I am slow to change a grip

[BORISK]

Why do players spin a racquet while waiting a serve? Does it help to speed up grip change? How to improve speed of changing a grip? Practice , practice …. .Maybe some special exercises?

[DRtenniS1112]

People don't do this for speed they just do it out of habits and most don't really even think about it. As far as exercises i do not know, maybe the wonder-wedge would help, i don't know anything about it but i thought i heard it was good for that.

[DaveH]

I spin my racquet for a few seconds in between all points. I do it because it quickly circulates air between my hand and the handle, thus preventing a slippery grip.

[nViATi]

Why do players spin a racquet while waiting a serve? Does it help to speed up grip change? How to improve speed of changing a grip? Practice , practice …. .Maybe some special exercises?
Most people spin it just as a habit. To speed up your grip change just pick up your racquet when you have free time and practice changing grips. There aren't any special exercises, you just need to keep doing it until you don't need to think about it.

[Rickson]

Why do players spin a racquet while waiting a serve? Does it help to speed up grip change? How to improve speed of changing a grip? Practice , practice …. .Maybe some special exercises?
Federer not only spins his racquet while waiting for a serve, he also spins his racquet after the ball leaves his racquet; Federer sometimes spins his racquet 5 or 6 times in a row during a rally. Maybe Federer spins his way into the grip he desires, but hey, noone's gonna tell the world's best player that he's doing something wrong.

[sureshs]

After every shot, come back to your neutral grip. I come back to continental after an eastern/SW FH or eastern BH. Sometimes, if you know there is a huge chance of ball coming back in the same area, you need not do it - it is an optimization. The transition to neutral grip can happen as you are recovering towards the center. That way, the two become bundled together in muscle memory.

[10ispro]

for some people this is taught, for others its part of their routine. Spinning your racquet ins your hand does a couple things. One, as mentioned above, it allows air to circulate between your hand and the grip so it allows some dry/cooling time for grip/hand.
More importantly tho, its relaxes the hand and arm muscles between shots.
Majority of tennis shots are dependent on the amount of tension or relaxtion your muscles have during the point of contact.
Being tense before the point of contact will not only drastically reduce your swing speed and ability to accelerate, but also often it will result in a mishit or a short much shorter than inteded b/c due to the amount of shock your muscles at impact will naturally relax.

I cant emphasize enough how important it is to allow your muscles to relax between shots and especially after a point.too many people,especially adults walk around and think they have to "muscle" everything to hit hard and hit deep and think to be actively engaged in the match they also have to walk around being tight and tense. This is also where learning proper breathing comes into play-to allow a release of energy at contact so your muscles can relax and recharge.
There is also another relaxtion technique that fans of Sampras and Michael Jordan will remeber and that is sticking our tongue out:p It allows your mouth to remain partially agape and take in oxygen more freely and relaxes your jaw muscles, which is where alot of people hold tension...ie.. gritting and grinding their teeth.

[10ispro]

whoops double post

[katastrof]

When you practice on the wall, the ball comes earlier than it does in a match, which gives you a better grip change practice than a partner. Try hitting forehands and backhands to the wall, one after the other, and try to recover your grip in between shots every time. The grip change will become immediate & automatic.

[ralphtifftennis]

I do spin my racket in anticipation of serve also. Mostly it is habit but does serve to keep me aware. A rocking motion tends to do the same.

Just practice your grip changes until it becomes natural. I like to use both hands to make the grip change on return of serve. In other words let one hand twist the racket, while the other hand also rotates on handle.

This allows me to change quicker as racket only has half as far to go. Versus just holding the racket and forcing your hand all the way over.

[Tim Tennis]

People don't do this for speed they just do it out of habits and most don't really even think about it. As far as exercises i do not know, maybe the wonder-wedge would help, i don't know anything about it but i thought i heard it was good for that.

Hello DRtennis,

I,m with you I think it is mostly habit. Some of the posts had some plausible explanations.

I don't think the Wonder Wedge, now called the Power -V- Grip will make people change grips any faster but I do know the distinctive frame of reference it provides makes it easier for people to find all of the grips. Each grip has it's own unique feel, much stronger then a standard shaped handle, which makes all the grips easier to teach, learn and use.

http://www.tennisgeometrics.com/


Borisk,

I think the "other" hand plays a very important roll. If you have a neutral or starting position that you can find very accurately practice going from your forehand and backhand grips. Pay close attention to your "other" hand and how it helps position the racquet. If you can find one grip much easier then another, after you hit your ground stroke you can go to the grip that is more difficult for you to find or at least takes you longer. That way you are already set if the ball comes to that side, if the ball goes to the other side you are changing to the grip that you are confident you can find quickly and accurately. Anyhow food for thought. I have probably completely confused you.

katastrof, That was great advice, I like it.

Rickson, I know, like Patrick MacEnroe says, "Thats sick." I have seen Roger let loose of his racquet and regrip on his way in to volley, all with one hand.

[pabletion]

Yup, practice... try doing some ball buckets, where the feeder throws you fast balls to your forehand and backhand... so you have to switch very quickly..... Had kindof the same problem some months ago, and with practice and time you become faster with that

[fastdunn]

Why do players spin a racquet while waiting a serve? Does it help to speed up grip change? How to improve speed of changing a grip? Practice , practice …. .Maybe some special exercises?

Not really. You don't really need exercises.

Most people concentrate on spining racquet with your non-primary(or left) hand while your primary(or right) hand do nothing waiting until racquet gets spun. If you learn how to help grip change with your primary hand that is actually holding the racquet, the speed of grip change will double and become much more natural. It's not really "changing grip" or "spining racquet", IMHO. It's more like finding a right grip every single time you hit the ball. Good luck.

[MEAC_ALLAMERICAN]

I find it more of a habit, because when I wait to return, and even during a point, I find myself spinning my racket. I guess, I should stop but it hasn't hindered me yet, 14 years and counting.

[Tennis_Monk]

Hello DRtennis,

I,m with you I think it is mostly habit. Some of the posts had some plausible explanations.

I don't think the Wonder Wedge, now called the Power -V- Grip will make people change grips any faster but I do know the distinctive frame of reference it provides makes it easier for people to find all of the grips. Each grip has it's own unique feel, much stronger then a standard shaped handle, which makes all the grips easier to teach, learn and use.

http://www.tennisgeometrics.com/


Borisk,

I think the "other" hand plays a very important roll. If you have a neutral or starting position that you can find very accurately practice going from your forehand and backhand grips. Pay close attention to your "other" hand and how it helps position the racquet. If you can find one grip much easier then another, after you hit your ground stroke you can go to the grip that is more difficult for you to find or at least takes you longer. That way you are already set if the ball comes to that side, if the ball goes to the other side you are changing to the grip that you are confident you can find quickly and accurately. Anyhow food for thought. I have probably completely confused you.

katastrof, That was great advice, I like it.

Rickson, I know, like Patrick MacEnroe says, "Thats sick." I have seen Roger let loose of his racquet and regrip on his way in to volley, all with one hand.

I use the Power -V grip since the days it was called WonderWedge. It definitely provides the nice frame of reference and allows you to master the grips much easier because the feedback is immediate and you know for a fact that you are on the right grip.

Practice and drills make grip changes easy.