LAWN-TENNIS. LAWS OF THE GAME.

THE SINGLE-HANDED GAME.

1.—For the single-handed game, the Court is 27 ft. in width and 78 ft. in length. It is divided across the middle by a net, the ends of which are attached to the tops of two posts, which stand 3 ft. outside the Court on each side. The height of the net is 3 ft. 6 in. at the posts, and 3 ft. at the centre. At each end of the Court, parallel with the net, and at a distance of 39 ft. from it, are drawn the Base-lines, the extremities of which are connected by the side-lines. Half-way between the side-lines, and parallel with them, is drawn the half-court-line, dividing the space on each side of the net into two equal parts, called the right and left courts. On each side of the net, at a distance of 21 ft. from it, and parallel with it, are drawn the service-lines.

2.—The balls shall not be less than 2½ in., nor more than 2-9/16 in. in diameter; and not less than 1-7/8 oz., nor more than 2 oz. in weight.

3.—In matches where Umpires are appointed, their decision shall be final; but where a Referee is appointed, an appeal shall lie to him from the decision of an Umpire on a question of law.

4.—The choice of sides and the right of serving during the first games shall be decided by toss; provided that, if the winner of the toss choose the right to serve, the other player shall have the choice of sides, and vice-versâ; and provided that the winner of the toss may, if he prefer it, require the other player to make the first choice.

5.—The players shall stand on opposite sides of the net; the player who first delivers the ball shall be called the Server, the other the Striker-out.

6.—At the end of the first game the Striker-out shall become Server, and the Server shall become Striker-out; and so on alternately in the subsequent games of the set.

7.—The Server shall stand with one foot beyond (i.e., further from the net than) the base line, and with the other foot upon the base line, and shall deliver the service from the right and left Courts alternately, beginning from the right.

8.—The ball served must drop within the service-line, half-court-line, and side-line of the Court which is diagonally opposite to that from which it was served, or upon any such line.

9.—It is a fault if the service be delivered from the wrong Court, or if the Server do not stand as directed in Law 7, or if the ball served drop in the net or beyond the service-line, or if it drop out of Court or in the wrong Court; it is not a fault if the Server's foot, which is beyond the base-line, do not touch the ground at the moment at which the service is delivered.

10.—A fault may not be taken.

11.—After a fault, the Server shall serve again from the same Court from which he served that fault, unless it was a fault because served from the wrong Court.

12.—A fault may not be claimed after the next service has been delivered.

13.—The service may not be volleyed, i.e., taken before it touches the ground.

14.—The Server shall not serve until the Striker-out is ready. If the latter attempt to return the service, he shall be deemed to be ready.

15.—A ball is in-play from the moment at which it is delivered in service (unless a fault) until it has been volleyed by the Striker-out in his first stroke, or has dropped in the net or out of Court, or has touched either of the players or anything that he wears or carries, except his racket in the act of striking, or has been struck by either of the players with his racket more than once consecutively, or has been volleyed before it has passed over the net, or has failed to pass over the net before its first bound (except as provided in Law 17), or has touched the ground twice consecutively on either side of the net, though the second time may be out of Court.

16.—It is a let if the ball served touch the net, provided the service be otherwise good; or if a service or fault be delivered when the Striker-out is not ready; or if either player be prevented by an accident beyond his control from serving or returning the ball in play. In case of a let, the service or stroke counts for nothing, and the server shall serve again.

17.—It is a good return although the ball touch the net, or, having passed outside either post, drop on or within any of the lines which bound the Court into which it is returned.

18.—The Server wins a stroke if the Striker-out volley the service, or fail to return the service or the ball in-play (except in the case of a let), or return the service or ball in play so that it drop outside any of the lines which bound his opponent's Court, or otherwise lose a stroke, as provided by Law 20.

19.—The Striker-out wins a stroke if the Server serve two consecutive faults, or fail to return the ball in-play (except in the case of a let), or return the ball in-play so that it drop outside any of the lines which bound his opponent's Court, or otherwise lose a stroke, as provided by Law 20.

