Any tips for moving to pistol grip?

[cg.tennis]

By pistol grip, I mean the index finger spread out when holding the racquet. Lately, I decided to give pistol forehand grip a try. I'm using extreme semi-western grip. When I used hammer grip before, my grip pressure is very loose. However, it's not very stable either, causing my forehand very inconsistent.

Therefore I decided to give pistol grip a try. Any tips how to make the change? When I tried pistol grip and do shadow swinging at home, I feel that I need to use my index finger and thumb to hold the racquet a little bit tighter. I'm not sure how much tighter should it be so that it won't cause any wrist or tennis/golfers elbow problem.

I also wonder if the rest of 3 fingers (except index finger and thumb) should be much looser than index finger and thumb, right? What about the heel of the palm (should it constantly touching the grip or should it be very loose)? In other words, should the pressure of index finger and the palm heel the same on the grip? Or should the pressure of index finger higher than palm heel.

What about serve or volley grip? Should I use pistol grip or hammer grip?

 

[LeeD]

SHOULD?
What are you, a clone that needs exactly the same instruction as other clones?
Dude, you're an individual. You have to try it and see if it works for your game.
I use both pistol and hammer on serves, depending on how badly I"m playing that day, IF I can remember to change a losing game.
Pistol forehand, you have more surface area, more locked wrist, so you have to loosen your grip even more to get a similar stroke, but it's better for old school strokes and volleys.

 

[Limpinhitter]

By pistol grip, I mean the index finger spread out when holding the racquet. Lately, I decided to give pistol forehand grip a try. I'm using extreme semi-western grip. When I used hammer grip before, my grip pressure is very loose. However, it's not very stable either, causing my forehand very inconsistent.

Therefore I decided to give pistol grip a try. Any tips how to make the change? When I tried pistol grip and do shadow swinging at home, I feel that I need to use my index finger and thumb to hold the racquet a little bit tighter. I'm not sure how much tighter should it be so that it won't cause any wrist or tennis/golfers elbow problem.

I also wonder if the rest of 3 fingers (except index finger and thumb) should be much looser than index finger and thumb, right? What about the heel of the palm (should it constantly touching the grip or should it be very loose)? In other words, should the pressure of index finger and the palm heel the same on the grip? Or should the pressure of index finger higher than palm heel.

What about serve or volley grip? Should I use pistol grip or hammer grip?

Your grip pressure should be loose. If a loose grip is causing inconsistency, then there is something else going on. As for the pistol grip, I would recommend moderation. Try a small extension of your index finger. Your other fingers will spread out naturally. But, you should still maintain a loose grip.

 

[LeeD]

"SHOULD"?
What makes you think every tennis player hit's the ball the same way?
Is it possible to have a loose grip, yet GRIMACE and tense your forearm muscles? LIke almost every picture of every pro player hitting every stroke in match play? Except Ana, she's just posing.