Hawaiian Grip?
- Thread starter Jabezhh
- Start date
Just wanted to confirm that the grip used in this grip is the Hawaiian forehand.
Its a pic of my high school's tennis team captain. I think he switched to a normal western after he graduated though.
Yeah. And good lord - how the hell do people hit with that?! It seems like if the ball was any lower, his wrist would come off in an attempt to contort it enough to get the racquet into position.
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
Yeah, it's amazing anyone can hit the ball like that over an extended period of time without breaking their wrist.
TENNIS_IS_FUN
Professional
Couple questoins
1.) is a Hawaiian grip just a continental grip in reverse?
2.) im guessing that if the ball is lower than their hips, people using the hawaiian grip will just change to continental to hit it back.
1.) is a Hawaiian grip just a continental grip in reverse?
2.) im guessing that if the ball is lower than their hips, people using the hawaiian grip will just change to continental to hit it back.
Number 1 is true. I'm not sure about number 2.
Ambivalent
Hall of Fame
This one guy i knew used a Hawaiian. He didn't have arm problems or anything. Basically, he'd hit these super topspinny lob balls that land in no mans land and kick nearly to the fence. However, if he gets a low ball he'll fumble his grip to continental and slice it back.
one of my hitting partners actually uses this grip and for him if he gets a low ball he'll just swith to continental grip to hit it over. Also the continental and hawaiian grip are a bit different, if you move your raquet to the left a little bit (around an inch) thats the hawaiian grip.
SalvadorVeiga
Rookie
I pretty much just change it to western our SW when a low ball comes... if I have no time to change it I just do a reverse forehand like hitting the ball from the sides with follow through over your head...it does the trick
J011yroger
Talk Tennis Guru
People ask me what hawiian is, and I will show them, just goofing/hitting around. I am a western player to begin with, so no big stretch to me. Fun hitting forehands that land in the service box and hit the back fence over 6' high.
**Note** my Hawiian FHs have lower net clearance on the whole than my westerns.
J
**Note** my Hawiian FHs have lower net clearance on the whole than my westerns.
J
If I'm not mistaken, a Hawaiian grip is the same as an eastern one-hand backhand?
lawl hey whats up Andrew. So does he still hit with this grip? Back when he used to use it, he had a safe high topspin forehand that he hit with a continental.
Heres another pic of him hitting a lower ball.
lawl hey whats up Andrew. So does he still hit with this grip? Back when he used to use it, he had a safe high topspin forehand that he hit with a continental.
Heres another pic of him hitting a lower ball.
J-man
Hall of Fame
Ether that or just switch their grip to something less extreme.
brayman9
Semi-Pro
If I'm not mistaken, a Hawaiian grip is the same as an eastern one-hand backhand?
lawl hey whats up Andrew. So does he still hit with this grip? Back when he used to use it, he had a safe high topspin forehand that he hit with a continental.
Heres another pic of him hitting a lower ball.
that just looks painfull the full western bothered me when i had it the eastern was better.
T
topspin_17
Guest
is that guy double jointed? hahaha i would never want to use a hawaiian grip for my forehand
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
How good of a player is this guy? Because not only is he using a ridiculous grip that offers no variety, but he's falling backwards when he hits his forehand.lawl hey whats up Andrew. So does he still hit with this grip? Back when he used to use it, he had a safe high topspin forehand that he hit with a continental.
Heres another pic of him hitting a lower ball.
I hit with a Hawaiian for fun every so often. It took me about 6 months to really learn the grip and the techniques needed to be successful with it.
Basically you need to fully suppinate [rotate clockwise] your forearm to get the strings near vertical to the court. But you also need to fold/release your wrist [make your fingers perpendicular to your forearm] as if you are making a boxing uppercut punch too. The forearm suppination is often not enough especially on low balls.
The question about leaning backwards while hitting; this is done by many Western and Hawaiian grippers. It helps get the strings vertical. The obvious drawback is that it is difficult to drive the ball. You tend to hit pure top. I can drive the ball but it took a long time to learn to do it.
The grip is a Continental turned over to hit with the other side of the strings. You have to begin with the racquet perpendicular to your forearm with the top of the frame pointing to the back fence.
It is really fun to hit with once you get the hang of it.
And I think learning to hit with it improves the technique of those hitting with a W or SW. You must do similar things for certain shots, but just not as extreme.
Basically you need to fully suppinate [rotate clockwise] your forearm to get the strings near vertical to the court. But you also need to fold/release your wrist [make your fingers perpendicular to your forearm] as if you are making a boxing uppercut punch too. The forearm suppination is often not enough especially on low balls.
The question about leaning backwards while hitting; this is done by many Western and Hawaiian grippers. It helps get the strings vertical. The obvious drawback is that it is difficult to drive the ball. You tend to hit pure top. I can drive the ball but it took a long time to learn to do it.
The grip is a Continental turned over to hit with the other side of the strings. You have to begin with the racquet perpendicular to your forearm with the top of the frame pointing to the back fence.