20.—Either player loses a stroke if the ball in-play touch him or anything that he wears or carries, except his racket in the act of striking; or it he touch or strike the ball in-play with his racket more than once consecutively; or if he touch the net or any of its supports while the ball is in-play; or if he volley the ball before it has passed the net.

21.—On either player winning his first stroke, the score is called 15 for that player; on either player winning his second stroke, the score is called 30 for that player; on either player winning his third stroke, the score is called 40 for that player; and the fourth stroke won by either player is scored game for that player; except as below:—

If both players have won three strokes, the score is called deuce; and the next stroke won by either player is scored advantage for that player. If the same player win the next stroke, he wins the game; if he lose the next stroke, the score is again called deuce; and so on until either player win the two strokes immediately following the score at deuce, when the game is scored for that player.

22.—The player who first wins six games wins a set; except as below:—

If both players win five games, the score is called games-all; and the next game won by either player is scored advantage-game for that player. If the same player win the next game, he wins the set; if he lose the next game, the score is again called games-all; and so on until either player win the two games immediately following the score of games-all, when he wins the set.

Note.—Players may agree not to play advantage-sets, but to decide the set by one game after arriving at the score of games-all.

23.—The players shall change sides at the end of every set, but the Umpire, on appeal from either party, before the toss for choice, shall direct the players to change sides at the end of the first, third, and every subsequent alternate game of each set, provided that in such event the players shall not change sides at the end of a set if the number of games in such set be even; but if the appeal be made after a match has been begun, the Umpire shall only direct the players to change sides at the end of the first, third, and every subsequent alternate game of the odd and concluding set.

24.—When a series of sets is played, the player who was Server in the last game of one set, shall be Striker-out in the first game of the next.

ODDS.

25.—In the case of received odds:—

a. One sixth of fifteen is one stroke given in every six games of a set in the position shown by the annexed table.

b. Similarly, two-sixths, three-sixths, four-sixths, and five-sixths of fifteen are respectively two, three, four, and five strokes given in every six games of a set in the position shown by the table.

1st Game. 2nd Game. 3rd Game. 4th Game. 5th Game. 6th Game.

1/6 of 15. 0 15 0 0 0 0

2/6 of 15. 0 15 0 15 0 0

3/6 of 15. 0 15 0 15 0 15

4/6 of 15. 0 15 0 15 15 15

5/6 of 15. 0 15 15 15 15 15

Example.—A player receiving four-sixths of fifteen receives nothing in the first and third games, and fifteen in the second, fourth, fifth and sixth games of a set.

Note.—The table is not carried beyond the sixth game, as in the next and every succeeding six games the odds recur in the same positions.

c. The above odds may be given in augmentation of other receiving odds.

d. Fifteen is one stroke given at the beginning of every game of a set.

e. Thirty is two strokes given at the beginning of every game of a set.

f. Forty is three strokes given at the beginning of every game of a set.

26.—In the case of owed odds:

a. One-sixth of fifteen is one stroke owed in every six games of a set in the position shown by the annexed table.

b. Similarly, two-sixths, three-sixths, four-sixths, and five-sixths of fifteen are respectively two, three, four, and five strokes owed in every six games of a set in the position shown by the following table:

1st Game. 2nd Game. 3rd Game. 4th Game. 5th Game. 6th Game.

1/6 of 15. 15 0 0 0 0 0

2/6 of 15. 15 0 15 0 0 0

3/6 of 15. 15 0 15 0 15 0

4/6 of 15. 15 0 15 0 15 15

5/6 of 15. 15 0 15 15 15 15

Example.—A player owing two-sixths of fifteen would owe fifteen in the first and third games, and nothing in the second, fourth, fifth, and sixth games.

Note.—The table is not carried beyond the sixth game, as in the next and every succeeding six games the odds recur in the same positions.

c. The above odds may be owed in augmentation of other owed odds.

d. Fifteen is one stroke owed at the beginning of every game of a set.

e. Thirty is two strokes owed at the beginning of every game of a set.

f. Forty is three strokes owed at the beginning of every game of a set.

THE THREE-HANDED AND FOUR-HANDED GAME.

27.—The above laws shall apply to the three-handed and four-handed games, except as below.

