Release date is 2025-07-05

Carla Foust, Adrian Mastronardi, Thiers Halliwell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)

"Tennis for girls by Florence A. Ballin" is an instructional sports handbook written in the early 20th century. The book teaches young women how to play lawn tennis, explaining rules, equipment, techniques, and basic strategy with an emphasis on proper form and confident play. The guide opens by noting differences in early training for girls, then explains the court, scoring, service rotation, and common terms. It stresses learning correct fundamentals—grip, stance, footwork, timing, and “eye on the ball”—and recommends either professional lessons or focused practice against a wall. Clear, practical chapters cover groundstrokes (forehand and backhand drives, including topspin), the service, lobs, volleys, and the overhead smash, with constant reminders to follow through and use body weight. Ballin then moves to tactics: how to place shots, vary pace, create openings, and decide when to come to net in singles; how partners should coordinate in doubles, value deep placement and sharp angles, and use or defend against the lob; and how mixed doubles roles can be balanced. She closes with brief advice on tournament play, mental focus, and sportsmanship. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Originally published: New York: American Sports Publishing, 1919