Eastern Backhand Grip Before Service Return

[thebuffman]

my tennis coach teaches me to basically hold the racquet by the throat with my left (non-hitting) hand and keep a loose grip with my right hand gripping it with my forehand grip. so i asked him how do i go about shifting the racquet for when the ball is served to my backhand, do i twist the racquet with the left hand to the eastern backhand grip. he said no, that the left hand keeps the racquet steady while the right hand re-adjusts its grip from my semi-western grip to the eastern backhand grip.

problem: during match play i can never seem to be able to rotate the backhand grip WHILE stepping into the ball to return it when hit to my backhand. i always feel out of time.

solution: today i tried something totally new. i had already lost the match (best 2 out of 3 sets) and we were just playing the 3rd set for ladder points. well my opponent had been serving to my backhand all day with nice kick around shoulder high and everytime i would try rotating for the eastern backhand it would result in failure. so for the first two sets i would just slice or block it back. the 3rd set though i though, "hmmmm...how about i start off the eastern backhand grip and if the ball comes to my forehand then i will see how fast i can change it to semi-western."

results: i trumped my opponent 6-3. he was blown away by my returns. he had no idea that i had made this ever so slight change but i was teeing of with my 1HBH (my strongest wing) deep, nice top and nice pop. after the match he goes, "wow man you were killing my serve! you played very strong that third set!" i told him that i had reversed my learning and shifted to a eastern backhand grip when preparing for the serve.

anybody see any problem with this approach?

 

[Jonny S&V]

my tennis coach teaches me to basically hold the racquet by the throat with my left (non-hitting) hand and keep a loose grip with my right hand gripping it with my forehand grip. so i asked him how do i go about shifting the racquet for when the ball is served to my backhand, do i twist the racquet with the left hand to the eastern backhand grip. he said no, that the left hand keeps the racquet steady while the right hand re-adjusts its grip from my semi-western grip to the eastern backhand grip.

problem: during match play i can never seem to be able to rotate the backhand grip WHILE stepping into the ball to return it when hit to my backhand. i always feel out of time.

solution: today i tried something totally new. i had already lost the match (best 2 out of 3 sets) and we were just playing the 3rd set for ladder points. well my opponent had been serving to my backhand all day with nice kick around shoulder high and everytime i would try rotating for the eastern backhand it would result in failure. so for the first two sets i would just slice or block it back. the 3rd set though i though, "hmmmm...how about i start off the eastern backhand grip and if the ball comes to my forehand then i will see how fast i can change it to semi-western."

results: i trumped my opponent 6-3. he was blown away by my returns. he had no idea that i had made this ever so slight change but i was teeing of with my 1HBH (my strongest wing) deep, nice top and nice pop. after the match he goes, "wow man you were killing my serve! you played very strong that third set!" i told him that i had reversed my learning and shifted to a eastern backhand grip when preparing for the serve.

anybody see any problem with this approach?

I see no problem, I switch from an extreme-eastern (verging on a semi-western) backhand grip to a semi-western forehand grip (different sides of the racquet mind you). That being said, if I return this way, I do back up about 5 feet from the baseline. If I wanna return shorter, cut of angles, I hit with a modified-continental and chip it (typically chip-and-charge). My example is the extreme, and I don't see anything horrible about your situation. If it works for you, keep doing it.

 

[Blake0]

It doesn't really matter although i thought it was normally taught starting off at continental. I think most people are faster into switching to their forehand grips anyway. I like starting on my backhand grip especially when people go to my backhand more often then my forehand.

 

[BevelDevil]

I think your coach was wrong. You should use both your left and right hands to change to your EBH grip. Shifting with just your dominant hand results in an awkward angle.

Your backhand to forward approach feels good because what you you were doing before then was bad. Perhaps there was a miscommunication with your coach?

Anyway, I think EBH to SWFH resticts your hand movement too much.


Trust your instincts and go from SWFH to EBH, using both hands the change grips.

 

[thebuffman]

I see no problem, I switch from an extreme-eastern (verging on a semi-western) backhand grip to a semi-western forehand grip (different sides of the racquet mind you). That being said, if I return this way, I do back up about 5 feet from the baseline.

interesting, so you are saying that you stand further back off the baseline to give you time to switch grips? i had never thought about this. i always thought people stood further back because of the speed of the serve. thanks for the reply jonny.

 

[thebuffman]

It doesn't really matter although i thought it was normally taught starting off at continental. I think most people are faster into switching to their forehand grips anyway. I like starting on my backhand grip especially when people go to my backhand more often then my forehand.

wow! good to hear that someone else starts off holding their backhand grip. this is my first time hearing such a thing and very reassuring.

I think your coach was wrong. You should use both your left and right hands to change to your EBH grip. Shifting with just your dominant hand results in an awkward angle.

Your backhand to forward approach feels good because what you you were doing before then was bad. Perhaps there was a miscommunication with your coach?

Anyway, I think EBH to SWFH resticts your hand movement too much.


Trust your instincts and go from SWFH to EBH, using both hands the change grips.

well at this point i think i will start off all my service returns in the eastern backhand grip. the results i got from this slight change offered significant improvement in my return game. the first thing it did was give me time. i have never been able to confidently stroke a 1hbh service return because i never feel like i have time. secondly it gave me a lot of confidence. being able to smack a strong return from both wings does something nasty to the opponent especially when they are serving up their best stuff.

MAN I AM DOWN RIGHT EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW FIND OF MINE...DOWN RIGHT EXCITED!!

