular, and knock him senseless. Many good players hit the backhand drive with the arm only slightly bent; for half-volleys and rising balls this is all right, but otherwise it is too slow, and always lacks ‘punch.’ Especially in backhand volleys is the ‘punch’ essential, and this ‘punch’ is the development of the tap-tapping referred to above. It is quite natural that the punch of the backhand drive should depend more on arm-work than does that of the forehand because the arm bends different ways in the two strokes. But body-movement can easily be cultivated in the backhand, after you have mastered the ’smack’ from the bent arm.”

So there it is - all you need to do is practise your tap-tapping and jiu-jitsu chop and your backhand will knock your opponent senseless - or something like that!

John Key

1922 backhand advice, backhand technical advice, Lawn Tennis Dos & Donts by A E Crawley