28.—For the three-handed and four-handed games, the Court is 36 ft. in width. Within the side-lines, at a distance of 4½ ft. from them, and parallel with them, are drawn the service-side-lines. In other respects the Court is similar to that which is described in Law 1.

29.—In the three-handed game, the single player shall serve in every alternate game.

30.—In the four-handed game, the pair who have the right to serve in the first game may decide which partner shall do so, and the opposing pair may decide similarly for the second game. The partner of the player who served in the first game shall serve in the third; and the partner of the player who served in the second game shall serve in the fourth, and so on in the same order in all the subsequent games of a set.

31.—The players shall take the service alternately throughout each game; no player shall receive or return a service delivered to his partner; and the order of service and of striking out, once arranged, shall not be altered, nor shall the Striker-out change Courts to receive the service before the end of the set.

32.—The ball served must drop within the service-line, half-court-line, and service-side-line of the Court, which is diagonally opposite to that from which it was served, or upon any such line.

33.—It is a fault if the ball do not drop as provided in Law 32, or if it touch the Server's partner, or anything that he wears or carries.

34.—If a player serve out of his turn, the Umpire, as soon as the mistake is discovered by himself or by one of the players, shall direct the player to serve who ought to have served; but all strokes scored, and any fault served before such discovery, shall be reckoned. If a game shall have been completed before such discovery, then the service in the next alternate game shall be delivered by the partner of the player who served out of his turn; and so on in regular rotation.

KNOTTY POINTS. ADDENDA TO THE LAWS OF THE GAME.

(Revised and approved by the Council of the Lawn-Tennis Association.)

1.—In no case may the Striker-out volley the service, not even if the ball is clearly outside the service court.

2.—A player who is struck by, or strikes a ball in play (unless he thereby makes a good return) loses the stroke, no matter whether he is standing within the limits of the court or outside them. (For definition of "in play" see Law 15.)

3.—If the service is delivered before the Striker-out is ready, and he tries to return it, but fails, he loses the stroke.

4.—If the Striker-out cries "not ready" after the service has been delivered, but before the ball touches the ground, he may not claim a fault because the ball ultimately drops outside the service Court.

5.—If the Server, in attempting to serve, misses the ball altogether, it does not count as a fault, but it the ball is touched, no matter how slightly, by the racket, a service is thereby delivered and the rules governing the service at once apply.

6.—If a ball, served or returned, drops into the proper Court and screws or is blown back over the net, the player whose turn it is to strike may reach over the net and play the ball, provided that neither he nor any part of his clothes or racket touch the net. If he fails to play the ball, the stroke of course scores to his opponent, notwithstanding that the ball has gone back over the net.

7.—If a player throws his racket at the ball and so returns the ball into the proper Court, he loses the stroke.

8.—If a player catches the balls on his racket, walks with it to the net, and, reaching over, drops it into Court, he loses the stroke, as such a proceeding cannot be defined as an "act of striking" (vide law 15).

9.—If a player's racket passes over the net after he has returned the ball, he does not lose, providing the ball has passed over the net before being played, and has been properly returned.

10.—If a player or his racket touches the posts or supports of the net or posts while the ball is in-play, he loses the stroke. (For definition of "in-play" see law 15.)

II.—If a player's racket slips out of his hand and touches the net while the ball is in-play, he loses the stroke.

12.—If a player to avoid touching the net, jumps over it while the ball is in play, he loses the stroke.

13.—If a ball is returned outside the posts, either above or below the level of the top of the net, and drops into Court, it is a good return.

14.—If a player succeeds in returning a ball served or in-play which strikes a ball lying in the Court, it is a good return.

15.—If a spectator impedes, or in any way interferes with, a player, a "let" may be allowed under Law 16.

16.—A "let" does not annul a previous fault.

17.—The service always commences from the right-hand Court, even though odds are given or owed, and the service always continues alternately from the right and left Courts.

18.—If an Umpire erroneously calls "fault" and at once corrects himself and cries "play," and the striker-out tails to return the ball, a "let" must be allowed.

19.—If the ball in play (other than a service) strikes any part of the net or its supports, or the centre stay, no matter how low down (provided it does not touch the ground), and eventually goes over into the proper Court, it is a good return.

