Full-Western Grip Forehand

[Yozak]

I hit with a full western forehand but apparently I'm hitting with too much spin and I'm getting no power on the ball. I tried hitting with a semi-western grip but that was totally disastrous so I've decided to fix my swing path (technique) instead.

To guys who hit powerful (yet constant) western grip forehands, what are some points to keep in mind?

Also, who are the pros with western grip that I can try imitating by watching the slow motion videos on youtube?

Thanks beforehand guys.

 

[Ptrac]

Gustavo Kuerten is someone to look at. however, I do not use a full western fh

 

[Yozak]

Thanks for the reply.
Just looking at him hit on youtube, I do feel that Kuerten is someone to look at, but I cant find his forehands close up/slow motion.
I noticed that Nadal, Verdasco, Tsonga, Monfils also have western grip, or something close to that. Who is the one to imitate?

 

[LeeD]

Adjust your grip until you can hit the balls the way you want, then use only that grip and PRACTICE with it.
There IS such a thing as extreme SW.

 

[Clay lover]

Thanks for the reply.
Just looking at him hit on youtube, I do feel that Kuerten is someone to look at, but I cant find his forehands close up/slow motion.
I noticed that Nadal, Verdasco, Tsonga, Monfils also have western grip, or something close to that. Who is the one to imitate?

Verdasco and Tsonga most certainly do not use western grips. Nadal and Monfils are close, but I would say extreme SW. A dead-on western grip player with a good swing would be Djokovic, in my opinion.

 

[Davis937]

I hit with a full western forehand but apparently I'm hitting with too much spin and I'm getting no power on the ball. I tried hitting with a semi-western grip but that was totally disastrous so I've decided to fix my swing path (technique) instead.
Thanks beforehand guys.

Hey Yozak ... tinkering with the swing path can be dangerous ... I'm thinking like Lee that maybe you should try to adjust your grip (maybe move toward the SW grip) ... yes, it will take some getting used to, but in the long run this may be better than changing your swing path ... keep in mind that the pros are very skilled and proficient (... that's why they're pros) ... I'm thinking that, depending on the particular shot, they can expertly make minor tweaks to their grips or swing paths to pull off the shot they need ... it's difficult for us to do this.

 

[Larrysümmers]

Step into the ball.

 

[callmethedoctor]

I have the same problem. My coach helped me with it. He taught me to 1) prepare earlier (so I don't end up leaning backwards), 2) lean into the ball stepping forward, and 3) follow-through across your body for more penetration.

 

[86golf]

Hey Yozak ... tinkering with the swing path can be dangerous ... I'm thinking like Lee that maybe you should try to adjust your grip (maybe move toward the SW grip) ... yes, it will take some getting used to, but in the long run this may be better than changing your swing path ... keep in mind that the pros are very skilled and proficient (... that's why they're pros) ... I'm thinking that, depending on the particular shot, they can expertly make minor tweaks to their grips or swing paths to pull off the shot they need ... it's difficult for us to do this.

I disagree. With proper fundamentals, you should be hitting penetrating shots with either semi-western or full western grips. There shouldn't be a drastic change in your shots by switching grips. I hit extreme eastern, SW and full western in matches depending on the ball I'm receiving. You have something afoul with your swing I'm afraid. Try to hit more out in front and get your weight moving forward. Post a video if you can.

 

[Mr_Shiver]

What surface do you generally play on?

 

[GetBetterer]

The Western Grip, used apparently as I've heard (but doubted in this topic here) was from Nadal.

The Western Grip intentionally gives you topspin, because you're brushing up on the ball when you hit it. If you're looking for power, move into the shot and give the racket a bit of an angle. However, I doubt power will be a problem, as the major topspin you give the ball will make the ball bounce at least on the service line, and then cause the ball to move back farther to the baseline.

 

[Davis937]

I disagree. With proper fundamentals, you should be hitting penetrating shots with either semi-western or full western grips. There shouldn't be a drastic change in your shots by switching grips. I hit extreme eastern, SW and full western in matches depending on the ball I'm receiving. You have something afoul with your swing I'm afraid. Try to hit more out in front and get your weight moving forward. Post a video if you can.

Hmmm ... I'm not so sure about that ... a full western grip generally leads to a swing path that is fairly severe and produces a top spin shot that may not be really penetrating ... to get a more penetrating shot, one would need to alter the swing path ... however, messing with the swing path could result in more problems ... altering the grip slightly (i.e. more of a SW grip) could facilitate the hitting of more penetrating shots (with fewer ancillary problems) ... for myself (... and granted this may not work for everyone ... it's a personal preference), I am cautious about altering my swing path ... I'd rather make small adjustment to my grip ... a good pro can probably alter both his swing path and/or grip depending on the particular shot ... it's not so easy for most of us to make those kinds of adjustments

 

[Slazenger07]

Back when I used a full western grip forehand my coach would always remind me to make contact with the ball further out in front of my body than i was used to with eastern. This helped me hit a more penetrating shot. Ive since switched back to the eastern grip and Ive been using it exclusively for probably 8-9 years now.

 

[Wilander Fan]

Adjust your grip until you can hit the balls the way you want, then use only that grip and PRACTICE with it.
There IS such a thing as extreme SW.

When I am on faster courts for some reason, I start gripping and hitting with semi-western subconsiously. I think its because the balls tend to fly and I exagerate my swing to keep things in. The bad thing is that I use an eastern grip normally and start shanking alot of hittable balls

 

[Crie]

Watch Jack Sock, Nick Kyrgios, and Dominic Thiem slow mo's on YouTube. They are have really good forehands and they are the next gen. Sock is a bit weird because he has has the head of his racquet infront... honestly you will get what i mean when you watch slow mo's.

 

[Rally]

Roddick uses a full western grip if I'm not mistaken.

 

[PMChambers]

Roddick uses a full western grip if I'm not mistaken.

Small sample size but,

Roddick slow motion is classic Semi Western. I never though he was close to Western from memory. Western is very rare off clay and Top 100. Djokovic is close but referred to 3/4 SW which means he's closer to W than SW.

Tips : Catch racquet at end of swing. This promotes good high finish.