returns down the line. Thus the natural shot is covered and your
opponent's court is opened for an angle volley 'cross. Should
your opponent try the cross drive, his chances of beating you
clean and keeping the ball in court are much less than his
chances of error.

Strive to kill your volleys at once, but should your shot not
win, follow the ball 'cross and again cover the straight shot.
Always force the man striving to pass you to play the hardest
possible shot.

Attack with your volleys. Never defend the ball when at the net.
The only defensive volley is one at your feet as you come in. It
is a mid-court shot. Volleys should win with placement more than
speed, although speed may be used on a high volley.

Closely related to the volley, yet in no way a volley stroke, is
the overhead smash. It is the Big Bertha of tennis. It is the
long range terror that should always score. The rules of
footwork, position, and direction that govern the volley will
suffice for the overhead. The swing alone is different. The swing
should be closely allied to the slice service, the racquet and
arm swinging freely from the shoulder, the wrist flexible and the
racquet imparting a slight twist to the ball to hold it in court.
The overhead is mainly a point winner through speed, since its
bounce is so high that a slow placement often allows time for a
recovery.

The overhead is about 60 per cent speed, and 40 per cent combined
place and twist. Any overhead shot taken on or within the