20.—If in a double game the Server's service strikes either of his opponents, he wins the stroke.

21.—If a match is postponed on account of rain or darkness coming on, or for any similar reason, and is continued on the subsequent day, the match shall be resumed from the point where it was discontinued on the previous day. An entirely new commencement may only be made with the consent of the Referee.

22.—If two players in a handicap play at the wrong odds, the match stands, unless they have been wrongly instructed by the referee, or any person or persons acting under his instructions, in which case the loser may claim to have the match replayed, unless the mistake in the odds has been in his favour. Such claim must be made within a reasonable time.

23.—A similar decision must be given if two players neglect to play advantage sets when one of the conditions of the event in which they are competing is that advantage sets should be played.

HANDICAPS. Table No. 1. (Received Odds).

When two players, both in receipt of odds, meet, the player receiving the smaller odds is put back to scratch. The following Table shows the point at which the other should then start. The number at the left of the horizontal columns denotes the player who goes back to scratch, those at the head of the vertical columns the player who still receives odds; and the numbers within the columns show the odds to be received by the player whose number stands at the head of the column:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

1/6 of 15 2/6 of 15 3/6 of 15 4/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 15· 15·1 15·2 15·3 15·4 15·5 30· 30·1 30·2 30·3 30·4 30·5 40·

1 1/6 of 15 2/6 of 15 2/6 of 15 4/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 15· 15·1 15·2 15·3 15·4 15·5 30· 30·1 30·2 30·3 30·5 40·

2 1/6 of 15 1/6 of 15 3/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 15· 15· 15·1 15·2 15·4 15·5 30· 30·1 30·2 30·3 30·4 30·5

3 1/6 of 15 2/6 of 15 4/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 15· 15·1 15·1 15·3 15·4 30· 30· 30·1 30·2 30·4 30·5

4 1/6 of 15 3/6 of 15 4/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 15· 15·1 15·2 15·4 15·5 30· 30·1 30·2 30·3 30·5

5 1/6 of 15 3/6 of 15 4/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 15· 15·1 15·3 15·5 15·5 30· 30·1 30·2 30·4

6 1/6 of 15 3/6 of 15 4/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 15· 15·1 15·3 15·5 15·5 30· 30·1 30·4

7 1/6 of 15 2/6 of 15 4/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 15· 15·2 15·4 15·5 30· 30·1 30·3

8 1/6 of 15 2/6 of 15 4/6 of 15 15· 15·1 15·2 15·4 15·5 30· 30·2

9 1/6 of 15 3/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 15· 15·2 15·3 15·4 30· 30·1

10 1/6 of 15 4/6 of 15 15· 15·1 15·2 15·3 15·5 30·1

11 2/6 of 15 4/6 of 15 15· 15·1 15·2 15·4 30·

12 2/6 of 15 4/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 15· 15·2 15·5

13 2/6 of 15 3/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 15·1 15·3

14 1/6 of 15 3/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 15·2

15 1/6 of 15 4/6 of 15 15·1

16 2/6 of 15 15·

17 5/6 of 15

This table has been calculated upon the following data:—

In the case of received odds

The average value of 1/6 is ·2048.

" " 2/6 is ·3552.

" " 3/6 is ·4811.

" " 4/6 is ·6069.

" " 5/6 is ·7841.

" length of a game is 4·6250 strokes.

15·1 means 15 and one-sixth of 15, and so on.

HANDICAPS. Table No. II. (Owed Odds).

