Soft hands vs firm grip

[x Southpaw x]

A little confused about the two terms here.

"Soft hands" is often used to describe the requirement for drop shots and drop volleys.

"Firm grip" on the other hand is more associated with returning heavy balls and power drives.

So are they direct opposites and what's the full definition of each?

[Gary Britt]

A little confused about the two terms here.

"Soft hands" is often used to describe the requirement for drop shots and drop volleys.

"Firm grip" on the other hand is more associated with returning heavy balls and power drives.

So are they direct opposites and what's the full definition of each?

They are both a function of how tightly the grip is held around the handle at the time of contact with the ball. Soft = relaxed or more relaxed than firm. Firm = held firmly enough to keep the racquet from twisting in your hands on an off center hit, but not so tight it becomes a forearm tiring death grips around the handle.

Gary

[Kaptain Karl]

Soft Hands - Is a reference more to "feel" or "touch" IMO.

Firm Grip - Is a reference to technique.

IOW, one can still have a firm grip and soft hands.

- KK

[Gary Britt]

Soft Hands - Is a reference more to "feel" or "touch" IMO.

Firm Grip - Is a reference to technique.

IOW, one can still have a firm grip and soft hands.

- KK
I agree term "soft hands" is often used to describe a player with touch, usually touch volleys and half volleys. I disagree to the extent you state above that one doesn't achieve "soft hands" with a more relaxed grip as compared to a firm grip for ground strokes. I don't think one can have soft hands kind of touch without softening or relaxing their grip on the handle from that which they use when hitting with a firm grip. How relaxed is relaxed and how firm is firm, is likely something that varies a bit from individual to individual.

Gary

[Kaptain Karl]

I disagree to the extent you state above that one doesn't achieve "soft hands" with a more relaxed grip as compared to a firm grip for ground strokes.And just where did I "state" this...? Please don't put words in my posts.

How relaxed is relaxed and how firm is firm, is likely something that varies a bit from individual to individual.True. Most players figure out how "firmly" to grasp their stick through trial and error. And as a BIG generalization, flatter ground strokes can be executed with firmer grips than spin ground strokes.

- KK

[Kathy]

If you always hit the sweetspot, you don't need a firm grip. In fact, if you hit the sweet spot, you can be holding the racket with nothing but your thumb and last two fingers, and still hit a screamer. Those heavy shots -- the ones that explode off your racket faster than you seem to have hit them -- usually are hit with soft hands and smooth, effortless swing.

But in the real world, nobody always hits the sweetspot. The more you miss it, the more you need a firm grip. On touch shots through, when you don't swing hard, everybody can afford to have soft hands. And without soft hands, you just won't make decent touch shots.

Kathy K
www.operationdoubles.com (http://www.operationdoubles.com/)

[Gary Britt]

And just where did I "state" this...? Please don't put words in my posts.

I wasn't trying to put words in your mouth, my paraphrasing seemed clearly implied by your statement "that you can have a firm grip and soft hands". I said "to the extent you meant....", so if you didn't mean that which followed we don't have any disagreement.

We seem to agree on the rest. I wasn't trying to speak for you, sorry for any confusion.

Gary

[Mark S. Hogan]

Kathy, that makes sense. That must be why when I'm not playing well firming up the grip seems to help. I'm mis-hitting the ball. Love your site.

[Mahboob Khan]

Very good point made by Kathy!

[x Southpaw x]

Soft Hands - Is a reference more to "feel" or "touch" IMO.
It's a reference to feel and touch... so it just means that you have very good touch? Nothing to do with how relaxed your hand is?

[Gary Britt]

It's a reference to feel and touch... so it just means that you have very good touch? Nothing to do with how relaxed your hand is?

IMHO, the first half of your sentence is correct, but the second half is wrong.

Just my opinion.

Gary

[Kaptain Karl]

It appears I have misdirected your original question. Sorry....

"Soft hands" is often used to describe the requirement for drop shots and drop volleys.Yes.

