Anyone hits forehand with a Djokovic grip?
- Thread starter jindra
- Start date
zill
Legend
Djokovic has a very unique FH grip:
Anyone here plays with a similar grip? What are the pros/cons?
me. Strong sw. Fognini as well.
What makes it "strong?"
zill
Legend
More western than a standard sw grip. A standard sw grip would be Thiem's.
3loudboys
G.O.A.T.
It’s a three quarter western I think - the forefinger knuckle is just just past bevel 4 but not at 5 - between them but closer to 4. My son uses that. Easy access to TS and equally adept at flattening out. Got to make sure contact is in front like all shots - especially with this and other extreme grips.
safinruslan
New User
are you sure he grips like that for each ball - low, high?
Dragy
G.O.A.T.
Couple of thoughts:Djokovic has a very unique FH grip:
Anyone here plays with a similar grip? What are the pros/cons?
- he uses quite big grip size for his hand, which may affect the comfort of tight fist vs spread hand style
- his grip is strong, it's significantly past "standard" SW; as far as I figured from experimenting, when you keep index finger knuckle on same bevel (the way we name grips), (1) bigger grip size makes it more closed at contact and (2) spread/diagonal hand makes it more closed at contact - hence many strong grippers use smaller handles and more of "hammer" grips; not all absolutely
So coming back to Nole, I guess he just settled where he did. And has no particular reason to change it
Bevel 4.5 (extreme SW).
One extra overgrip and my forehand goes to this grip. If i take off this extra overgrip my hand goes to full western. The wrist cocking is basically the same so i don't feel much of a difference.
On the other side, with one extra overgrip my one handed backhand grip goes to SW, while if i take off the extra overgrip my hand slides to an extreme eastern BH grip.
One extra overgrip and my forehand goes to this grip. If i take off this extra overgrip my hand goes to full western. The wrist cocking is basically the same so i don't feel much of a difference.
On the other side, with one extra overgrip my one handed backhand grip goes to SW, while if i take off the extra overgrip my hand slides to an extreme eastern BH grip.
Dragy
G.O.A.T.
He also has 0.25 inch longer racquet. But just for several years, not through whole career
optic yellow
Legend
You should put this in the op. You can't assume people are just going to look at one close up picture of a grip and know what you are trying to talk about.
Trolling about for a debate again? Even Chas stop replying to your posts?
I was trying to figure this out today on the court.
My impression was that more hammer meant my grip had to be stronger (closer to W) for the same point of contact/spin.
Is this what you meant or am I saying the opposite of what you're saying?
Fact-check: FALSE.
Are you saying Djokovic does not use a SW?
optic yellow
Legend
No I was giving you advice to improve the op so that you would avoid people not understanding what you were trying to say. You should (and were) able to easily articulate what you find unique about the grip.
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
Missed this one but certainly incorrect info…
ballmachineguy
Hall of Fame
What brand does he use?
Dragy
G.O.A.T.
Wow, I’m sorry. Correct me please.
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
27.1"
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
@Dragy
According to the following site, Novak has been using a custom version of the Head Speed/ Radical that is 69cm (~27.2") since 2018
How to Copy Djokovic’s Actual Racquet Specs — TennCom
What is the easiest and cheapest way that you can copy Djokovic’s ACTUAL racquet specs at home?
tenncom.media
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
As I said...incorrect. His racket is 27.1" or 689mm@Dragy
According to the following site, Novak has been using a custom version of the Head Speed/ Radical that is 69cm (~27.2") since 2018
How to Copy Djokovic’s Actual Racquet Specs — TennCom
What is the easiest and cheapest way that you can copy Djokovic’s ACTUAL racquet specs at home?
Even the site you linked clearly says: "Some tweaks were made to Djokovic’s frame in 2018 following his elbow surgery included some adjustments to the layup and mold, yielding a new prostock code PT346.1 The big differences are a 18x19 string patterns (instead of 18x20) and a 0.1 inch stretch."
Now, the statement above has some errors.
1) After the surgery, Novak still played with the PT113B2 (not PT346.1 until 2019).