When two players meet who are handicapped to owe odds, the player owing the lesser odds is placed at scratch. This Table shows the odds the other will still owe:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

1/6 of 15 2/6 of 15 3/6 of 15 4/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 15· 15·1 15·2 15·3 15·4 15·5 30· 30·1 30·2 30·3 30·4 30·5 40·

1 1/6 of 15 1/6 of 15 3/6 of 15 3/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 15· 15·1 15·1 15·2 15·3 15·4 30· 30· 30·1 30·2 30·3 30·4

2 1/6 of 15 1/6 of 15 4/6 of 15 3/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 15· 15· 15·1 15·2 15·3 15·4 15·5 30· 30· 30·1 30·2

3 1/6 of 15 2/6 of 15 2/6 of 15 4/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 15· 15· 15·1 15·2 15·3 15·4 15·5 30· 30· 30·1

4 1/6 of 15 2/6 of 15 3/6 of 15 4/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 15· 15·1 15·2 15·3 15·4 15·5 15·5 30·

5 1/6 of 15 2/6 of 15 3/6 of 15 4/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 15· 15·1 15·2 15·3 15·3 15·4 15·5

6 1/6 of 15 2/6 of 15 2/6 of 15 3/6 of 15 4/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 15· 15·1 15·1 15·2 15·3 15·4

7 1/6 of 15 1/6 of 15 2/6 of 15 3/6 of 15 4/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 15· 15· 15·1 15·1 15·2

8 0 1/6 of 15 2/6 of 15 3/6 of 15 4/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 15· 15· 15·1

9 0 1/6 of 15 2/6 of 15 3/6 of 15 4/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 15· 15·1

10 1/6 of 15 1/6 of 15 2/6 of 15 3/6 of 15 4/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 5/6 of 15 15·

11 1/6 of 15 1/6 of 15 2/6 of 15 3/6 of 15 4/6 of 15 4/6 of 15 5/6 of 15

12 1/6 of 15 1/6 of 15 2/6 of 15 3/6 of 15 3/6 of 15 4/6 of 15

13 1/6 of 15 1/6 of 15 1/6 of 15 2/6 of 15 3/6 of 15

14 0 1/6 of 15 1/6 of 15 2/6 of 15

15 0 1/6 of 15 2/6 of 15

16 0 1/6 of 15

17 1/6 of 15

This table has been calculated upon the following data:—

In the case of owed odds

The average value of 1/6 is ·2158

" " 2/6 is ·3929

" " 3/6 is ·5188

" " 4/6 is ·6448

" " 5/6 is ·7975

" length of a game is 4·6250 strokes.

In using this table, supply throughout the word "owe" before the odds specified.

REGULATIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF LAWN-TENNIS PRIZE MEETINGS.

1.—At Prize Meetings promoted by associations or clubs affiliated to the Lawn-Tennis Association, the laws of lawn-tennis for the time being sanctioned by the Lawn-Tennis Association, and the regulations hereinafter contained, shall be observed.

2.—All details connected with any Prize Meeting shall be settled by the Committee of the club holding the meeting, or by a Committee specially appointed for the purpose, of whom two, or such larger number as the Committee may determine, shall form a quorum.

3.—A circular shall be issued by the Committee specifying the conditions of the competition (see Recommendation 5).

4.—No cheques, orders for money, or cash payments in any form shall be given as prizes, and the amount actually paid for each prize shall in no case be below the advertised value of the same.

5.—The Committee shall elect a Referee, with power to appoint a substitute to be approved by them.

6.—The Referee, or such other member or members of the Committee as may be selected for the purpose, shall have power to appoint Umpires, and the Referee shall decide any point of law which an Umpire may profess himself unable to decide, or which may be referred to him on appeal from the decision of an Umpire.

7.—The Referee shall, during the Meeting, be ex-officio a member of the Committee.

8.—The Courts shall be allotted to the Competitors, and the Competitors shall be called upon to play, by a member or members of the Committee, to be selected for the purpose, and in case of disagreement the Committee shall decide.

9.—The Committee shall help to keep order on the ground, and shall consult and decide upon any question arising out of the competition, if summoned for that purpose by the Referee or by any two of their number; and they shall have power, when so convened, the misconduct of a Competitor having been reported to them by a member of the Committee or an Umpire, to disqualify the offender, and further to order him off the ground, should his misconduct appear to them to justify such action, but before such action shall be taken, an opportunity of offering an explanation shall be afforded to the Competitor whose misconduct has been reported to them.

