andreh said:
I have watched them as well and you're right, they do switch their grips around, not in any extreme way, but still noticable if you pay close attention. I might also add that these grip alterations are more reflexes than concious decisions. They just seem to happen. Of course that wasn't the case when I was in the early learning stages, but it is now.
I was thinking about this and was wondering why it was difficult to communicate all of this. We really shouldn't be arguing about this. Here is why I do not have a hard time moving someone to a Continental if they are using an Eastern or whatever.
Remember, I also believe the Continental is an excellent volley grip on both sides and is exceptionally great for managing quick exchanges. So when I speak of the following it is in light of this.
How to benefit from the Easterns.
1. You must practice using the time proven swing path motion no matter what.
2. A player must ignore, the cons of the grip and hit the ball correctly. I could rattle off the cons of the Continental grip and can't tell you how many people use an improper "choppy" swinging swing path with that grip. So no grip is immune to lousey technique.
3. When a player has gotten fed up with the Continental and is fine using the Eastern, be sure to use a laid back wrist position as this OPENS the racquet face. Now you can use the correct volley motion and have the best of all worlds with the exception of the grip switch. YOu can open the face for the low balls, you can put slice on the ball, you can also flatten it out and pound the bal DOWN in the court on balls Continental grippers would normally sail long.
4. The wrist position that you use can now transfer to the Continental making it a much easier transistion.
5. What most people think, is that the wrist position for the Eastern is straight and therefore the racquet head is facing down or too flat. This promotes an improper swing path TennisMastery was talking about.
6. You can and should use the laid back position for the wrist as well on the Continental and this is what makes it easier to transfer when a player is ready.
7. On the bachand volley do not go full eastern use the crease between the continental and the full eastern for your base knuckle.