"Firm grip" on the other hand is more associated with returning heavy balls and power drives.Okay....

So are they direct oppositesUmm. No. See Kathy's post. Didn't that help?
... and what's the full definition of each?Oh, Geez!!!

When hitting a shot the instruction to "keep soft hands" refers to keeping only as strong a grip as is necessary to control the ball with the racket. (Think of how your grip functions during Mini Tennis.)

When you think of firm hands," think of how you must grip more strongly returning the serve from a BIG Server. You are not likely to be playing a "touch" return, so much as just trying to get the ball back into play. Off-center hits have a greater chance of getting back into play because you have maintained a strong (firm) grip.

Does this help?

- KK

[x Southpaw x]

Ah okay... I think I have a bad habit of having too firm a grip on every thing... including mini tennis =(... strange enough my mini tennis seems pretty well controlled. Is there anyway to practice soft hands?

[Kathy]

Is there anyway to practice soft hands? I haven't tried this with enough people to know for sure, but this is what seems to have worked with myself. Several times in the past, I suddenly noticed that my grip had somehow changed from one with the fingers spread to a "hammer grip" with the fingers close together. By just spreading my fingers and checking my grip every so often for a while, I found that I stopped clutching the racket so hard.

The muscles that squeeze your fingers are way up in the forearm, so that causes tension way up there. Which I bet is why, when I had relaxed my grip, I found I had better (yes, better) racket-head control and hit the sweet spot more frequently.

Kathy K
www.operationdoubles.com (http://www.operationdoubles.com)

[Bungalo Bill]

A little confused about the two terms here.

"Soft hands" is often used to describe the requirement for drop shots and drop volleys.

"Firm grip" on the other hand is more associated with returning heavy balls and power drives.

So are they direct opposites and what's the full definition of each?

From a shot perspective, the phrase soft hands is usually said when you are finnessing the ball. Such as drop shots, drop volleys, approach shots, half volleys, etc...For instance, in a raw egg tossing contest, this game requires you to catch the egg with "soft hands". You do not tighten the muscles of the hand as it makes the surface of your hand hard. By relaxing the muscles of the hand, you make a cushion for the egg to land in and reduce the chances of it cracking.

The phrase soft hands can also mean how you grip the handle when it is clear that someone has too tight of a grip. "Softening" the hands on the handle will help the player to hit with more fluidity as the hands have a slight "cushioning" feel around the handle.

A "firm grip" is a combination of "soft hands" and a fixed wrist. Firming up the grip means you do not have marshmellow hands were the racket can easily be pulled out of your hand and the racket head flops around, but it also does not mean you hold the handle too tight that you cut off circulation and reduce the fluid feel your stroke should have.

Usually when someone says "firm up your grip", they usually are saying this because they see the grip being too loose which allows the racket head to droop too much. Firming up the grip helps raise the racket head in your hand. You should keep the hands soft enough and firm enough so that it would take a couple of good hard tugs to pull the racket out of your hand. You still have elasticty in the muscles and tendons but they are also firm enough to control the racket head.

[Gary Britt]

Hey BB,

From a shot perspective, the phrase soft hands is usually said when you are finnessing the ball. Such as drop shots, drop volleys, approach shots, half volleys, etc...For instance, in a raw egg tossing contest, this game requires you to catch the egg with "soft hands". You do not tighten the muscles of the hand as it makes the surface of your hand hard. By relaxing the muscles of the hand, you make a cushion for the egg to land in and reduce the chances of it cracking.

This is an excellent analogy, because it shows just not soft hands but the way the arms and elbow etc have to work with the hands to create the soft landing pad for the egg. Similarly when hitting touch shots those soft hands, elbow and arm can be used to take pace off the ball. Touch shots often require that one take some pace off the ball. Can't be done with a solid grounstroke type grip, elbow, arm, etc.

A "firm grip" is a combination of "soft hands" and a fixed wrist.