10.—It is the duty of an Umpire—

a. To ascertain that the net is at the right height before the commencement of play, and to measure and adjust the net during play, if asked to do so, or if, in his opinion, its height has altered;

b. To call the faults (subject to Regulation 11);

c. To call the strokes when won, or when he is asked to call them, and to record them on the Umpire's second sheet;[9]

d. To call the games and the sets at the end of each, or when asked to call them, and to record them on the Umpire's scoring sheet;

NOTE.—At the end of each game the games should be called with the name of the player who is in advance, thus: "2 games to 1, B. wins," or "B. leads." If the games are level the score should be called thus, "3 games all," or as the case may be. At the end of each set the sets should be called in like manner.

e. To direct the competitors to change sides, in accordance with Law 23;

f. When appealed to, during a rest, whether a doubtful ball is "in-play" or not, to call "Play it out," and at the conclusion of the rest, to give his decision (subject to Regulation 11) or direct the Competitors to play the stroke again;

g. To decide all doubtful or disputed strokes, and all points of law (subject to Regulations 11 and 12);

h. In handicap matches to call the odds at the commencement of each set;

i. To sign the Umpire's scoring sheets, and to deliver them at the conclusion of the match to such person as the Committee may authorize to receive them;

Provided, that no omission of any of the foregoing duties on the part of an Umpire shall of itself invalidate a game or match.

11.—It is the duty of a Line-Umpire to call faults and to decide strokes relating to the line for which he is appointed Umpire, and to such line only.

12.—The decision of an Umpire shall be final upon every question of fact, and no Competitor may appeal from it; but if an Umpire be in doubt as to a point of law, or if a Competitor appeal against his decision on such a point, the Umpire shall submit to it the Referee, whose decision shall be final.

13.—The Referee shall not bet on a match, nor shall an Umpire on a match in which he is acting, and if an objection for this or any other reason be made to a Referee or Umpire, either before or during the match, by a member of the Committee or a Competitor, the match, if begun, shall, if necessary, be at once stopped by the Referee or two members of the Committee, who shall take the opinion of the Committee on the objection, and the Committee shall have power to remove or suspend the Referee or Umpire so objected to; provided that the decision of the majority of the Committee present shall be final, and that the Referee or Umpire so objected to (if a member of the Committee) shall not be at liberty to vote on the question.

14.—No competitor may transfer his entry to another player.

15.—Competitors shall have a right, by themselves or their deputies, to be present at the draw.

16.—The draw shall be conducted in the following manner:—Each Competitor's name shall be written on a separate card or paper, and these shall be placed in bowl or hat, drawn out one by by one at random, and copied on a list in the order in which they have been drawn.

17.—When the number of Competitors is 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, or any higher power of 2, they shall meet in pairs, in accordance with the system shown by the following diagram:

1st Round.

A } 2nd Round.

} ——————B }

B } } 3rd Round.

} ——————D }

C } } }

} ——————D } }

D } }

} ——————D

E } }

} ——————F } }

F } } }

} ——————F }

G } }

} ——————H }

H }

18.—When the number of Competitors is not a power of 2, there shall be byes in the first round. The number of byes shall be equal to the difference between the number of competitors and the next higher power of 2; and the number of pairs that shall meet in the first round shall be equal to the difference between the number of Competitors and the next lower power of 2. The byes, if even in number, shall be divided, as the names are drawn, in equal proportions at the top and bottom of the list, above and below the pairs; if uneven in number, there shall be one more bye at the bottom than at the top. Thus, in

SERIES 1.

From 5 to 8 Competitors.

With 5, there will be 1 bye at the top, and 2 byes at the bottom of the list, thus:

1st Round. 2nd Round. 3rd Round.

A (a bye) ..................A }

}

B } } ——————A }

} ——————B } }

C } }

} ——————A

D (a bye) ..................D } }

} ——————E }

E (a bye) ..................E }

With 6, there will be 1 bye at the top, and 1 bye at the bottom.

With 7, 1 bye at the bottom.

With 8, no byes.

SERIES 2.

From 9 to 16 Competitors.

1st Round. 2nd Round. 3rd Round. 4th Round.

