forehand grip placement question

[fire_eaters]

Hey everyone, im gonna do my best to explain this, but I feel I am doing something wrong on my forehand and I think I might know what it is but I would like some input.

A couple years ago I used to be able to really crack my forehand with accuracy and power, but lately within the past year I think I've gotten into a bad habit. I hold my racket in a semiwestern grip, and the bad habit that I believe is plagueing my forehand is that my index finger is spread out too far up the handle. I don't know why I do this now, but I have been looking at videos online of the proper way to hold the forehand and all the ones I see show the hand with all the fingers close together, the index finger is typically spaced out more than the others, but it is still somewhat curved into what looks like a "trigger finger", but my index finger is completely "strait" up my handle.

I know this is somewhat complicated to explain and I apologize, but can anyone picture what I am doing? The other problem my "strait index finger" causes is that i think its making me be too "wristy" with my forehand shot, instead of using my shoulder and doing a fluid stroke. It just feels awkward to me to keep my fingers closer together and I don't know why.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Is your racket grip too small or too large for your hand?

 

[LeeD]

Are you injured, or have you hurt that hand?
I know you don't want to emulate FransousDurr, who did that grip on her backhand.

 

[Bagumbawalla]

You know your grip is the root of all your evils, but you are reluctant to change it to a more effective grip because they don't feel right.... Is that correct?

Get someone to toss you balls. Find the grip that allows you to hit them most effectively (however odd it may feel). Then, for the next several weeks, walk around (the house) holding the racket with that grip until it feels right and everything else seems wrong.

 

[fire_eaters]

Is your racket grip too small or too large for your hand?

You know, I never have thought of this before..right now I use a 4 3/8 grip with 1 additional overgrip on it as well. It usually feels somewhat small in my hands and I thought I've liked it like that...but perhaps I should increase to the next size? Could that have something to do with it?

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

^ It is possible that the 3+ grip is too small for you, particularly if you have a large hand or long fingers. Try a racquet with a 4 grip (4 1/2) if you can to see if that doesn't correct the problem. Alternately, add 2 overgrips to your 3 grip nstead of just one.

... Get someone to toss you balls. Find the grip that allows you to hit them most effectively (however odd it may feel). Then, for the next several weeks, walk around (the house) holding the racket with that grip until it feels right and everything else seems wrong.

Let's take it a step further. Duct tape the proper hand/finger position on the racket and sleep like this for a couple of weeks. :twisted:

Seriously tho', Bagum's suggestion is a good one. Try 2-3 dozen or more shadow swings every day with the proper grip. Eventually is should start to feel normal.