Tennis grips and peculiarities

[1HBH Rocks]

Few people might be aware of this, but I will state it for those who aren't: pro players grip the racket very differently from one another even when they have the same grip... So, let us do a little survey to find out how our "Talk Tennis" players hold their racket, say, to hit your top spin forehand.

List the dominant parts of your hand (what fingers or part of your hand specifically holds the racket) as well as which parts rather serve as bracing, only getting along with the rest. I want to see if there are common traits that are repeated in where pressure is most often applied. In short, just name the grip, how your fingers are placed and which parts in your hand applies pressure to hold the racket in place.

It would be nice to add your height as well as your grip size. We'd probably also all benefit from using accurate words instead of saying that finger's third pad or this ball in your hand... So, I'll post a hand with words for everyone to enjoy.

[user92626]

That fact about pros gripping the racket slightly differently isn't surprising, dude.

I'm 5'8, gripping what's generally described as SW. I make sure that my grip is between comfortable/power and control, which means middle of pistol and hammer. I use two flat surfaces as point of references, bevel 1 and 2 (lefty), and line up my palm comfortably there. Basically when I feel the surfaces well against my palm, I can control the racket face opening in the swing very well.

[CRWV]

6'4, lankey build (though heavy, about 285) 4 1/2 +overgrip with little overlap.

extreme eastern, knuckle on the corner between eastern and semi-western, though it's closer to eastern than s-w due to the size of my hand (I have huge hands, probably should be using a 4 3/4 if I measured it...)

I feel like the whole hand is passive and that everything past the shoulder gets dragged along (with the swing coming from the torso), though there is a little pressure on the lower part of the fingers (closer to the hand) just to hold onto the racquet. (think fed, but fat and not good at tennis...lol) though I'm now keeping even less tension in my hand because i found my perfect overgrip (prince resi-pro).

Very curious as to the results of this thread. (a poll would be fun...)

[user92626]

IMO, you guys shouldn't feel any pressure or tension at the fingers or the base of the fingers after playing for sometimes. That means you've been using the weaker parts of your hand to support the handle. The strongest part of the palm is its center. That part should be behind the handle when going into contact (the most impact part of the swing). So, I'd say get a grip size that allows the handle to rest well inside your palm and you should be set.

[1HBH Rocks]

Originally Posted by user92626

IMO, you guys shouldn't feel any pressure or tension at the fingers or the base of the fingers after playing for sometimes. That means you've been using the weaker parts of your hand to support the handle. The strongest part of the palm is its center. That part should be behind the handle when going into contact (the most impact part of the swing). So, I'd say get a grip size that allows the handle to rest well inside your palm and you should be set.

Pressure doesn't mean that it hurts... it's where you exert the most force to hold the racket in place. Some players use their thumb and middle finger, others use more the ring finger, etc.

[user92626]

Originally Posted by 1HBH Rocks

Pressure doesn't mean that it hurts... it's where you exert the most force to hold the racket in place. Some players use their thumb and middle finger, others use more the ring finger, etc.

Isn't that my point that thumb and fingers, any part other than the strongest, center of the palm, not be used to deal with the most force? Those parts are not suitable.

[CRWV]

Doesn't make any sense. Fingers have to literally keep the racquet in hand when the ball hits the strings. That's all I meant. With a sw or eastern, it feels uncomfortable for my fingers. in the middle: comfy.