Semi-Eastern?

[Nadal-groupie]

Hi, I've just recently been playing tennis. My coach says I have some talent, but I'm pretty sure he is just saying that to make me feel good.

Well I have adopted the semi-eastern grip, its been working well, but all my shots are flat, the odd one does have some topspin but that's nothing to get worked up about.

My Coach tells me not to worry that topspin you just force it to happen when you use eastern grips, and he said that will come in time, is he right?

I do wish to win some tournies, but I read some articles and they all say topspin is the answer. <- Which I have lack of... Help?

If this helps,

Im 5'7, 13 years old,

[baek57]

swing low to high, topspin will follow.

[soyizgood]

I used to hit flat all these years. The past two years I made an effort to hit more topspin. I use an extreme eastern and I've had a few people commenting on my hitting with a lot of topspin. If I can do that at 31, I'm sure you'll be just fine. Extreme eastern is good for hitting flat and for topspin. Make sure you accelerate your swing after making contact with the ball. Took me months to figure that one out.

[halalula1234]

i used to hit flat with my 2 handed forehand using the semi eastern grip for my dominant hand and it works so well! until one day my coach start making me play with one hand. Then i just lost it all now i use 2 handed again since my coach went on holiday but i just cant seem to get the same shot..now i get top spin most of the time and when i try to hit flat its not so powerful and sometimes goes into the net.

and i think if your flat strokes are helping you hit winners that there;s no need to worry about top spins like your coach said. and u seem to be pretty tall for ur age so i think you have a very good chance of winning tourneys. I even use the semi eastern grip for my serve and it works just as good :D

[Nadal-groupie]

Thanx for the help, haha Im not that tall halalula, Im like the shortest in my grade.... Thanks Soy, I would of never thought of accelerating after contact

[Djokovicfan4life]

Hi, I've just recently been playing tennis. My coach says I have some talent, but I'm pretty sure he is just saying that to make me feel good.

Well I have adopted the semi-eastern grip, its been working well, but all my shots are flat, the odd one does have some topspin but that's nothing to get worked up about.

My Coach tells me not to worry that topspin you just force it to happen when you use eastern grips, and he said that will come in time, is he right?

I do wish to win some tournies, but I read some articles and they all say topspin is the answer. <- Which I have lack of... Help?

If this helps,

I'm 5'7, 13 years old,

Are you sure you didn't mean a semi western grip? Semi Eastern would be between continental and eastern I guess, which I think is actually called an Australian grip. It's certainly not a popular grip, especially if you're looking for topspin. I'm pretty sure you're using a semi western.

As far as acceleration goes, you should be at your maximum racquet speed at your point of contact, not after. Remember to swing low to high, like baek57 said and you'll be hitting topspin consistently in no time.

[SystemicAnomaly]

Have never heard of a semi-Eastern. Since you say that you are not getting much topspin, it doesn't sound like you are using a semi-Western. I've always referred to the grip variation that is between a Continental grip and the standard Eastern FH grip as a semi-Continental grip. This grip is sometimes used for FH volleys and by some players, such as Serena Williams, for the serve.

tennis.about.com/od/playersfemale/ss/SerenaPhotosbs_6.htm (http://tennis.about.com/od/playersfemale/ss/serenaphotosbs_6.htm)
.

[halalula1234]

Thanx for the help, haha Im not that tall halalula, Im like the shortest in my grade.... Thanks Soy, I would of never thought of accelerating after contact

wow really? im 5'6 and im in grade 11. and yeh i the shortest. u are the shortest for a 13 yr old? wow where do u live? lol ppl must be big hahah