Is it possible to adjust to a different grip shape?

[TonyB]

I've been playing with Yonex racquets practically my whole life and only recently started toying with the K90, which I actually do quite well with. It does, however, require a grip adjustment which I can apparently make without too much trouble. I guess the grip shapes are similar enough where I can make the transition.

However, I just recently got a POG that has a much more square grip shape and I can't for the life of me figure out how to make the adjustment. It seems that small changes in my hand position translate into huge changes in ball trajectory. Either the ball hits the bottom of the net or goes 10 feet out. I played about an hour with the racquet last night without any improvement. I just couldn't figure out where my hand should be positioned on the grip. But when I switched back to my Yonex, it was like night and day. I don't think I missed a single ball in the next 20 minutes. I'm pretty sure it's not the racquet itself, because every stroke that required a continental grip (serves, volleys, slices, etc.) were absolutely beautiful. But when I tried to hit a semi-western shot (topspin FH or 1HBH), my shots went to hell.

I guess I'm just wondering if anyone (4.0 rating or higher) has been able to switch racquets with vastly different grip shapes? You know, like from Head to Prince (or vice-versa). What was really throwing me off is that I couldn't really feel any significant difference between grip positions (eastern vs. western) with the square grip shape of the Prince. So when I had to make quick changes, I was completely lost.

[albino smurf]

Any time I use anything different than my K90 I really notice the difference. I can adjust but it is pretty annoying. My solution was to stick with the K90.

[TonyB]

I still can't figure out how the Bryan brothers switched from Wilson to Prince so easily. The grip shapes couldn't be more different.

I wonder if they have their grips customized? Would explain a lot.


Anyone else?

[morten]

I know how you feel. I like the wilsons(a ps 85 player) but i like the fxp prestige mid a lot too, but the grip bothers me a lot, especially on my onehanded backhand. The Bryans probably have theirs special made, most pros do. IMO Volkls and Prince have the most different shapes

[TonyB]

I definitely don't want to have to re-learn all my strokes just because of a different grip shape. And that's what I think I'd have to do to make the Prince work for me. I've checked my grip position relative to the racquet face and my fingers are RIGHT ON some of the bevel points (the corner edges, not the flats) with the Prince, while they're almost directly on the flats with the Yonex. I've noticed that with the Head grip shape, too... the corner edge of the top bevel is digging into my index finger on my backhand, making it completely unusable.

I think that could explain a lot.

[matchmaker]

A little duct tape under the grip can do marvels if you like a particular grip. The dunlop grip is my preferred grip. Volkl is too square and Wilson is too round, which gives me calluses on the middle finger. Especially when slicing this annoys me.