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In tennis, choosing how to hold your racquet, aka. your grip, is one of the most important part of your strokes. Each grip is suited to a different style of play, for example, say you're a heavy top spin player, then you may want to use the western forehand grip for your forehand. In this article, I will be discussing the various tennis grips, as well as the benefits the various grips offer. So, lets begin with the...
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Eastern Grip
The Eastern Grip is one of the most popular grips for beginners, as well as amateurs and pros. It is widely used because of its comfort, as well as the fact that it can also be used to hit serves, backhands, and volleys. Here's how to make an Eastern Grip.
- Hold the racquet in your left hand (or right hand if you’re a left-handed player), so that its in front of you..
- Rotate the racquet so that the head (strings) of the racquet is perpendicular to the ground.
- Lay the palm of your right hand (or left hand for lefties) flat on the head of the racquet.
- Move your hand toward your body, down the handle of the racquet, until it hits the end, or you feel the most comfortable.
- Wrap your fingers around the handle and space them slightly apart. Your thumb and forefinger should lie almost directly on top of the handle, so that they form a V that points toward your right shoulder. Your thumb should lie across the top of the handle.
Western Grip
The Western Grip is a very popular among advanced players. The reason it is so popular is because the Western Grip is excellent for forehand tennis play. Many new players avoid this grip because it feels awkward when first used. Here's how to make a Western Grip:
- Start by holding the racquet with an Eastern Forehand Grip (see above).
- Relax your grip and turn the racquet counterclockwise until the top of points toward the "11 o'clock" position. Left-handed players should turn the racket clockwise to the "1 o'clock" position. This is grip is sometimes referred to as a semi-western grip.
- For a full western grip follow the same procedure above except rotate the top of the racquet until it points to "10 o'clock" position ("2 o'clock" for left-handed players).
- Wrap your fingers around the handle and space them apart slightly. Your hand should form a V which should point to your right (or left), and your thumb should lie across the top of the handle.
Continental Grip
The Continental Grip is most often used for a single handed backhand, as well as for volleys and serves by more advanced players. Some people try to use the Continental Grip for their forehand, however, this should be avoided, as it is a very weak grip for the forehand. Here's how to make a Continental Tennis Grip:
- Start by forming an Eastern Grip (see above).
- Loosen your hand and turn the racquet with your left hand (or right hand if you're a left-handed player).
- Turn the racquet until it is perpendicular to the ground, or pointing to the "12 o'clock" position. Then, if you are right-handed, turn the racket to about the "1 o'clock" position. If you are left-handed, turn the racket to the "11 o'clock" position.
- Wrap your fingers around the handle and space them slightly apart. The V formed by the thumb and forefinger should point toward you, and the thumb should lie along the length of the racquet handle. The bottom knuckle of your index finger should lie right on top of the racquet.
Hopefully this guide helps you out in choosing a new grip for your tennis play. Also, keep in mind, you don't have to follow the grip guide to a "T", if you're a casual player, I'd say do what feels best for you, as enjoying the game is all that truly matters.
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