Not sure I agree with this one, but maybe I just don't get what you are trying to say.

Gary

[Mark S. Hogan]

I need a firm enough grip to keep the racket from moving from my intended path when hitting the ball anywhere but dead center. Which is pretty often, I'm afraid. Too firm and it flys flat and long on me.

[Bungalo Bill]

Hey BB,



This is an excellent analogy, because it shows just not soft hands but the way the arms and elbow etc have to work with the hands to create the soft landing pad for the egg. Similarly when hitting touch shots those soft hands, elbow and arm can be used to take pace off the ball. Touch shots often require that one take some pace off the ball. Can't be done with a solid grounstroke type grip, elbow, arm, etc.

Yeah the whole arm motion needs to be involved but I was trying to focus on just the hands that need to be soft.


Not sure I agree with this one, but maybe I just don't get what you are trying to say.

Gary

I really dont think there is going to be an exact description of what "soft hands" means. Having a firm grip is usually in reference to the degree of relaxation or tightening of the hand. So how do we measure that degree and with what device? Instead of the word "is" (in the fixed wrist section) I probably should have used the word "can".

The basic non-scientific degree of firmness is for someone to hold the handle tight enough that it would take a couple good tugs to pull the racket out of the hand. Some coaches use the "holding a bird" analogy to determine ones acceptable degree of hand strength on the handle.

On several shots this degree can change (tightened or more relaxed) to accomplish a certain effect from their shot.

A fixed wrist can help with a firm grip and a softer grip because it helps stablize the racket head.

[Bungalo Bill]

Hey BB,



This is an excellent analogy, because it shows just not soft hands but the way the arms and elbow etc have to work with the hands to create the soft landing pad for the egg. Similarly when hitting touch shots those soft hands, elbow and arm can be used to take pace off the ball. Touch shots often require that one take some pace off the ball. Can't be done with a solid grounstroke type grip, elbow, arm, etc.

Yeah the whole arm motion needs to be involved but I was trying to focus on just the hands that need to be soft.

Not sure I agree with this one, but maybe I just don't get what you are trying to say.

Gary

I really dont think there is going to be an exact description of what "soft hands" means. Having a firm grip is usually in reference to the degree of relaxation or tightening of the hand. So how do we measure that degree and with what device? Instead of the word "is" (in the fixed wrist section) I probably should have used the word "can".

The basic non-scientific degree of firmness is for someone to hold the handle tight enough that it would take a couple good tugs to pull the racket out of the hand. Some coaches use the "holding a bird" analogy to determine ones acceptable degree of hand strength on the handle.

On several shots this degree can change (tightened or more relaxed) to accomplish a certain effect from their shot.

A fixed wrist can help with a firm grip and a softer grip because it helps stablize the racket head.

[All Court]

I haven't read the whole thread, I'll be sure to do so after this.

To me, "soft hands" doesn't really just encompass the hands. It's actually just the ability to cushion the ball and decelerate the racquet. Doing so consistently and well takes the whole body, not just the hands! Well, those sentences are almost quotes from my coach. He's great.

So in an attempt to get "soft hands" or cushion the ball's impact, just remember it takes more than the hands.

As for a firm grip, it's the ability to just keep the racquet stable. Bill, a fixed wrist is definitely essential but "soft hands" aren't part of a firm grip. I still don't agree with you there, but I'm not doubting any of your information anywhere else. Great posts, man, keep it up.

So "soft hands" refers to the entire body's ability to cushion the impact, at least that's what I think. And a "firm grip" refers to keeping the wrist fixed and the racquet stable throughout the swing. So you're in complete control of every step.

[Kaptain Karl]

I really dont think there is going to be an exact description of what "soft hands" means. Having a firm grip is usually in reference to the degree of relaxation or tightening of the hand. So how do we measure that degree and with what device?Agreed. I suspect is like the "What makes art good?" question. Everybody will have a slightly different opinion.

- KK