I do not look to see a material change in the playing rules. A
revival of the footfault fiend, who desires to handicap the
server, is international in character and, like the poor, "always
with us." The International Federation has practically adopted a
footfault rule for 1921 that prohibits the server lifting one
foot unless replaced behind the baseline. It is believed this
will do away with the terrific services. The only effect I can
see from it is to move the server back a few inches, or possibly
a foot, while he delivers the same service and follows in with a
little more speed of foot. It will not change the game at all.
Sir Oliver Lodge, the eminent scientist, has joined the advocates
of but one service per point. This seems so radical and in all so
useless, since it entirely kills service as other than a mere
formality, and puts it back where it was twenty-five years ago,
that I doubt if even the weight of Sir Oliver Lodge's eminent
opinion can put it over. To allow one service is to hand the game
more fully into the receiver's hands than it now rests in the
server's.
The playing rules are adequate in every way, and the perfect
accord with which representatives of the various countries meet
and play, happily, successfully, and what is more important,
annually, is sufficient endorsement of the fundamental
principles. The few slight variations of the different countries
are easily learned and work no hardships on visiting players.
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