Help figuring out what grips i use

Searah

Searah

Semi-Pro
hello =)
so i use a one handed forehand and backhand! but am not happy with my play.. so i would like an opinion on what grips i use! i've looked online but am not entirely sure..
as far as i can tell by the pictures.. i use the same on both almost?

http://imgur.com/a/TRHi4

4 extra of backhand. so that is how i would be holding the racket as i bring it back and swing!
http://imgur.com/a/PmvcI
 
Last edited:
Your forehand is An eastern grip. If you keep using eastern forehand grip you will need to change to use eastern for backhand grip.
To make it really simple, a semi western forehead grip can be used for the one handed backhand. You don't even need to change grips.
 
collotennis said:
Your forehand is An eastern grip. If you keep using eastern forehand grip you will need to change to use eastern for backhand grip.
To make it really simple, a semi western forehead grip can be used for the one handed backhand. You don't even need to change grips.
Click to expand...
ohhh the 2nd picture of my backhand.. is almost the same so i use eastern/eastern?
 
The forehand is "Eastern Forehand".
The backhand is a "Western Forehand". It is not a "normal" backhand grip and if you backhand is struggling I'll recommend going to a "Eastern Backhand" which is effective the same but rotated counter clockwise 180deg the the index finger on the top bevel towards RH edge.

If you want a little more feel and hand play, rotate the FH a little towards Semi Western and play Eastern/Western backhand.
 
holy moly your backhand grip is further to the western forehand than your forehand grip is, how do you even hit a backhand like that?

grips2_800.jpg


Your forehand grip is picture 2, your backhand grip is between picture 2 and 3. Instead your backhand grip should be picture 5.
 
collotennis said:
a semi western forehead grip can be used for the one handed backhand. You don't even need to change grips.
Click to expand...

that would be true if the player is using an extreme eastern 1 hander which is probably less than 1% of players with 1 handers. full western forehand grip is the same as an eastern backhand flipped around.

using the same forehand grip for backhand:
if forehand is semi western then backhand is extreme eastern
if forehand is full western then backhand is eastern

i guess it would depend what extreme grip you want and on what side. do you want an extreme grippped forehand or an extreme gripped backhand? personally i choose neither. i use semi western forehand and eastern backhand on my 1 hander.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
1. I'm assuming the bh would be used turned over, so your knuckles are up? That would be a more useful way to see it.
2. Talking about grips using names is a problem. You will see different grips using the same name. I much prefer referencing where the index knuckle goes.

OK, yes it looks like you have an standard Eastern forehand, index knuckle on 3. That is an excellent grip for rec players. Easy to get to, you can do anything you want with it and you are less likely to have problems with short and low balls than the more extreme grips. For me in actual play I'll actually slide anywhere from 2.5 to 3.5, and that is all good, that seems to be normal.
On backhand, you should also find a moderate grip, there is no need for anything else.
-Slice backhand is continental(index knuckle on 2)
-Drive/topspin backhand go for index knuckle on 1.5 or maybe 1(I don't even use names since I've seen so much variation). There is no need for more CCW than this at the rec level. Also, if you can't hit a drive backhand with this going more CCW will only be harder. The drive 1hbh is hard, making the grip more extreme makes it harder.
-Ready position can be either conti(index knuckle on 2), or forehand grip(index knuckle on 3), experiment and see what you like.
 
FiReFTW said:
holy moly your backhand grip is further to the western forehand than your forehand grip is, how do you even hit a backhand like that?

grips2_800.jpg


Your forehand grip is picture 2, your backhand grip is between picture 2 and 3. Instead your backhand grip should be picture 5.
Click to expand...
mmm O_O okay, seems i'll need to try number 5 out! hopefully i don't need too change my swinging much!
 
PMChambers said:
The forehand is "Eastern Forehand".
The backhand is a "Western Forehand". It is not a "normal" backhand grip and if you backhand is struggling I'll recommend going to a "Eastern Backhand" which is effective the same but rotated counter clockwise 180deg the the index finger on the top bevel towards RH edge.

If you want a little more feel and hand play, rotate the FH a little towards Semi Western and play Eastern/Western backhand.
Click to expand...

