We begin by reminding ourselves to Get a Grip on our Tennis Racket!
The wonderful game of tennis contains many facets: the court, rules, competition, athletic engagement, skill, and the all important sportsmanship. Each of these are integral parts to every match. Today we talk about the first skill one must possess-the grip!
Tennis Grip Choices, Galore!
There are many ways to hold a tennis racket and each of them have their unique benefits and drawbacks. Each player will develop a grip that is comfortable to them, and it will vary depending on the shot, player position, and desired outcome. As a beginner, it can be hard to decide how to first hold a tennis racket.
Continental Grip for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner?
The first grip we discuss depends on the first shot we want to try. To most of us, the first shot we will try is the forehand. When first picking up a tennis racket, I recommend placing the racket on the ground and simply picking it up. However it goes in your hand most comfortably is how you should begin holding your racket. Generally this grip will naturally provide the continental grip. The other grips most common for the forehand is the eastern forehand grip and the relatively new (in the tennis world that spans over 150 years, anyway) western forehand grip.
The continental grip is the grip typically used by beginners. It is executed with the racket face maintained perpendicular (that is, the strings of the racket are facing the net) throughout the entire 3 step process of the forehand stroke, from the back swing, up to the point of contact, and even the throughout the follow through. This shot gives a good feel for the ball, and allow for a smooth, powerful, and consistent shot after just a little practice.
This grip is the most versatile of the three, usable for both forehand and backhand as well as being the preferred grip of most players for serves and volleys, due to the lack of need to switch grips for different shots.
Flatten it out With The Eastern Tennis Grip
The eastern forehand grip starts with a slight turn of the racket about 1/8 of a turn counter-clockwise, so the racket head is slightly angled to the ground. This grip will help create a flatter shot, with more power and speed typically produced using it.
Be careful, the ball can have a tendency to sail ‘long’, that is, go out past the baseline before it hits the court, resulting in a lost point. The advantages include ease of switching to other grips mid point, allowing for a greater variety of shots a player can make at different times throughout the match.
A Western Tennis Grip that Eastwood Would be Proud of
The grip that has taken over more than just this hemisphere over the past quarter plus century is the western forehand grip. It is achieved when, from an eastern grip, you turn the racket 1/8th of a turn further counterclockwise, so the racket head is facing a bit more downward toward the court.
This grip will create maximum topspin, resulting in greater accuracy as the ball will have more of a tendency to loop highly over the net while coming down in a more vertical angle than the continental. While fewer balls will be hit long, when mishit is will most likely be headed to the bottom of the net before it reaches the other side of the court. I hate when that happens!
The bonus is you can really put a walloping on the ball and still see it droop down into a corner of the court six inches from the baseline and sideline, then taking a hard kick that seems to accelerate the ball either to your unprepared opponent or right past their outstretched arms. The western grip has become the norm for juniors and most professionals alike, overtaking the continental and eastern in terms of popularity and effectiveness.
That About Grip Wraps it Up!
All three of these grips are the current standard bearers for how to hold a tennis racket. There will certainly be other styles that are morphed from these, providing different avenues to success and leading to different abilities on the ball. For the one that fits you the best, try starting with just picking up a tennis racket from the ground and hitting a tennis ball, and the grip will find its way into your hand!
