Same Old…Same Old

By Charles E. Vasoll

When I read the article entitled "Throw It, Don’t Roll It" in the "Ask The PPTA" column in the September issue of "Platform Tennis Magazine", it brought back memories. I remembered having written a similar piece on the subject for the APTA newsletter some time ago. My files are not in such great shape. First, I looked in boxes in the garage. Failing there, I headed for the den. Luckily in some old Pendaflex folders I found the issue for which I was searching. It turned out to be September 1987. I am repeating it here just as it was published 16 years ago. (I have corrected some misspellings and some grammer but all other wording, names and punctuation, right or wrong, are as it was printed.)

AFTER THE POINT!

Have you ever noticed the variety of forms that players use to return the ball to the server after the point has been decided? In most instances, it is the team receiving the serve who has just lost the point. They now have the responsibility of getting the ball to their opponent for the next serve. This adds to the suspense because the net is again between them and their goal. Of course, there are times when one’s partner gets the chance to perform this important task. In any event, I have thought that it would be interesting to categorize these various species by their traits for easy identification.

Probably the largest group could be called the "kickers." They use their foot in a sweeping motion to put the ball in motion to the other side of the net. They always anticipate the net to be sufficiently high for the ball to go under. (Frequently they are wrong and somehow they are amazingly accurate in hitting the center hold down hook.)

"Kickers" can be further divided by their style. Just as in football, there are the "straight on" Jim Turner types (a vanishing breed in both sports) and the soccer "side-winder" style. Whether it is by their toe or their instep, these players have not yet discovered that there are no laces on the platform tennis ball.

A second group might be classified as the "Pitchers." Their specialty is throwing the ball. Now normally this would be a perfectly acceptable form, but…many of the throwers attempt to be "switch-pitchers." Those with paddles in their right hand are not Whitey Ford with their left. If bases-on-balls substituted for points, these folks would lose every game at love.

Another group might be dubbed "The Batters." They use their paddle to strike the ball in the direction of the server. One might assume that, since the batter controls the pitch, Joe DiMaggio’s record of hitting in 56 consecutive games would be in danger. Not with the "Batters" on the Platform Tennis court. While strikes, a complete miss, is rare, we have all witnessed the "foul ball" into the Warm-Up Hut and the "long-out" over the screen.

The newest specimen is the "Schwarzenegger." More formally these are the "Bouncer" type. They find it appropriate to exhibit their skill in the Chinese handball method of hitting the ball to the deck on their side of the court and have it bound to their opponent. We have noticed the "Bouncers" are particularly strong in night club play.

Now comes the time to analyze your own "Return-after the point" classification. Are you a "Kicker," a "Bouncer" or do you vary your style to avoid being typecast. Whatever method you use, practice it this summer to increase your accuracy so that we can get on with the game in the Fall. We’ll be watching.

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