The backhand grip is already an Eastern backhand, or possibly a little more rotated toward Western. She doesn't hit it upside down, she just photographed it that way. Since hitting it that way would be, you know, impossible.

Searah, your grips are fine. All you need is practice, I'm afraid.
 
How do you know the OP photo'd it a different way than they use it? People do stupid things with grips all the time. My wife hits her BH with a Eastern FH grip (in fact she hits every shot with that same grip).

If the OP is unhappy with her grips and play enough to come here asking for advice, then I suspect there is a problem and everything isn't "fine". Of course it may not actually be the grips that are the issue. But I'd always suggest to someone new to tennis to try a SW FH grip and a Conti grip for everything else first before starting on the extreme side of things.

Go with the common useage before declaring yourself a beautiful snowflake that needs to do things a different way than most.
 
Searah said:
4 pictures of my backhand! due to a slight confusion with my positioning :)
http://imgur.com/a/PmvcI

so that is how i would be holding the racket as i bring it back and swing!
Click to expand...
Good idea: it's way easier to judge your Grip now.

So, that is pretty much what I call an "Extreme Eastern" (your knuckle is between bevel 1 and 8), but as @Lance L says, these names are pretty confusing since we all seem to have a different idea or at least different "boundaries" for what concerns naming Grips (especially for Backhand).

Since there's no such thing as an "Objectively correct" Grip and everything is very personal, I'd try to hit some balls (sparring with someone if possible) keeping the knuckle in the middle of bevel 1 and between 1 and 2 (thus closer to your Forehand Grip) and see how you feel more comfortable. You may end up liking your current Grip the most as well.

Knowing why exactly you're not happy with your play could also help us giving hints.
 
the best grip is the best grip that works for you. Where it goes wrong is when people try to use the wrong stroke with the wrong grip. As long as you are hitting up on the ball every time that BH should be just fine if it has always worked for you.
 
Like many other places in Tennis Town, there is a Tennis Grip Nuthouse.

If you look at a lot of videos or pictures of high level tennis players you will find that the majority do not use the fat pad of the hand as a reference spot to place the racket handle. Start looking at pictures and see what you think. I believe that most ATP grips have the racket handle end around the little finger, it usually does not reach the fat pad.

You use the fat pad. This affects the forearm to racket angle.

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...lly-the-fat-pad-doesnt-touch-anything.565060/

Chas Tennis said:
For the high level forehand, one hand backhand and the serve, the fat pad is most often not contacted by the hand. That's my opinion looking at high level stroke videos and pictures. But when I look at most instructions the 'fat pad' or 'heel pad' is used as a reference point. True or false?

Google: tennis grips hand placement
https://www.google.com/search?q=gri...FeD4KHaNkDIIQsAQIHA&biw=1366&bih=891&dpr=0.87
Click to expand...

Forearm to racket angle.
https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...d-doesnt-touch-anything.565060/#post-10380016

Put a racket in your hand to check the two adjustments discussed in that thread.
 
Last edited:
collotennis said:
Your forehand is An eastern grip. If you keep using eastern forehand grip you will need to change to use eastern for backhand grip.
To make it really simple, a semi western forehead grip can be used for the one handed backhand. You don't even need to change grips.
Click to expand...
Yeah this would be 'simple', but virtually no knowledgeable people recommend this technique.
 
Last edited:
Judging from your pictures. Your forehand grip looks like eastern forehand grip. And your backhand grip looks like semi-western backhand grip.
I wouldn't recommend any specific changes just yet until you can show us or describe to us the way you play and also the way you want to play.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

acintya
Aiko Nakamura and Monica Seles grips(HELP)
Replies
3
Views
6K
CoachingMastery
CoachingMastery
B
Can someone explain grips for me?
Replies
14
Views
2K
JeffSmith1234
J
R
Help w/ Backhand Grips
Replies
0
Views
759
Roforot
R
T
Recommendation for grips
Replies
2
Views
561
dgold44
D
A
What grip am I using?
Replies
12
Views
1K
ZhangM58
ZhangM58
Back
Top