Western Forehand Conditioning

[Frenchie]

I have read alot about how the western grip places undue strain on the body. Does anyone have any conditioning routines or exercises that would prevent injuries when using this grip?

[snoflewis]

I have read alot about how the western grip places undue strain on the body. Does anyone have any conditioning routines or exercises that would prevent injuries when using this grip?

steroids

[Amone]

Actually, Sno, given my understanding of what Western forehands do, I think steroids would probably do the opposite. Basically, it's a joint thing as to my understanding. You don't condition your joints. I guess that depending on the joint, you can tape some of it, but not the elbow or shoulder. With those... I dunno. And I'm no expert, this is just some off the cuff advice.

[vinky]

It only adds undue stress if your shots are too wristy - which some people do. Regardless of grip style, you shouldn't rely too heavily on wristing your shots or anything like that

[paulfreda]

Disagree with Vinky on wristy shots.
I play with a Western (sometimes a Hawaiian in practice).
While you can hit with these grips with little wrist, the best techniques are rapid suppination of the forearm often (but not always) combined with wrist release.

So my recommendation is to hit the gym and strenghten your wrist and forearm if you want to hit well with a Western.

[Marius_Hancu]

check my signature here:

Great fitness sites
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=33800

esp the Footwork section

[Bungalo Bill]

...the best techniques are rapid suppination of the forearm often (but not always) combined with wrist release.

Actually it is pronation not supination of the forehand. The rapid turning (windshield) places a lot of stress on the elbow area. It is a tendon/joint thing that can render a tennis player using this grip facing surgery to bring their arm back.

Naturally, this depends on how susceptible a player is to injuries and how much force a player uses.

But the Western grip is a tough grip on the arm.

[jackson vile]

steroids

What the hell Snof!? Giving away all your secrets I see, are you asking to be banned?

[ramseszerg]

sno was joking, most likely. dont be so hard on him.

[jackson vile]

Actually it is pronation not supination of the forehand. Ther rapid turn places a lot of stress on the elbow area. It is a tendon/joint thing that can render a tennis player using this grip facing surgery to bring their arm back.

Naturally, this depends on how susceptible a player is to injuries and how much force a player uses.

But the Western grip is a tough grip on the arm.


I agree with this, I have not gotten injured but my elbow and wrist do get a lot of work on them and after wards at night feel really tired if I was going all the way with my shots.

Other wise if I just hit normally I am fine, I think you should always stop when you start getting tired and form drops.

That is how you condition it, by practicing it with maturity and knowing when enough is enough.

I think withthis grip your swing path/form had better be right on and you best be wipping the racket butt first and keeping the hand/wrist loose.

Otherwise by by wrist and elbow, but this could be said with any hard hitting.

[Bungalo Bill]

So my recommendation is to hit the gym and strenghten your wrist and forearm if you want to hit well with a Western.

Got to be careful in strengthening the muscles attached to the tendons (hope I am saying this right). What I mean is, the area where the tendons connect to the muscles are suceptible to injury during the turning motion from the Western grip.

If you introduce weight lifting you might further aggrevate, reaggrevate, or create a situation where you develop a reptitive type injury stemming from the constant use of that area.

Stablizing muscles (small muscles) tend to be neglected because a player will favor heavier weights which tend to develop the bigger muscles. So there is muscle imbalance.

Torn muscles in the elbow area are more common on Western grippers than any other grip. A player with a "torquey" Western grip, poor technique in wieght lifting, and an over emphasis in building up the big muscles could speed up damage.

Just be careful.

[paulfreda]

Actually it is pronation not supination of the forehand. The rapid turning (windshield) places a lot of stress on the elbow area. It is a tendon/joint thing that can render a tennis player using this grip facing surgery to bring their arm back.

Naturally, this depends on how susceptible a player is to injuries and how much force a player uses.

But the Western grip is a tough grip on the arm.

BB
We are talking about different things here.
I said and meant suppination of the forearm.
Suppination .... a clockwise rotation of the forearm; a rotation turning the palm to the sky.

I understand what you mean when you are talking about a windshield wiper type swing with the Western. This is the way most people hit it. What I am talking about comes about when you try to drive the ball to get a heavier ball.
Basically it is using the Lansdorp technique (drive thru the ball finishing with the racquet tip facing the target and the strings perpendicular to the court) with the Western (or Hawaiian) grip. This type swing is very very stressful in the elbow area.

