return grip

[nadal for number1]

i have trouble when recieving, my forehand and BH grips get mixed up and i cant hit a good return because of the different grips.
any help?

[Headshotterer]

hav your 2H bh grip and if he serves to your FH switch to it

[Valdez737]

You just need to practice. Changing grips shd be 2nd nature you shd not even have to think about it.

[Element54]

Perhaps have more practice returning serve. Have a neutral grip position such as a continental in your ready position, to make it easier to switch between your forehand and backhand grips.

[Il Mostro]

^^^^^^
Ditto. I start continental and use it when I return against big serves. If I have time to switch grips I do.

[Dreamer]

Actually I find it beneficial to keep my grip for forehand, which really gives me opportunities to hit aggressive returns against the faster servers. Giving myself more time on my strong side, I'm more free to attack if it does go to forehand side. I will make it more neutral if the server has variety or is continuously hitting it to my backhand.

[Player 1]

For me, I keep it on my forehand grip (Semiwestern) because I use a semi-western grip for my backhand also.

[nadal for number1]

thanks alot guys

[Sublime]

For me, I keep it on my forehand grip (Semiwestern) because I use a semi-western grip for my backhand also.

This brings up a question I've been meaning to ask. I do the same thing, but wondering if it's proper form. There's two ways to go from forehand to backhand even if you use the same grip for both.

In the case described above you pronate your wrist and hit with the same side of the racket face (forehand or backhand).

The other option is to go right into your take back with your non-hitting hand and adjust your hitting hand grip during the take back. Hitting forehands and backhands with two different sides of the racket face.

When I watch videos of pros I think they use the second technique. While it seems like more movements, this can probably be accomplished faster than the pronation route.

[matchmaker]

For people with twohanded backhands it is easy. Take both your hands in FH grip and if it comes to your backhand you just click your lower hand into BH position.

For onehanders it is more complicated. Continental is safest, but not ideal on either side. Taking it in either FH or BH grip is taking a big risk if it goes the other way.

[Nanshiki]

I like doing it with a western forehand... you can flip it over and have a mild backhand grip without moving your hand.

[Rickson]

I use a semi-western forehand and an eastern backhand grip, but when I return serves, I use an eastern forehand grip because it's a neutral grip for me. I don't have to switch grips to hit off either wing, but this might be difficult for most people on the backhand side. Check if continental works better for you, but for me, the efh works well because I have flexible wrists.

[SystemicAnomaly]

... Have a neutral grip position such as a continental in your ready position, to make it easier to switch between your forehand and backhand grips.

This is probably the 2nd most popular practice. Starting with a continental or a compromise (neutral) grip for a ready position, including a service return ready position, may require the returner to employ a grip change for nearly every return (unless this grip is used for most BH returns). However, in a pinch, the continental can be used for either the FH or the BH - but this is usually not ideal.

I believe that the most common "ready grip" is some sort of loose (relaxed) FH grip. This requires a grip change only for BH returns. Most players will attempt to hit more FH returns than BHs so the change will be needed less than half the time unless the server serves predominantly to the BH side.

It is much less common for receivers to wait with a BH grip rather than a FH grip or a neutral grip. This is because it can take slightly longer to change from BH to FH than the other way 'round. Most ppl find it a bit smoother (easier) to switch from FH to BH.

[Djokovicfan4life]

Personally, I like to wait in the continental grip and than just switch to either the eastern backhand grip for my backhand, or the semi western for my forehand. I can make the switch to either one relatively easily because I don't use particularly extreme grips.

[Element54]

Personally, I like to wait in the continental grip and than just switch to either the eastern backhand grip for my backhand, or the semi western for my forehand. I can make the switch to either one relatively easily because I don't use particularly extreme grips.

The same for me.

I'll try a eastern forehand neutral stance to see how that goes though.

[Rickson]

You have to be flexible or you'll pop up your backhand returns. Keep that in mind before you try the efh grip on returns.