Grip evolution?

[jackson vile]

As I have been playing tennis everything for me has been about spin and geting more of it.

I have noticed that my grip has gone from eastern to full western now, this is not on prupose.

Some times I will catch it (it being that my grip has all of a sudden moved to a full western) in the middle of the swing realizing that I have changed from starting easter to western and it messed me up for a while.

I am used to it now.

The thing is that this transition was not on purpose and at the begining when I did try the western on purpose I could not play with it as it felt odd.


It is strange that this has just naturally happend

[Bungalo Bill]

As I have been playing tennis everything for me has been about spin and geting more of it.

I have noticed that my grip has gone from eastern to full western now, this is not on prupose.

Some times I will catch it (it being that my grip has all of a sudden moved to a full western) in the middle of the swing realizing that I have changed from starting easter to western and it messed me up for a while.

I am used to it now.

The thing is that this transition was not on purpose and at the begining when I did try the western on purpose I could not play with it as it felt odd.


It is strange that this has just naturally happend

Might want to change your signature to show that you use the Western. ;)

[TennisAsAlways]

Usually when I try to "purposely" program myself to use a particular grip then my mechanics are off.

What may contribute to that mechanical breakdown could perhaps be the "conscious" effort, focusing "too much" on a particular thing, not enabling the mind to remain "quiet".

The main thing that I believe messes it up for me, when I force myself to use a particular "unnatural" grip, is that the muscle memory is just not all there.

You may become a bit "robotic" when doing things that you are not accustomed in doing, since you have to consciously "attempt" to control things throughout every step of the moment. This is why I do not force myself to use a certain grip. I just allow my hand to position itself without thought. This is where "twirling" the racquet may help you to find your "natural" grip.

I'm not saying that one shouldn't consciously force themself or train themself to use a certain grip. It's okay to do so if you wanted to change grips. I don't recommend it in real match play however.

[Freedom]

I find myself hitting more and more Western on my forehand also.

[Saito]

Might want to change your signature to show that you use the Western. ;)

^^:lol:

I primarily use a grip in between EFH and SWFH but it adjusts frequently during play.... for example, I'll change to SWFH if I'm hitting a sitter in front of the net to add the spin to keep the putaway in... but I still use the primary grip for most shots.... If you are stressing spin in your game, then it's no wonder you developed into a WFH... but keep in mind that spin is important but not hte only aspect of the game.... construct the point, man... vary your stroke.... I'm sure you know this but just going off of what I heard.

A friend of mine actually did exactly what you did... he just finds the balls better that way..

[TennisAsAlways]

Since day one up to this very day, my natural FH grip is a Full Western (sometimes it will shift into the Extreme West territory, due to my loose grip style, but not quite Hawaiin (I know it doesn't go to the extremeness of being Hawaiin, since I can feel a Continental grip automatically (The Continental grip position is very similar to the Hawaiin, but only the opposite side of the racquet face is used to make ball contact).).

I find that my Western FH shifts into a Semi-Western when I attack sitters up close to the net.

[TennisAsAlways]

Might want to change your signature to show that you use the Western. ;)Good to see you back. I see that your move has been finalized. BTW, how's the tennis in Idaho, the people and what not?

[jackson vile]

Very good points, I suppose that this is what perfect tennis is, finding the full natural flow/motions that your body will eventually want to naturally take to maximize play?

[jackson vile]

Might want to change your signature to show that you use the Western. ;)


Bill why are you a former member of the USPTA? Also are you going to be competing in any tournaments, I might get to see you play, everyone talks about how good you are, you must be a 6.0 or something?

How are you liking the pure control? I would think you would use a more traditional players frame? Have you tried the LMIXL?

[TennisAsAlways]

Very good points, I suppose that this is what perfect tennis is, finding the full natural flow/motions that your body will eventually want to naturally take to maximize play?Yes and no. Why? Because take for instance the service grip.

