giantschwinn
Semi-Pro
My current grip is 4 5/8. I'm willing to try the new trend of going down in grip size. Should I go down to 4 1/2 or 4 3/8? What should I be expecting with smaller grip sizes? More spin, but higher risk of hurting wrist?
I don't see any evidence of more spin....outside of anecdotal and there is rarely an adjustment with weight made to adjust for the smaller handle size. Usulaly people just remove grips...My current grip is 4 5/8. I'm willing to try the new trend of going down in grip size. Should I go down to 4 1/2 or 4 3/8? What should I be expecting with smaller grip sizes? More spin, but higher risk of hurting wrist?
Certainly nothing scientific. Is there anything that shows from a physics point of view that the 1/8" or 1/2" smaller size produces more spin?
I certainly haven't seen any explanation myself, or had any increase in spin when going lower. Given the sizes I do use, there should be zero spin.From a biomechanical point of view, the more flexed your fingers are (smaller grip) the less you can flex and extend at the wrist. Whether that affects spin production, I have no clue.
I certainly haven't seen any explanation myself, or had any increase in spin when going lower. Given the sizes I do use, there should be zero spin.
yes that is it pretty much. Except that number 1 and 2 are in question.Pretty sure the argument goes like this:
1) Nadal gets the most spin on the ATP tour
2) Nadal uses a small grip
3) Ergo, a small grip gets more spin.
Look at my signature. My arm should be dead. But I have zero fear of tennis elbow or golfers elbow from playing tennis. When I got TE I did 2 things racquetwise. I made the handle bigger and then added a bunch of weight with lots in the handle from increasing the size. My 2 cents is that the small handle makes you squeeze tighter which tires the muscles in the forearm which pulls on the tendons. Often you can't really feel the tight muscles unless you run your finger down the arm pressing hard.What is more likely to contribute to TE....Big or small grip?
I don't see any evidence of more spin....outside of anecdotal and there is rarely an adjustment with weight made to adjust for the smaller handle size. Usulaly people just remove grips...
Certainly nothing scientific. Is there anything that shows from a physics point of view that the 1/8" or 1/2" smaller size produces more spin?
Tape on fingers make that grip about 1/2 or just over.Nadal uses a 1/4th
Actually its a half size custom grip and LeeD is right.Nadal uses a 1/4th
Certainly nothing scientific. Is there anything that shows from a physics point of view that the 1/8" or 1/2" smaller size produces more spin?
Sampras had more spin and a bigger handle. Plus the stuff above.Nadal.
If you can hold the racket easy.
Sampras had more spin and a bigger handle. Plus the stuff above.
Sampras had more RPMs than Nadal?!!! Get out of here! lol
samps kicker had more rpms than rafas fh. Totally blows the smsll grip idea out of the water.
We are talking spin. The idea is a small grip creates more spin.Lol again:
Pete Sampras: 1,800 rpm
Andre Agassi: 1,800 rpm
Roger Federer: 2,500 rpm
Rafael Nadal: 3,200 rpm - peaked at 5000 rpm
Rafael Nadal hits the heaviest topspin forehand in the game.
Your argument about the kicker is a falacy as Nadal's serve is weak him being born a rightie.
We are talking spin. The idea is a small grip creates more spin.
The spinniest Shot is the slice. And fed hits more spin on his slice than nadal does on his fh with a peak of 5300 rpm. Which is the same as sampras kicker. 5300 rpm with a 5/8 or larger grip
we are not comparing forehand to forehands or serves, but grip sizes and spin.
Also Nadal uses a larger handle than 1/4 and factor in his tape and the overall size is not smaller than most other pros.
i bet you will miss it but here is a link that shows the spinniest shotsmeasured were Samps serve and Rogers slice
Agree with Shroud.
I have used his 5+ sized gripped rackets.
Same spin as my 4 1/2's.
If you hold the thinner more loose, it’ll flick faster than a big block. It is a matter of grip pressure. A thick grip may require more pressure, ie. More tense forearm and therefore the wrist will stiffen. If you can hold the thinner more loosely, then it is only matter of which way you flick it.From a biomechanical point of view, the more flexed your fingers are (smaller grip) the less you can flex and extend at the wrist. Whether that affects spin production, I have no clue.
How long fingers does Fede have?We are talking spin. The idea is a small grip creates more spin.
The spinniest Shot is the slice. And fed hits more spin on his slice than nadal does on his fh with a peak of 5300 rpm. Which is the same as sampras kicker. 5300 rpm with a 5/8 or larger grip
we are not comparing forehand to forehands or serves, but grip sizes and spin.
Also Nadal uses a larger handle than 1/4 and factor in his tape and the overall size is not smaller than most other pros.
i bet you will miss it but here is a link that shows the spinniest shotsmeasured were Samps serve and Rogers slice
@giantschwinn
There's a trend?? Thought that was a trend in the 90s to early 00s. (Had to double check the posting date of the OP to make sure that this was not an ancient thread from the early days of TT).
Back in there day I had used a 5 grip (4 5/8) for quite some time. Switched to a 4 grip (in the mid 90s, I think). A 3 grip has never felt very comfortable for me -- even though I use a much smaller grip for badminton. However for badminton, the racket grip lies more across my fingers whereas, for tennis, it lies more across the palm of the hand.
Tape on fingers make that grip about 1/2 or just over.
I think the common range for current badminton rackets is about 85-95 grams (3.0-3.4 oz). Some are as heavy as 100g. A 2U badminton racket is one that weighs 90 grams (or more). I may be wrong but, I believe, that many pro players use rackets in the 90-95g range. Most will use a 2U or 3U racket+1!
In badmington the racket weighs about 95 grams... But that said, there is a trend towards more lightweighted rackets in tennis too, hence the impact is a lot heavier than in badmington. In badmington speed is the key, since other than the net roller is allways hit flat. In tennis you need to have some control over the stringbed, yet you want to have high rhs.
The old school measurement for gripsize was due the fact, you wanted or had to hit it more flat with wooden sticks due tiny sweet spot. Now, the sturdiest rackets weigh around 360 - 380 stringed. And the idea have changed more towards having more spin to hit faster bouncing balls and keeping the ball on the court tennis is also trending towards racket head speed rather than controlling the face.
I think tape on fingers are for friction and avoiding blisters, not to thicken the skinny grip.
If you hold the thinner more loose, it’ll flick faster than a big block. It is a matter of grip pressure. A thick grip may require more pressure, ie. More tense forearm and therefore the wrist will stiffen. If you can hold the thinner more loosely, then it is only matter of which way you flick it.
That not true. Spin is important and is used a variety of ways in badminton. True, there is no topspin and no left/right bending sidespin.... Nor is spin a part of badminton
One of the many plusses of a big handle is that you don't ever get blisters or callouses. Since going up several several sizes I have lost all my callouses that every tennis player gets. Said another way, if Nadal would have a larger grip the blisters wouldn't be an issue.I think tape on fingers are for friction and avoiding blisters, not to thicken the skinny grip.