A (a bye) ..................A }

} ——————B }

B (a bye) ..................B } }

} ——————E }

C (a bye) ..................C } } }

} ——————E } }

D } } }

} ——————E } }

E } } ——————G

}

F (a bye) ..................F } }

} ——————G } }

G (a bye) ..................G } } }

} ——————G }

H (a bye) ..................H } }

} ——————H }

I (a bye) ..................I }

With 10, 3 byes at the top, and 3 byes at the bottom.

With 11, 2 byes at the top, and 3 byes at the bottom.

With 12, 2 byes at the top, and 2 byes at the bottom.

With 13, 1 bye at the top, and 2 byes at the bottom.

With 14, 1 bye at the top, and 1 bye at the bottom.

With 15, 1 bye at the bottom.

With 16, no byes.

SERIES 3.

From 17 to 32 Competitors.

With 17, 7 byes at the top, and 8 byes at the bottom, thus:

1st Round. 2nd Round. 3rd Round. 4th Round. 5th Round

A (a bye) ............A }

} ————A }

B (a bye) ............B } }

} ————D }

C (a bye) ............C } } }

} ————D } }

D (a bye) ............D } }

} ————D }

E (a bye) ............E } } }

} ————F } } }

F (a bye) ............F } } } }

} ————H } }

G (a bye) ............G } } }

} ————H } }

H } } }

} ————H } }

I } } ————D

}

J (a bye) ............J } }

} ————K } }

K (a bye) ............K } } }

} ————K } }

L (a bye) ............L } } } }

} ————M } } }

M (a bye) ............M } } }

} ————O }

N (a bye) ............N } }

} ————O } }

O (a bye) ............O } } }

} ————O }

P (a bye) ............P } }

} ————Q }

Q (a bye) ............Q }

With 18, 7 byes at the top, and 7 byes at the bottom.

With 19, 6 byes at the top, and 7 byes at the bottom.

With 20, 6 byes at the top, and 6 byes at the bottom.

With 21, 5 byes at the top, and 6 byes at the bottom.

With 22, 5 byes at the top, and 5 byes at the bottom.

With 23, 4 byes at the top, and 5 byes at the bottom.

With 24, 4 byes at the top, and 4 byes at the bottom.

With 25, 3 byes at the top, and 4 byes at the bottom.

With 26, 3 byes at the top, and 3 byes at the bottom.

With 27, 2 byes at the top, and 3 byes at the bottom.

With 28, 2 byes at the top, and 2 byes at the bottom.

With 29, 1 bye at the top, and 2 byes at the bottom.

With 30, 1 bye at the top, and 1 bye at the bottom.

With 31, 1 bye at the bottom.

With 32, no byes.

And so on, with larger numbers, in like manner.

19.—If a Competitor be absent when called on to play, or shall refuse to play, or shall have given previous notice to the Referee, or a member of the Committee that he cannot play in his next round, his adversary shall win in that round.

20.—In handicap-matches the Competitors shall be handicapped by the Committee, or by a Handicapper appointed by the Committee.

21.—Unless any other principle of handicapping be adopted, the handicap shall be by classes, as below:

CLASS 0 (scratch).

Class 1 receives 1-sixth of 15.

" 2 " 2-sixths of 15.

" 3 " 3-sixths of 15.

" 4 " 4-sixths of 15.

" 5 " 5-sixths of 15.

" 6 " 15.

" 7 " 15 and 1-sixth of 15.

" 8 " 15 and 2-sixths of 15.

" 9 " 15 and 3-sixths of 15.

" 10 " 15 and 4-sixths of 15.

" 11 " 15 and 5-sixths of 15.

" 12 " 30.

" 13 " 30 and 1-sixth of 15.

" 14 " 30 and 2-sixths of 15.

" 15 " 30 and 3-sixths of 15.

" 16 " 30 and 4-sixths of 15.

" 17 " 30 and 5-sixths of 15.

" 18 " 40.

When two players in different classes below scratch meet, the superior player shall start from scratch, and the odds received by the inferior player are as shown by the annexed table, No. 1. To use the table, find in the diagonal line of figures the number representing the class of the superior player, then travel along the corresponding horizontal column until the vertical column is reached, which bears at the top the number of the class of the inferior player. The odds specified at the intersection of the two columns are the odds required.