Now I bet that most people who've first started playing probably do not serve with a Continental grip or EBH. They probably use a western or eastern, holding the frame like a "frying pan". Now I wouldn't consider that to be the most ideal service grip, even though it feels natural for the beginners (and other people without proper form).

[TennisAsAlways]

Bill why are you a former member of the USPTA? Also are you going to be competing in any tournaments, I might get to see you play, everyone talks about how good you are, you must be a 6.0 or something?

How are you liking the pure control? I would think you would use a more traditional players frame? Have you tried the LMIXL?He used to use a 93 in² frame.

[Bungalo Bill]

Bill why are you a former member of the USPTA?

I kept paying the annual renewal fee for no reason. I was not teaching the public any more so the break on insurance wasn't needed and it really was just money being spent for no reason. So, I placed my membership on a temporary hold. I might reactivate it if I start teaching other people besides my immediate family which looks like it will happen.

Also are you going to be competing in any tournaments, I might get to see you play, everyone talks about how good you are, you must be a 6.0 or something?

I have not competed in tournaments in a very long time. First, just competiting in them take an enormous amount of time away from my family. Second, I am not in tournament shape whatsoever.

As far as a 6.0 player? The highest rating I have attained (official rating) is a 5.5 rating. That was when I was about 21 years old. Right now, because I dont play as much as I would like, I have dropped probably to a 4.5 (maybe a tad lower). If I got serious again, worked on my game, improved my conditioning I would enter at 5.0.

The 5.5 rating in my opinion is unattainable with my current situation. Even becoming a solid 5.0 would put a strain on my family commitments.

I am officially a "has-been" and sort of want to keep it that way. But I love to teach aqnd help others get better. I have a lot of fun doing that right now.



How are you liking the pure control? I would think you would use a more traditional players frame? Have you tried the LMIXL?[/quote]

[jackson vile]

Yes and no. Why? Because take for instance the service grip.

Now I bet that most people who've first started playing probably do not serve with a Continental grip or EBH. They probably use a western or eastern, holding the frame like a "frying pan". Now I wouldn't consider that to be the most ideal service grip, even though it feels natural for the beginners (and other people without proper form).


I disagree as for a beginer that is best and natural at the time but as you tennis evolves to get more out of your shots you will find the other grips swing paths and positioning to be far far more beneficial.

[jackson vile]

I kept paying the annual renewal fee for no reason. I was not teaching the public any more so the break on insurance wasn't needed and it really was just money being spent for no reason. So, I placed my membership on a temporary hold. I might reactivate it if I start teaching other people besides my immediate family which looks like it will happen.



I have not competed in tournaments in a very long time. First, just competiting in them take an enormous amount of time away from my family. Second, I am not in tournament shape whatsoever.

As far as a 6.0 player? The highest rating I have attained (official rating) is a 5.5 rating. That was when I was about 21 years old. Right now, because I dont play as much as I would like, I have dropped probably to a 4.5 (maybe a tad lower). If I got serious again, worked on my game, improved my conditioning I would enter at 5.0.

The 5.5 rating in my opinion is unattainable with my current situation. Even becoming a solid 5.0 would put a strain on my family commitments.

I am officially a "has-been" and sort of want to keep it that way. But I love to teach aqnd help others get better. I have a lot of fun doing that right now.



How are you liking the pure control? I would think you would use a more traditional players frame? Have you tried the LMIXL?[/QUOTE]

How much do you make and charge for teaching tennis?

At what level could you have started making money from tournament play?


Sounds like you were very close, also what do you think about the pure storm as that can later be modded to accustom further player improvments, how does it compare to say a prestige?

thanks

[Bungalo Bill]

Good to see you back. I see that your move has been finalized. BTW, how's the tennis in Idaho, the people and what not?

We are unpacking boxes as I write. This week we will be settling into the new home and getting our kids in the appropriate schools. Devin (my deaf son) is the hardest to place because of his cochlear implant and the issues surrounding that regarding education. This is a normal process.

