Federer and Sampras......two best players of all time...forehand grips

[Maverick16]

Undoubtedly, Federer and Sampras may go down as the best players of all time.
I noticed that they both use an eastern forehand grip for their forehand stroke.
Is this just a coincidence, or is it better overall to use an eastern grip rather than the more popular semi-western or western grips?
Today, probably 80% or more of tennis players use a western or semi-western grip. Why, when the best man (Federer) who has ever played the game uses an eastern forehand grip?
I know that using a western grip can sometimes handcuff you on the low balls or on forehand volleys.
Pete Sampras used the eastern forehand grip and hit the ball rather flat.
What I find surprising is that Federer uses the eastern forehand grip, but still can generate lots of top spin.
How is this possible?
Is the eastern forehand grip history?

 

[clayman2000]

Hahahaha. I could name 10 guys better then Sampras. Borg, Laver, Gonzalez, Rosewall, Hoad, Tilden, Fed, Vines, Budge

 

[stormholloway]

Rosewall is better than Sampras? Give it a rest man. Bill Tilden? For real? Sampras would clean his clock.

Federer's grip isn't the same as Sampras'.

 

[FiveO]

2 of the best...

Federer uses a hybrid grip with the heel pad of his playing hand positioned consistent with an eastern but his base knuckle of his forefinger positioned much more similar to a SW forehand.

5

 

[clayman2000]

Rosewall is better than Sampras? Give it a rest man. Bill Tilden? For real? Sampras would clean his clock.

Federer's grip isn't the same as Sampras'.

Common, Rosewall one 5 Davis Cups, lost only 2 singles matches in it.

He won 4 slams past the age of 35, and won over 15 pro majors.

Bil Tilden won 6 consecutive US Opens. He played Wimbledon only 6 times and won it thrice. He also won 7 consec Davic Cups, when it was the 3rd most prestigous event

 

[Polvorin]

Did Sampras use continental sometimes? I swear it looked like it but I wonder what you guys think...

EDIT: Maybe that's just the traditional swing vs. the windshield wiper...

 

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

... seriously? Federer uses a semi-western...

 

[stormholloway]

Common, Rosewall one 5 Davis Cups, lost only 2 singles matches in it.

He won 4 slams past the age of 35, and won over 15 pro majors.

Bil Tilden won 6 consecutive US Opens. He played Wimbledon only 6 times and won it thrice. He also won 7 consec Davic Cups, when it was the 3rd most prestigous event

No one has dominated tennis like Federer, period.

Sorry, tennis was a different game back then. Sampras would destroy Bill Tilden. It wouldn't be pretty.

 

[MakeSenseNotBabies]

Hahahaha. I could name 10 guys better then Sampras. Borg, Laver, Gonzalez, Rosewall, Hoad, Tilden, Fed, Vines, Budge

some people like to list players from way back just to come across as educated about the history of tennis. you are one of those people, except that you spelled 'than' wrong.
do you seriously think that a guy from early 20th century could beat sampras???? it's one thing to compare sampras and federer. while the game has evolved since sampras, the evolution hasn't been fundamental nor substantial. sampras retired only 6 years ago.

it's another thing to compare players nearly a century apart!

 

[asdfuogh]

I think the difference is the all court style. Having that grip just adds to their playing styles.

Also, listing the ancient players is completely stupid because it's really not the same game anymore. It'd be like... comparing Ptolemy with Einstein. They were both important, but as the saying goes, the great ones got to greater points standing on the shoulders of giants.

 

[EtePras]

Hahahaha. I could name 10 guys better then Sampras. Borg, Laver, Gonzalez, Rosewall, Hoad, Tilden, Fed, Vines, Budge

Only 10? There are way more than that, lol.

 

[BreakPoint]

Today, probably 80% or more of tennis players use a western or semi-western grip.

Where do you get this statistic from?

Maybe 80% of juniors use western or semi-western grips but take a look at players over 40 years of age and you'll see very few western or semi-western grips.

Oh, and the Eastern forehand grip is definitely not history.

 

[BreakPoint]

... seriously? Federer uses a semi-western...

Seriously? He doesn't. Federer uses an Eastern forehand grip. Period.