2) The mold Adjustments have absolutely nothing to do with Novak
3) The layup tweaks (very minor) were done in 2019
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dr325i
G.O.A.T.
MG Radical MP (TK231) mold is very different too. The bridge on the TK231 is much thinner than on the TK113A / TK113B / TK346
Dragy
G.O.A.T.
How does it alter feel/playability?
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
They all have (very) different layups so it is not easy to compare them just based on the bridge. I believe the thinner bridge, carried over from TK231 to TK260, TK307, TK351 offers more feel and feedback, although, with the introduction of Auxetic in the bridge, the feel was muted…
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
Ok, good to know. Can’t say I’ve ever seen a frame length listed to the nearest mm. That’s abt 0.04 inches. Never seen that fine distinction made either.
Only recall seeing lengths listed to the nearest 1/4 inch or the nearest 0.5 cm. Gotta know… who’s listing racquet lengths to the nearest mm?
Are manufactured frame lengths really that precise? 0.145%? Have seen frame weight and other specs vary quite a bit more than that from one stick to the next.
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
Head frames come out of the oven at 28+ inches long. They get cut to precise length (within a mm) according to the spec. Standard frames at 685mm, Pro frames all over the place.
Dragy
G.O.A.T.
Hey, using the occasion to ask… my L4 Head 360+ Gravity Pro (red-green original) is very close to L3… is it typical?
PS I just measured, and with OG it’s 114mm vs 116.5mm, which es very close to the nominal 1/8 inch. And L4 can just have older, more compressed base grip. Yet still, other brands L4 feel bigger, and many agree my L4 Gravity seems not-that-fat as expected.
I personally have been using L3 with o/g as of lately, but can use L4 Head interchangeably…
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dr325i
G.O.A.T.
Does it have the original TK82S pallets or someone replaced it with the TK82?
Also, after a while, the Hydrosorb grip cushion wear out and becomes "thinner" and that may explain the size between 3/8 and 1/2?
Dragy
G.O.A.T.
Original… I added a bit of info to that post.
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
I'd say if you put a new grip, it will be closer to 4 1/2.
I replace base grips once per year or so playing every day
innoVAShaun
G.O.A.T.
Bartobolas
New User
Thank you, as always. I never knew the precise length in mm. So his frame is actually extended by 4mm?
Also, do you happen to know (I'm sure you do) if his frames use the TK76 pallets or TK82? Perhaps with the double overgrip on a size 3 grip it's a 76 that ends up feeling closer to a #4 82?
On a side note, isn't the original photo in this post of when you used to use a full western grip? It's hard to tell from the photos in this thread, but I know his grip and swing path was quite different early in his pro career.
zill
Legend
Djokovic has a very unique FH grip:
Anyone here plays with a similar grip? What are the pros/cons?
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dr325i
G.O.A.T.
TK57. L3. Calfskin, two OG. Older, grey/black buttcap.
optic yellow
Legend
what is unique about this?
zill
Legend
It's a strong sw. More unique than a sw I guess because less ppl use it.
Clay lover
Legend
Regarding the clamped thumb and no spread on the index, would you agree that people with more extreme grips don't need to do that necessarily? I feel like spreading out the index finger is mainly for stability and feel purposes, but with the palm completely under the handle it's not like the index adds feel to a Western grip anyway. As for stability the forearm and elbow being completely behind the path of the swing kind of removes the need to spread the finger out (there's a good deal of meat and bones behind the impact).
I also feel spreading the fingers out makes the Western grip even more extreme when it's extreme enough already. It also limits the range of motion when a Western grip makes the whole arm structure pretty stiff already.
Nishikori, Djokovic, Almagro, Fognini, Andreev etc. all seem to use a hammer-esque grip.
I also feel spreading the fingers out makes the Western grip even more extreme when it's extreme enough already. It also limits the range of motion when a Western grip makes the whole arm structure pretty stiff already.
Nishikori, Djokovic, Almagro, Fognini, Andreev etc. all seem to use a hammer-esque grip.