Example.—If Class 3 has to meet Class 9, start from the figure 3 in the diagonal line of figures, and look horizontally until the vertical column is reached headed by the figure 6. The odds given at the point of intersection of the two columns (viz., 15 and 1-sixth of 15) are the odds required.

When the difference between the best and worst players entered is great (say more than 30), it is desirable to handicap the best players at owed odds. The players above scratch (i.e., owing odds) should be classified as follows:

Class 1 owes 1-sixth of 15.

" 2 " 2-sixths of 15.

" 3 " 3-sixths of 15.

" 4 " 4-sixths of 15.

" 5 " 5-sixths of 15.

" 6 " 15.

" 7 " 15 and 1-sixth of 15.

" 8 " 15 and 2-sixths of 15.

" 9 " 15 and 3-sixths of 15.

" 10 " 15 and 4-sixths of 15,

" 11 " 15 and 5-sixths of 15.

" 12 " 30.

" 13 " 30 and 1-sixth of 15.

" 14 " 30 and 2-sixths of 15.

" 15 " 30 and 3-sixths of 15.

" 16 " 30 and 4-sixths of 15.

" 17 " 30 and 5-sixths of 15.

" 18 " 40.

When the two players in different classes above scratch meet, the inferior player shall start from scratch, and the odds owed by the superior player are as shown by the annexed table, No. II.

This table is to be used in the same way as the former, the class of the superior player being looked for in the horizontal line of figures at the top, and the class of the inferior player in the diagonal line of figures.

Example.—If Class 12 (owe 30) meet Class 7 (owe 15 and one-sixth of 15), the former must owe the latter the odds of four-sixths of 15.

22.—In championship matches and handicaps by classes, as above, advantage sets shall be played throughout the ties.

23.—The Committee may, whether appealed to by any Competitor or not, postpone the meeting or any match or part of a match if, in their opinion, the state of the weather, or of the light, or the condition of the ground, or other circumstances, render it advisable to do so.

CHAMPIONSHIPS.

ENGLAND.

1884. Miss Maud Watson

1885. Miss Maud Watson

1886. Miss Bingley

1887. Miss L. Dod

1888. Miss L. Dod

1889. Mrs. Hillyard

1890. Miss Rice

1891. Miss Dod

1892. Miss Dod

1893. Miss Dod

1894. Mrs. Hillyard

1895. Miss C. Cooper

1896. Miss C. Cooper

1897. Mrs. Hillyard

IRELAND.

LADIES' SINGLES.

1879. Miss M. Langrishe

1880. Miss Meldon

1881. No competition

1882. Miss Abercrombie

1883. Miss M. Langrishe

1884. Miss M. Watson

1885. Miss M. Watson

1886. Miss M. Langrishe

1887. Miss L. Dod

1888. Mrs. Hillyard

1889. Miss Martin

1890. Miss Martin

1891. Miss Martin

1892. Miss Martin

1893. Miss Stanuell

1894. Mrs. Hillyard

1895. Miss C. Cooper

1896. Miss Martin

1897.

SCOTLAND.

LADIES' SINGLES.

1886. Miss Boulton

1887. Miss Butler

1888. Miss Butler

1889. Miss Butler

1890. Miss Jackson

1891. Miss Jackson

1892. Miss Jackson

1893. Miss Corder

1894. Miss L. Paterson

1895. Miss L. Paterson

1896. Miss L. Paterson

1897.

WALES.

LADIES' SINGLES.

1887. Miss M. Watson

1888. Mrs. Hillyard

1889. Miss Pope

1890. No competition

1891. Miss Pope

1892. Miss M. Sweet-Escott

1893. Miss Cochrane

1894. Miss Jackson

1895. Miss Corder

1896. No competition

1897.

COVERED COURT CHAMPIONSHIPS.

ENGLAND.

LADY CHAMPIONS.

1890. Miss Jacks

1891. Miss M. Shackle

1892. Miss M. Shackle

1893. Miss M. Shackle

1894. Miss Austin

1895. Miss C. Cooper

1896. Miss Austin

1897. Miss Austin

WALES.

LADY CHAMPION.

1896. Mrs. Pickering

1897.

FOOTNOTES: