Grip Size for Nadal and Federer

[JayxTheKoolest]

Originally Posted by AlpineCadet

There is no magic grip size since we all have different hand sizes.

Yes, absolutely true. We all have different hands and preferences.

[bluetrain4]

These days, standard sizing is moot. Go with what's comfortable, even if it is smaller than what traditionally has been considered normal.

Bigger grips made sense for classic eastern forehands. But with the whippy motions to day, smaller grips make that easier for a lot of people. Problem is a smaller grip can be good for one stroke and not so good for another, which someone else suggsted.

I can play fine with 4 and 3/8 or 4 and 1/2, both with an overgrip, but prefer the smaller size. Plus, it's easier to bulk up a smaller grip should your preference change than decrease the size of a larger grip.

[tennis_hand]

Fed probably has a small hand. His 4 3/8 and 1 overgrip still leaves him some gap between ring finger and the palm. and he is 1.85m tall. Imagine such a tall guy use a 4 3/8. it is his hand size.

smaller grip makes u want to use wrist a lot. and that is bad.

[grizzly4life]

Originally Posted by tennis_hand

Fed probably has a small hand. His 4 3/8 and 1 overgrip still leaves him some gap between ring finger and the palm. and he is 1.85m tall. Imagine such a tall guy use a 4 3/8. it is his hand size.

smaller grip makes u want to use wrist a lot. and that is bad.

does federer have a space there? i didn't think so.

FWIW (not much), i've moved to smaller grip and i really like it, and i have big hands..... get much, much more spin and control. large grip is good for rallying straight ahead and deep, but anything else and i find it's not so great..... and i like the smaller grip moving the frame back towards a more balanced weighting (as building up my grip made it way too HL..... i like buying them smaller and building them up, although you could buy them bigger grip brand new and i suppose you won't have the HL problem)

[tennis_hand]

check his photos. there is some space. u'll have big trouble playing in atp, if u can cross ur ring finger.

[PackardDell]

I use L4 + overgrip.

[PackardDell]

i got this pic from
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/LC/G.../Gripsize.html



are these inches or centimeters?

[BobFL]

Originally Posted by PackardDell

are these inches or centimeters?

Are you serious?
Inches, of course.

PS can you imagine grip size with 4.5 cm circumference?

[PackardDell]

according to that pic my hand is about 12.5 cm

that is about 4.9 inch

Is that L3 ? L4? or L5?

http://www.onlineconversion.com/length_common.htm (a useful conv applet)

[PackardDell]

btw: 12.0 cm is about 4.7 inch (12.0 cm is a second measurement, a bit more accurate is this one i think)

[BreakPoint]

Originally Posted by PackardDell

btw: 12.0 cm is about 4.7 inch (12.0 cm is a second measurement, a bit more accurate is this one i think)

Looks like you're an L5 ( 4 5/8 )

[PackardDell]

ok thanks for that

At the moment I use a Head L4 + overgrip. That is a right choice i see

[AlpineCadet]

The only way you can tell what's right for you is to ACTUALLY try out the grip sizes over a long period of time. You can decide right here and now what grip size you'd prefer, but in the end, what works best for you will always take experimentation and practice time. Just because a specific pro uses a specific grip size, doesn't mean you'll automatically play better if you copy him/her.

[dennis1188]

I currently use a 4 1/4 for serve games (serve/volley).
I switch to my 4 3/8 for return games (better return of service and 1 hd/bkhd).

[welcome2petrkordaland]

Originally Posted by AlpineCadet

I'll make this quick.

Grip sizing for a person mostly depends on personal preference. I am 4 5/8ths according to Wilson's hand-sizing chart, but I don't use that big of a grip. Again, personal comfort should matter most. Just remember this: a bigger grip size will provide better stability, which translates into more power, while a smaller grip size will allow a broader range of motion for your wrist, which translates into faster racket snap/motion. Keep in mind that if you go one size too small, you'll have a problem with a 'fluttering' non-stable wrist. I'm not sure how going one size too big will effect your game, since I've never personally experienced it.

Okay, i like what Alpine says. i think many comments on this thread fail to mention the importance of HOW MUCH WRIST is used in your strokes. i happen you use, although not technically ideal i realize, a lot of wrist on both my fh and bh and i've found that smaller grips 1/4 works the best and allows much CONTROL. so it's all about how wristy your shots are. i'd add that one-handed bh are suited for smaller grips whereas a 2 hander can get away get a bigger grip since they use 2 hands, naturally

[a guy]

I'm a 4 3/8 man myself.

[BreakPoint]

Originally Posted by welcome2petrkordaland

i'd add that one-handed bh are suited for smaller grips whereas a 2 hander can get away get a bigger grip since they use 2 hands, naturally

I'd say it's the other way around. Larger grips are much better for 1HBH's because since you only have one hand on the grip, you need to to have more grip to get your thumb behind, which is really for the most part, the only part of your hand behind the shot. You can get away with smaller grips with 2HBH's because you have two hands on the grip to keep a smaller grip from twisting in your hands.

I'm guessing you hit a 2HBH?

[TennisFrkJC92]

Can you get a smaller size and if you want to bulk it up, use 2 overgrips? Would that affect your gameplay regarding feel, shock, maneuverability, slippage, etc...?

[welcome2petrkordaland]

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

I'd say it's the other way around. Larger grips are much better for 1HBH's because since you only have one hand on the grip, you need to to have more grip to get your thumb behind, which is really for the most part, the only part of your hand behind the shot. You can get away with smaller grips with 2HBH's because you have two hands on the grip to keep a smaller grip from twisting in your hands.

I'm guessing you hit a 2HBH?

break point, i actually use a one hander with an extreme western grip where my thumb is in the "thumbs up" position perpendicular to where i'm trying to hit the ball (and not tucked down making a fist), if you know what i'm saying. and i use a tremendous amount of wrist through contact, which i know is not ideal. i'm surprised idon't have wrist probs, esp. using polys. overall, i don't know about 2 handers; i'm just kind of generalizing about my bh stroke and how i've noticed larger grip sizes of friends who have 2 handers. with a lot of wrist use in a 1 hander, a smaller grip allows me to have more control.

[BreakPoint]

Originally Posted by welcome2petrkordaland

break point, i actually use a one hander with an extreme western grip where my thumb is in the "thumbs up" position perpendicular to where i'm trying to hit the ball (and not tucked down making a fist), if you know what i'm saying. and i use a tremendous amount of wrist through contact, which i know is not ideal. i'm surprised idon't have wrist probs, esp. using polys. overall, i don't know about 2 handers; i'm just kind of generalizing about my bh stroke and how i've noticed larger grip sizes of friends who have 2 handers. with a lot of wrist use in a 1 hander, a smaller grip allows me to have more control.

OK, well, whatever works for you. I was referring more to the conventional eastern backhand grip, which I use. For that grip, you want a larger grip because you need to have your thumb behind the shots.