Holding the racquet

[sstchur]

How far down does one typically grip the racquet handle?

Over time, I found myself slowing creeping down the point where the butt cap edge is against the bottom part of my palm.

I find this helps keep me a little looser and fluid, especially on serve, but I can't help but feel like I'm holding it a little too far down now.

Trying to creep back up though, feels kinda weird.

Is there a right or wrong on this, or just personal preference?

[Bagumbawalla]

The edge of the butt-cap hit the middle of my palm, as well, so you are OK in my book.

[LeeD]

Anywhere that is comfortable and helps your shots...
Some guys need the whip from a longer racket, and hold way down.
Some guys need the control and locked wrist feel, and choke up a ways.
Whatever allows your shots to be strong, solid, consistent, and has good direction is the gripspot you want....

[sonicboi21]

I hold mine so the buttcap sits just below the middle of my palm. I hold it like that for all my shots.

[Blake0]

As long as the racket isnt flying off your hand, or choking up too much, its all good :).

[Dark_Angel85]

your pinky should be slightly above the end of the buttcap... probably about half a cm...

adjust from there on...

[sh@de]

I know this is not answering OP's question... but, hold your racquet nice and loose.

BUT, not as loose as this :p.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kplQ8eNxjlA

[Element54]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kplQ8eNxjlA

what a djoker.

[sh@de]

^HAHAHAHAHA kind of true...?

[FH2FH]

i take the bottom pinky off with my 2H backhand.

I've done what Djokovic did... three times ...and broke three racquets. Expensive swing flaw that was!

[sh@de]

^ I've done what Djoker did too... twice I think. But I didn't break any racquets... thank god :).

[SystemicAnomaly]

Considering having my pinky finger surgically removed so that I can hold the racquet further down the handle. Oh what the heck, perhaps I'll have the ring finger amputated as well.

Seriously, as LeeD indicates, "do what feels & works best for you".

[iamgoat]

as low as possible without losing grip of the racquet.

[VaBeachTennis]

Anywhere that is comfortable and helps your shots...
Some guys need the whip from a longer racket, and hold way down.
Some guys need the control and locked wrist feel, and choke up a ways.
Whatever allows your shots to be strong, solid, consistent, and has good direction is the gripspot you want....

That makes sense. I had a knee injury and didn't play for a few weeks until today. I usually hold the racket down a bit where part of the heel of my hand is off of the racket. But today I felt that my timing and control was off, so I chocked up on the racket a bit (heel of palm even or slightly above butt cap) and boy it worked wonders for me! I had plenty of spin, good placement, and still had plenty of power.
It was like having my own version of a "wrist assist". It leads me to think that maybe I need to make my racket more "head light" because when you choke up a little on the racket, I would assume that it would be more "head light". Any thoughts on this?

[kopfan]

IMO.. as long as the racquet can move freely with your wrist, no finger's cramping feel and not slipping... it ok... everyone had different shape and size of palm and fingers.. therefore.. comfortable and relax grip is the most important.

[ronalditop]

i found that when using an square handle like wilson or prince, i hold the racquet naturally with my index finger above the buttcap, and i feel very comfortable since i feel i have control and stability to handle shots with a lot of pace on them. But when using head grips which are more rectangular, i naturally tend to hold the racquet where my index finger is just at the end of the buttcap, lower than in the other case, which makes me feel uncomfortable since i feel i lose stability and those big shots are harder to return because i feel more shock. So since i play with a head racquet, i just have to concentrate on holding the grip higher to make it feel nice.

[BullDogTennis]

The edge of the butt-cap hit the middle of my palm, as well, so you are OK in my book.

my sits about right where my calous is for my ring finger. so mine is just past the middle of palm.

[VaBeachTennis]

i found that when using an square handle like wilson or prince, i hold the racquet naturally with my index finger above the buttcap, and i feel very comfortable since i feel i have control and stability to handle shots with a lot of pace on them. But when using head grips which are more rectangular, i naturally tend to hold the racquet where my index finger is just at the end of the buttcap, lower than in the other case, which makes me feel uncomfortable since i feel i lose stability and those big shots are harder to return because i feel more shock. So since i play with a head racquet, i just have to concentrate on holding the grip higher to make it feel nice.[

That's funny, because I use a Head as well and feel the same way. I use the LM Radical..................

[ronalditop]

That's funny, because I use a Head as well and feel the same way. I use the LM Radical..................

Good to know im not the only one having this problem.