Can someone explain pistol and hammer grips to me?
- Thread starter Roy125
- Start date
if i am not mistaken, jimmy connors uses a hammer grip on the forehand, with fingers close together sort of like you'd hold a ... flag pole in a parade - if you took the racket out of his hand, he'd have a full-on punching fist. john mcenroe/federer/sampras have their palm sort of angled and fingers spread out more like a surgeon with a scalpel or the way we would hold a soldering iron.
correct me if i am wrong.
correct me if i am wrong.
Funbun
Professional
For practically any stroke nowadays, a pistol style grip (hands spread more across the racquet grip, index finger a bit higher) is typically used on any groundstroke, slice, forehand, topspin, backhand, flat, etc. combinations.
However, some players who enjoy holding the grip lower than others (such as Federer and Nadal) have a less finger-spread version of the pistol grip on their groundstrokes. It's all up to preference really.
Currently, most pros prefer the pistol grip because it allows them to stay loose while have a more secure connection to the racquet. In practice, you'll eventually find it easier to adopt a pistol grip when you face tougher, spinnier opponents.
However, some players who enjoy holding the grip lower than others (such as Federer and Nadal) have a less finger-spread version of the pistol grip on their groundstrokes. It's all up to preference really.
Currently, most pros prefer the pistol grip because it allows them to stay loose while have a more secure connection to the racquet. In practice, you'll eventually find it easier to adopt a pistol grip when you face tougher, spinnier opponents.
GetBetterer
Hall of Fame
A pistol grip and a hammer grip are just ways you hold the racket. You can have a Western Grip, Semi-Western Grip, Eastern Forehand Grip and such but the way you grip it is what "pistol" and "hammer" refer to.
They're exactly like they sound. Pistol is with the index finger a little farther out from the other fingers (and they're sometimes split apart slightly) with the thumb on the other side -- as if you're holding a pistol.
Hammer grip is no fingers apart as if you're wielding a hammer. Almost like clenching a fist but it's easier if you just go and grab a hammer (and you likely have).
I personally use the pistol grip for everything. It feels much more natural to me and my shots are still very deep.
They're exactly like they sound. Pistol is with the index finger a little farther out from the other fingers (and they're sometimes split apart slightly) with the thumb on the other side -- as if you're holding a pistol.
Hammer grip is no fingers apart as if you're wielding a hammer. Almost like clenching a fist but it's easier if you just go and grab a hammer (and you likely have).
I personally use the pistol grip for everything. It feels much more natural to me and my shots are still very deep.
Pistol aligns with your forefinger, a natural pointing stick, so you know the angle of the racket.
Hammer aligns things almost 45 degrees to your forearm, so the racket comes thru on the shot similar to pronation (or supination on the backhand side). But it's not a muscle or conscious thing, it happens because of leverage due to the way you hold your racket. Adds rackethead speed to the swing.
Hammer aligns things almost 45 degrees to your forearm, so the racket comes thru on the shot similar to pronation (or supination on the backhand side). But it's not a muscle or conscious thing, it happens because of leverage due to the way you hold your racket. Adds rackethead speed to the swing.
thebuffman
Professional
yeah i am like leed with pistol on forehand and hammer on 1hbh. i use to use pistol on 1hbh but started practicing with hammer and found it to produce a more consistent result from the baseline. the spin i produce from my 1hbh is lovely with the hammer. when i move into the court though and change from eastern back hand to continental, i slide into a pistol grip. pistol seems to help give me more precision and feel of the ball on volleys & 1/2 volleys.
