Big Players...small Grips ?!?!?!??

[D. Nelson]

I've been experimenting with grips/swing paths...etc... I know that Boris Becker played with a 1/4 grip....and I've got some pictures of Marat with his hand almost wrapped aROUND his handle....NO way to do that withOUT having a TINY grip....I know just from trying to duplicate the 'look' of his hand/grip IN those pictures....and having hand-sanded a few racquets down to get them to fit my hand IN that grip.... I have 2 main questions....does anybody actually KNOW the grip sizes of some of the 'Big Guys' like Safin,Mirni,Goran,etc...Ancic...etc.... Secondly, with that SMALL of a grip....how in the world do they get/maintain stability/power...esPECIALLY on the backhand side ??? I actually had a Head Green Elite Master, that I was VERY successful with....but want a bigger head size....ugh....that's aNOTHER story !!!

 

[PurePrestige]

Well i'm pretty sure that Safin uses a 5/8 but some players big or small like a smaller grip. Like Ancic he's 6'5" but he uses a 1/4 grip size. And umm Mirnyi uses a 1/2.
Check out this post, it has the grip size for alot of pro's.
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=68263

 

[DADYO]

Seppi uses a very small grip size, #2, not sure what that comes out to in inches though...

 

[ashpookie]

my hand measures 4 3/8 and a half, but i prefer to use 4 1/4 with an overgrip. it just feels more comfortable. there is about 1cm of space between when i hold an eastern grip.

my height is 5' 10, wonder what is the average grip size for my height.

 

[D. Nelson]

........sorry, but I don't believe that Safin is a 5/8

............no way..................reply to imouch@bellsouth.net and I'll send pictures to dispute it...I have relatively big hands, and it's IMPOSSIBLE for me to hold the racquet the way he does with even a 3/8....and....I've TRIED...!!!!!!

 

[sureshs]

I experienced these issues personally. I am between a 1/2 and 5/8. I built up my 3/8 to a 5/8 + a thin overgrip. The right size is supposed to be the best for the arm. But I found that topspin is problematic and grip changes are delayed. I am now using a stock 1/2 with a thicker overgrip and I am very happy.

Both the "finger" method and the length measurement confirm that 1/2 is OK for me. Yet Federer supposedly uses 3/8 and I don't know his hand size but his shoe size is 12 and mine is 9.5

I think pros deliberately use smaller grip sizes for topspin and quick grip changes and the damage to the arm is either not there because they are stronger or they accept it as the price for success.

 

[NoBadMojo]

many of the pros use a small grip..especially the ones who rely on their serves and are all courters. michael stich was said to be 1/4 and he's maybe 6'4 or so. some guys have even played with no grip at all..just an overgrip or two. you get a lot more wrist on your serve with a small grip, and i think it's easier to get variety in your spins and angles. old rule used to be larger grips for backcourters and smaller grips for all courters and serve/volley.
Big danger with using a small grip if you arent a good ball striker as that spells lots of torque and twisting which is harmful.

 

[vkartikv]

many of the pros use a small grip..especially the ones who rely on their serves and are all courters. michael stich was said to be 1/4 and he's maybe 6'4 or so. some guys have even played with no grip at all..just an overgrip or two. you get a lot more wrist on your serve with a small grip, and i think it's easier to get variety in your spins and angles. old rule used to be larger grips for backcourters and smaller grips for all courters and serve/volley.
Big danger with using a small grip if you arent a good ball striker as that spells lots of torque and twisting which is harmful.

What about the opposite situation? I am in b/w a 3/8 and 1/2 but use a 5/8 because I find it to be very comfortable and stable on volleys. Any long term effects? I have no wrist or elbow pain or problems.

 

[brucie]

wont small grip contribute to tennis elboiw etc. i am 16 average size 5 10 and use 1/2 grip with overwrap!

 

[PurePrestige]

Uhm, well. I have a 4 5/8 grip on my Prestige with a Tourna overgrip and I checked out gettyimages to see if you were right. My hand fits around the grip just the same. I dunno what the hand size difference is but if I use the same forehand grip it looks just the same...hand size might not be too different I am kinda tall (6'3") and have big hands as well I guess. So i'm pretty sure he uses about a 4 5/8.

 

[dmastous]

I have big hands, but use a 4 1/2 grip. I think you get more control of the racquet by going to a smaller grip size.

 

[D. Nelson]

....I have a 'proper' size of 1/2-5/8 and there is no way that you can get your 2nd and 3rd finger to go all the way around the handle so that the tip of your finger touches the palm of your hand WHILE the index finger touches the middle side pallet, with that size handle.....

 

[LN_Dad]

I find smaller grips more maneuverable for grip changes and my hand doesn't get as tired during a match using a smaller handle.

 

[North]

I find smaller grips more maneuverable for grip changes and my hand doesn't get as tired during a match using a smaller handle.

Yes, I've noticed that, too.

 

[merlin_23]

well i have a 4 3/4 grip size with two overgrips on top of a leather and my grip is still too small, my middle finger easily touches the plam of my hand i reckon i need a 4 7/8 or maybe even a 5 inch grip with an overgrip on top.

 

[Andres]

I'm decently tall (6'4'') but I have huge hands. Small grips make my hand, and specially my thumb, hurt and sore. My hand grip size is 7'' 1/20 , and my hand overall, from the wrist to the top of the middle finger is 10.04 ''
I use a 4 3/8 grip, cause that's the standard grip formy racquet, and I won't trade my racquet for anything

I use a 6'' 1/10 grip, and I love it

 

[merlin_23]

i'm 6" 2' but i still think my hands are huge for my height because i know federer is the same height as me roughly and he uses a 4 3/8 and that's way too small for me. Where did you get you grip custom made to 6 1/10?

 

[thomas martinez]

No, both Marat Safin and Mario Ancic use 4 1/2 grips, and the shape is the same as a Head 4 1/2

 

[PurePrestige]

Mario Ancic uses a 4 1/4 grip size

 

[Andres]

i'm 6" 2' but i still think my hands are huge for my height because i know federer is the same height as me roughly and he uses a 4 3/8 and that's way too small for me. Where did you get you grip custom made to 6 1/10?

I didn't customize it. Added two grips and two overgrips.

Now, Federer uses a 3/8, but what about the grips and overs? The size of the racquet's grip doesn't mean anything

 

[merlin_23]

from what i've heard federer uses a 4 3/8 grip with one leather grip and one wilson pro overgrip. if he needed to add anymore grips or overgrips then he could just get his wilson's with 4 1/2 or 4 5/8 grip sizes anyway.

 

[SCSI]

Small grips are better those who use western or SW grip. I would be most male players use #2 or #3 grip.

 

[merlin_23]

yeah i know this but i think the smallest grip i can comfortably handle is a 4 7/8 any smaller and my finger tips start touching and squashing up against the palm of my hand.