 

[Davis937]

I believe the "traditional" thinking is that the returner hold the racaquet with the FH grip ... if the ball comes to your BH, you switch to a BH grip during your prep for the return ... it has been generally accepted that for most players, it's easier to switch from a FH grip to a BH grip rather than vice versa ... I would suggest you continue with your experiment for awhile ... if it works, good for you ... there is rarely one, single, right way to hit a shot ... I suppose the true test will come when you face a server who hits to your FH with good pace, no ...

 

[larry10s]

first of all the grip change should occur as youdo your shoulder turn NOT when you are stepping in. you can practice this off court
i start in continental grip. this way i can block chip as serve that surprises me, and im halfway to fh and bh grip

 

[LeftSHBH]

I wait on the BH grip (continental FH), it's easier for me to change to my FH grip than BH.

 

[ProgressoR]

for very fast servers i dont have time to change grips (probably dont have enough experience and I dont face them often), i think i might try ready position in my volley grip (conti with slight EBH) so at least i can block or chip back. If i have time i can then set up properly for FH and BH.

 

[Slazenger07]

I often use a Continental Grip on the return of serve, that way youve got one grip to worry about if the serve isnt where you expected it. Plus its a quick shift to go from Continental to Eastern Forehand or Backhand if I choose to hit a return instead of slicing.

 

[thebuffman]

. I suppose the true test will come when you face a server who hits to your FH with good pace, no ...

this is what i experienced last night. the kid was serving VERY well. his kicker was at my shoulder and giving me trouble up until i changed grip. after that, it was a wrap. i recovered time when he served to my bh because i didn't have to change grips. when he served to the forehand, the grip change was automatic...didn't even have to think about it, the brain just knew how to do it while my body was in motion. it took soooo much pressure off of me. i can't tell you how awkward returning a driving 1hbh has been for me up until last night. at best, and on hard serves, i would get caught somewhere between a continental and ebh with a loose grip resulting in a sloppy return.

it is so good to hear that others in the community adopt something other than a fh grip when waiting to return the serve. not sure why my coach was reinforcing this. unless he instinctively can switch grips without thinking about it which i'm sure he does. after all this guy use to socialize and play with boys like rod laver so i know a lot of his concepts are old school but still relevant. for instance this is why i am in the process of changing all of my grips to 4-3/8 from 5-1/4.....coach explained to me how laver convinced him of the benefit of smaller grips even though coach have big hands like me.

so i highly respect my coach but i will have to choose my own path on this one which i am sure he will be fine with. from now on it is ebh grip when waiting on service return baby! this was the find of the year!!

 

[Davis937]

this is what i experienced last night. the kid was serving VERY well. his kicker was at my shoulder and giving me trouble up until i changed grip. after that, it was a wrap. i recovered time when he served to my bh because i didn't have to change grips. when he served to the forehand, the grip change was automatic...didn't even have to think about it, the brain just knew how to do it while my body was in motion. it took soooo much pressure off of me. i can't tell you how awkward returning a driving 1hbh has been for me up until last night. at best, and on hard serves, i would get caught somewhere between a continental and ebh with a loose grip resulting in a sloppy return.

it is so good to hear that others in the community adopt something other than a fh grip when waiting to return the serve. not sure why my coach was reinforcing this. unless he instinctively can switch grips without thinking about it which i'm sure he does. after all this guy use to socialize and play with boys like rod laver so i know a lot of his concepts are old school but still relevant. for instance this is why i am in the process of changing all of my grips to 4-3/8 from 5-1/4.....coach explained to me how laver convinced him of the benefit of smaller grips even though coach have big hands like me.

so i highly respect my coach but i will have to choose my own path on this one which i am sure he will be fine with. from now on it is ebh grip when waiting on service return baby! this was the find of the year!!

Hey, buff ... glad you have the grip change under control ... good hitting!

 

[thebuffman]

Hey, buff ... glad you have the grip change under control ... good hitting!

thanks for the vote of confidence bro. and i love your signature!

 

[LeeD]

Best to use what works best for you.
If you can switch to forehand quickly enough, then use your backhand grip for returns of serve.
Probably, in theory, always best to start in the grip you expect to return with.
My problem. I generally have a WEAKER forehand than backhand, so most servers against me go 50/50, meaning I get just as many forehands as backhands, and against really tough smart servers, more forehands.
Since most players use ONE forehand grip, and several backhands, it's generally accepted to be able to get to a forehand grip quicker and more accurately.
With my weak forehand, I wait with forehand grip.

 

[Davis937]

Best to use what works best for you.
If you can switch to forehand quickly enough, then use your backhand grip for returns of serve.
Probably, in theory, always best to start in the grip you expect to return with.
My problem. I generally have a WEAKER forehand than backhand, so most servers against me go 50/50, meaning I get just as many forehands as backhands, and against really tough smart servers, more forehands.
Since most players use ONE forehand grip, and several backhands, it's generally accepted to be able to get to a forehand grip quicker and more accurately.
With my weak forehand, I wait with forehand grip.

Hey, lee ... yeah, at one time my FH return of serve was stronger than my BH return ... not so today ... my 2hbh is definitely the stronger and more preferred return stroke ... I have so much more confidence in the 2hbh ... I think I still struggle with taking too big of a cut with my FH ... my 2hbh is much more compact and simple ... my prep is so much better for my BH ... I hate my FH return ... like you, I prefer waiting for the serve with my FH grip.

 

[Mr_Shiver]

It is always exciting when something clicks. Like a couple others said there was probably miscommunication with your coach. I've always used both hands. For return of serve i hit with a continental. I learned how to hit both fh and bh so whether i want to slice, block, or swing i don't have to change grips. Its kind of nice because your contact point with a continental grip is naturally later. On occasion it buys me a little extra against a good server. Heh, you could always switch to a full western fh, then you wouldn't have to change grips at all. Good luck man.