As far as Idaho? It is absolutely beautiful. Our home is so much nicer and I just purchased a 60" Sony big screen TV!!! :)

People are nice out here except some of them don't like people from California. But hey, we didn't like them either when they came to California during the boom of the 70's. I wear my USC Trojan hat all over the place and defy anyone caring to talk smack. I usually get the smack talk from the Boise St. fans - which I could care less about. ;)

Tennis is good out here. I visited the local tennis club (the best one in town so they say) Boise Swim and Racquet Club and toured the facility. It is okay. Maybe a little less then what I expected. But I guess it is nice for here.

Players are good out here so I should find some good hitting. There are fewer advanced players to hit with compared to S. Cal.

It will be fun.

[Bungalo Bill]

How much do you make and charge for teaching tennis?

$35 an hour.

At what level could you have started making money from tournament play?

You mean going professional? If so, at least a 6.0. There just comes a time when you realize how much more effort would be needed to get a certain payoff. It wasn't worth it to me. So I quit tennis competively and instead pursued another sport which I loved mainly for enjoyment called surfing.

Sounds like you were very close

I really wasn't close. There were a ton of good players in the late 70's early 80's. I was just a good tennis player but not a great tennis player. I lacked the ambition to go pro because I had so many other interests. I was not single minded at all. I liked tennis, got good at tennis, but I always knew it wasn't going to be for the rest of my life.

also what do you think about the pure storm as that can later be modded to accustom further player improvments, how does it compare to say a prestige?

thanks

I dont know anything about the Pure Storm. I have never hit with it. I used to play with the Prestige Classic (both the original and the replacement version) and the Prestige Intelligence. I like both racquets a lot especially for slices.

[TennisAsAlways]

I disagree as for a beginer that is best and natural at the time but as you tennis evolves to get more out of your shots you will find the other grips swing paths and positioning to be far far more beneficial.It depends on an individual's desire, how good they would like to be later on. If a beginner wished to become an advanced player, and take the game more serioulsy, then it would be more beneficial to teach them to serve with the "correct" grips. It's better to start them off properly than "unteach" them how to ride a bicycle later on down the road, basically, having them work hard to get used to the correct grips (Afterall, if they truly are "serious" then "hard work" is something that they should expect and do.)

For beginners who specifically don't care about progressing to the more professional form, that's when I don't think it's important as far as "proper grips".

[Caswell]

So I quit tennis competively and instead pursued another sport which I loved mainly for enjoyment called surfing...

How can you live in Idaho? I could never move away from the ocean. I had a great week of tennis last week, but the highlight of the week was still the noseride I got on my log during a nice, glassy chest high swell we enjoyed.

[Bungalo Bill]

How can you live in Idaho? I could never move away from the ocean. I had a great week of tennis last week, but the highlight of the week was still the noseride I got on my log during a nice, glassy chest high swell we enjoyed.

I surfed in Hawaii for 7 years. I had a beach house in front of Gas Chambers right next to Rocky Point and a rock throw from Pipeline.

I then moved back to California - cold water, small waves, crappy people...I haven't surfed in years, it was highly demotivating. Yes, I was spoiled.

I am going to learn how to snow board. ;)

[TennisAsAlways]

snowboarding = good stuff!

[Caswell]

I surfed in Hawaii for 7 years. I had a beach house in front of Gas Chambers right next to Rocky Point and a rock throw from Pipeline.

I then moved back to California - cold water, small waves, crappy people...I haven't surfed in years, it was highly demotivating. Yes, I was spoiled.

Nice. I'd say you were spoiled.

Florida has small waves, but the water is warm - never need more than a 3/2, and I've been skinning it for over a month. The people are generally sedate. There's rarely any stinkeye, and it's never worth getting worked up over - everything's a beachbreak (we've got some rock across the street, but no point breaks) so you just paddle 20 yards away and have anything that comes your way to yourself.