It is really fun to hit with once you get the hang of it.
And I think learning to hit with it improves the technique of those hitting with a W or SW. You must do similar things for certain shots, but just not as extreme.
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Commando Tennis Shorts
Hall of Fame
haha. i was thinking the same thing. why in god's name would anyone play with this grip. it seems to me like it would be the least effective grip of all (unless the kick really is extremely ungodly)
Well, he was actually a pretty good player. He played singles 1 for our school for his last two years. His forehand had pretty good control, power, and spin.
When I was on the team, i thought he was an amazing player for hitting this grip. Definitly in the top quarter of singles 1 players.
However...I've sure that if he had used a more conventional grip, he would have won more matches. Too bad he switched AFTER he left the team.
(sorry for the horrible spelling)
When I was on the team, i thought he was an amazing player for hitting this grip. Definitly in the top quarter of singles 1 players.
However...I've sure that if he had used a more conventional grip, he would have won more matches. Too bad he switched AFTER he left the team.
(sorry for the horrible spelling)
smoothtennis
Hall of Fame
Beresetuegi (sp?) used that grip did he not? I remember he had the same grip for backand and forehand. Agassi said he had the most exteme game he had ever seen after losing him in the French in a 5 setter that Agassi should have won.
That would mean he was using a continental backhand?
smoothtennis
Hall of Fame
Not sure, it may have not been full H, but it was extreme western at least.
Rafa freak
Semi-Pro
Thats crazy
someone like this was playing 2nd singles on another hs team, the player on my team can serve into the 100s quite easily, but the other guy just slapped the ball up with some weird twist serve looking spin. the player on my team took it on the rise pretty easily though. they also can get slices as well, but not too effectively.
skiracer55
Hall of Fame
Okay, I believe it now that I see it...
...but where did the name "Hawaiian" come from? I mean, why not "Fiji Island Grip"?
...but where did the name "Hawaiian" come from? I mean, why not "Fiji Island Grip"?
WildVolley
Legend
I always assumed it was a joke. His grip is so far Western that he holds a Hawaiian grip.
Omisoshiru
New User
haha, its brian cho!,
and wats up jabez (its brian ishiba)
and wats up jabez (its brian ishiba)
The term was coined by Spanish player and one time French Open finalist Alberto Berasategui who used a grip so extreme he hit his forehand and backhand on the same side of the racquet without changing grips. When asked to describe his grip he said it was 'Hawaiian' as Hawaii is as far West you can go before you end up in the East.
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brownie808
Rookie
yea same here
Uh...read the post just previous to yours...
my coach told me about the player who uses the hawaiin grip on both sides.
literally supposedly, the player hits figure eights, cause he never changes the grip.
actually. it should be called the Around the World Grip, cause if you go so Western, youll be back in the same place. again.
literally supposedly, the player hits figure eights, cause he never changes the grip.
actually. it should be called the Around the World Grip, cause if you go so Western, youll be back in the same place. again.
bigfoot910
Rookie
Believe it or not, that grip is fairly common in the Southwest, especially the El Paso area. All of the upcoming juniors are trying more and more extreme western grips, and really ripping the ball.
I use this grip as well. I actually use the same grip for my forehand and 2hbh, on the same side of the racquet, no grip change.
On the return thing, alot of people who use this grip have a solid block back return (with a continental), as the grip is just a flipped over continental grip.
It does take alot to get the timing down and you have to take the ball well out in front, but hey it works for me...
I use this grip as well. I actually use the same grip for my forehand and 2hbh, on the same side of the racquet, no grip change.
On the return thing, alot of people who use this grip have a solid block back return (with a continental), as the grip is just a flipped over continental grip.
It does take alot to get the timing down and you have to take the ball well out in front, but hey it works for me...
WildVolley
Legend
This grip has been common in juniors for a while. But we aren't seeing these same juniors have success once they age. When you're really short, it allows you to easily take balls above shoulder height. Once the players get bigger and stronger and hit faster, we don't see players with this grip winning. I think there's a reason that most of the successful pros hit something close to a semi-western grip.
Harel Levy
Harel Levy, the Israeli player, definitely has a Hawaain grip. You can check out his forehand here:
http://www.hi-techtennis.com/video_sample/index.php?movie=levy_forehand.swf&size=normal
Harel Levy, the Israeli player, definitely has a Hawaain grip. You can check out his forehand here:
http://www.hi-techtennis.com/video_sample/index.php?movie=levy_forehand.swf&size=normal
WildVolley
Legend
Interesting. I don't recall ever seeing him play.
How did he handle low balls to the forehand side? Do you recall if he switched grips, or was he able to pick them up with such an extreme grip?
I always think of Beresetuegi when someone brings up the Hawaain FH. I remember his FH being about the best out there, a huge weapon. He had about the worst backhand of any player on tour, his serve was certainly not a weapon, but that FH was something.