I think a little work in the gym with your warnings in mind can make a huge difference in success with these grips, especially if one tries to drive the ball.

[Mountainman]

I have read alot about how the western grip places undue strain on the body. Does anyone have any conditioning routines or exercises that would prevent injuries when using this grip?

Andy Roddick developed a tennis elbow using western grip. He used to loop his racquet from behind, ground, then up. Now, he lines up his racquet with the height of the ball and pull the racquet like a rope. The result shows his wrist cocked and flexed. He rotates his forearm after contact which is natural for the grip.

[snoflewis]

What the hell Snof!? Giving away all your secrets I see, are you asking to be banned?

sorry guys...it's the only way i can get my serves up to speed w/ my opponents and handle my 15 oz rackets

[Bungalo Bill]

BB
We are talking about different things here.
I said and meant suppination of the forearm.
Suppination .... a clockwise rotation of the forearm; a rotation turning the palm to the sky.

I understand what you mean when you are talking about a windshield wiper type swing with the Western. This is the way most people hit it. What I am talking about comes about when you try to drive the ball to get a heavier ball.
Basically it is using the Lansdorp technique (drive thru the ball finishing with the racquet tip facing the target and the strings perpendicular to the court) with the Western (or Hawaiian) grip. This type swing is very very stressful in the elbow area.

I think a little work in the gym with your warnings in mind can make a huge difference in success with these grips, especially if one tries to drive the ball.

Okay, fair enough.

[TennisAsAlways]

BB
We are talking about different things here.
I said and meant suppination of the forearm.
Suppination .... a clockwise rotation of the forearm; a rotation turning the palm to the sky.

I understand what you mean when you are talking about a windshield wiper type swing with the Western. This is the way most people hit it. What I am talking about comes about when you try to drive the ball to get a heavier ball.
Basically it is using the Lansdorp technique (drive thru the ball finishing with the racquet tip facing the target and the strings perpendicular to the court) with the Western (or Hawaiian) grip. This type swing is very very stressful in the elbow area.

I think a little work in the gym with your warnings in mind can make a huge difference in success with these grips, especially if one tries to drive the ball.Just noticed that you've spelled it incorrectly several times and so I believe that you are unaware of the correct spelling.

[tlm]

Working your wrists+ forearms with weights is the key to staying healthy.I think that it would help all tennis players.With this workout start off real light + then increase weight untill you can do about 10-12 reps to failure,after this becomes easy increase weight again.

I do 2 sets of wrist curls,2 sets of reverse curls,i have a small bar with plates on one end you hold it with the plates away from you+raise the weighted end up+ down..Do 2 sets of those,then finish off with wrist rollups.

The rollups are a tube with rope attatched to one end+weights attatched to the other,you hold your arms out in front of you+roll the tube so the rope wraps around the tube+ the weights come all the way up to tube then you roll back the other way till weights go back down.You will only need 5lbs or so to start out with this ex. will really give your forearms a good pump.

Do a couple sets of these to finish off+ you are on the way to much stronger wrists+elbows.Do this workout 2-3 times a week for a month or so + see how much stronger you will feel!

[paulfreda]

Just noticed that you've spelled it incorrectly several times and so I believe that you are unaware of the correct spelling.
Maybe. But ...........
Do a Google search on either spelling and numerous pages come back.
So both spellings are apparently in wide use by reputable sources.

[TennisAsAlways]

Perhaps other sources "mispelled" the word as well. I'm sure if you were Google up any "mispelled" word then search there would be search results. I have yet to find the word "suppinate" in any dictionaries. There's a difference between "wide usage" vs "incorrect usage".

I was only letting you know BTW, as I noticed that your typo didn't "seem" to be accidental. It was just a "heads up" FYI.

[paulfreda]

TAA
That's why I said .... "Maybe, but "
You are almost certainly right.
I do know that as the language (any language) gets slowly corrupted or as it evolves depending upon how one views it, common usage eventually becomes accepted as correct. Sort of .... 'why fight the currents/tide' reasoning. Must make an English professor's hair stand up.
Cheers