Grips

[Ainsley]

There are basically 4 types of tennis grips. The Continental, Eastern, Semi-Western, and Western Grip. Each of these grips have advantages and disadvantages to playing a certain style of tennis.

Using the Continental grip there is little to no grip change for other shots and it is very easy to hit a low bouncing ball. There is also a lack of topspin that is generated when using this grip and a lower power potential is usually achieved when using this grip. It is also difficult hitting the higher bouncing balls with this grip.

Using the Eastern grip which was used by Pete Sampras and Steffi Graf. Today it is still a quite popular grip to use. It is ideal for serve and volley players, and players can achieve good topspin with this grip. This grip also works well on faster court surfaces. It is also easy for beginners to learn this grip. This grip however generates less topspin than the Western grip and it is difficult to hit high bouncing balls. It is also not ideal for aggressive baseline players to use this grip.

The Semi-Western grip which was used by Martina Hingis and Andre Agassi and more recently by Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams. It is also the grip that I use. It is probably the most popular grip today on the tour.

This grip gives you excellent topspin and is ideal for baseline and all court players. The higher bouncing balls are not difficult to hit in using this grip and the grip works well on all court surfaces. There is some difficulty with low bouncing balls with this grip.

The final grip is the Western Grip. This is thegrip you would use to generate maximum topspin. This grip is great for slower Clay court surfaces. It is also ideal for baseline players and the high bouncing ball is easy to hit using this grip.

The grip is a pretty extreme grip and changing for different shots is very difficult making it very hard for beginners to learn how to use this grip. It is also hard to handle the low bouncing ball using this grip.

I am a baseline player who likes to dictate the pace of the match and the shot play and the Semi-Western grip has worked for my style of play.

What grip do you use?

[ponchi101]

Eastern on my FH, western on my BH.
And, sorry, my dear, YOUNG friend. Steffi hit with a Continental on the FH.

[Ainsley]

Eastern on my FH, western on my BH.
And, sorry, my dear, YOUNG friend. Steffi hit with a Continental on the FH.

Are you sure about that? Everything I see about her forehand grip is she used an Eastern grip.

[ponchi101]

Positive. My favorite player of all time, and that grip amazed me.

[Ainsley]

Positive. My favorite player of all time, and that grip amazed me.

If you look her up though it all says Eastern grip. I will take your word for it. I haven't seen much of her play other than some videos and she did have an unusual forehand.

[Deuce]

I started playing in the '80s.
If I try a western grip, I hit the ball straight into my feet.
It seems incredibly unnatural to me.

[Ainsley]

I started playing in the '80s.
If I try a western grip, I hit the ball straight into my feet.
It seems incredibly unnatural to me.

I think the extreme western grip is the least used grip on tour and especially recreationally used.

The Semi-Western grip is the one I use and am comfortable with as it helps me generate great topspin and strong baseline play. I am also not a very good volleyer or overhead hitter. I also would say I have an average serve at best.

[ponchi101]

Only player ever with good volleys, hitting with a semi-western FH grip, was Becker.
Everybody else needs to learn to spin that racket as you approach and lock on a continental once you are inside the service box. NO exceptions.

[Ainsley]

Only player ever with good volleys, hitting with a semi-western FH grip, was Becker.
Everybody else needs to learn to spin that racket as you approach and lock on a continental once you are inside the service box. NO exceptions.

The little I've seen from Boris Becker he seemed like he was as strong as an Ox.

[Deuce]

Only player ever with good volleys, hitting with a semi-western FH grip, was Becker.
Everybody else needs to learn to spin that racket as you approach and lock on a continental once you are inside the service box. NO exceptions.

The little I've seen from Boris Becker he seemed like he was as strong as an Ox.

^ But not as smart as one.

[Ainsley]

Only player ever with good volleys, hitting with a semi-western FH grip, was Becker.
Everybody else needs to learn to spin that racket as you approach and lock on a continental once you are inside the service box. NO exceptions.

The little I've seen from Boris Becker he seemed like he was as strong as an Ox.

^ But not as smart as one.

Hahaha LMAO

[Scoob]

I use an Eastern Grip.

[ponchi101]

Translation: "I have been playing for over 30 years..."

[Owendonovan]

I try to use a grip on reality.

[Scoob]

Translation: "I have been playing for over 30 years..."

I have been playing since the late 70's when I first really picked up a racquet and then through the 80's to the present.