The whole principle of the game was the chase, and to succeed in making a series of good chases depended either on great knowledge of length or the power of cut. It was finesse and science. There was plenty of opportunity for strong and vigorous hitting when the position of affairs made the dedans and tambour the desired object, but the general character of the game was scientific placing of the ball, accurate length, strong cut, and head play. All this is changed with a vengeance, and our American cousins were the pioneers of a hard, fast, brutal, but terribly effective style of play. Pettitt was the individual who proved to a sorrowing English public that for the purpose of winning games a fast underhand service running along the pent-house, often nicking, and if not a dead nick, sticking to the side wall was more effective than the old graceful method. It was impossible to play the old cut stroke off such services. All that could be done was to boast and force. Similia similibus curantur, and once begin a hard and fast attack, the only way to win the rest is to meet severity with severity. Chases are forgotten, each player rushes all over the court trying to
