My son (now 10) started playing tennis at 4y.o. He choked up on the racket with his dominant hand and used his left hand for balance. He has a 2 handed forehand/backhand (dominant hand at top). He's learned to really stroke the ball over the years. Now I signed him up for a tennis class (hoping it will fuel the tennis fire in him.) But the class instructor wants him to change grips and hit a 1 handed forehand. The result is my sons ability has dramatically dropped and he is frustrated playing with people he would easily beat before. Now my son wants to quit. I tried (unsuccessfully) to switch his dominant hand to the bottom more than once in the past but figured it was like golf...whatever grip your comfortable with as long as you're on the proper swing plane. When I spoke with the instructor about this, he was dead-set on switching my sons grip. Any advice?
I know this has been discussed here, but I need advice.
- Thread starter slason
- Start date
Here's my question: why change? I've seen 6.0's play 2 handed and just absolutely crush the ball.
I've also seen a lot of players use a 1 handed forehand and suck.
In the long run, it may make a difference but it's fairly small. In the mean time, if you kid's interest in playing is destroyed, you may not see him again on the tennis court for a long time.
My advice? Let the kid have fun playing. At some point, he may change on his own.
I've also seen a lot of players use a 1 handed forehand and suck.
In the long run, it may make a difference but it's fairly small. In the mean time, if you kid's interest in playing is destroyed, you may not see him again on the tennis court for a long time.
My advice? Let the kid have fun playing. At some point, he may change on his own.
I think you and the instructor are both right. He is at an age where the form is still very sculptable, but since things are so established, it may be hard to rebuild.
There is also the Seles and Santoro factor. Maybe your son could be one with the exceptional form.
At this point my belief is that the decision must be weighed by you, the one who knows him best. If you dont think he can mentally get past this slump into the strokes start to come around, then I'd say stick with the 2 handed strokes.
There is also the Seles and Santoro factor. Maybe your son could be one with the exceptional form.
At this point my belief is that the decision must be weighed by you, the one who knows him best. If you dont think he can mentally get past this slump into the strokes start to come around, then I'd say stick with the 2 handed strokes.
justsomeguy
Rookie
Oh yeah, man. Let the kid have fun. It is just a game. Good for him getting exercise and competing in an outdoor activity. He could get frustrated and live in front of the video games.
A little fyi, my son is a very good athlete. He plays 6 sports quite well with tennis being one of his weakest (though he is very good for his age). I coach his bball team and you should see his golf swing (very nice). I printed a couple of stories re this very issue to show his instructor. I learned that Gene Mayor had the same dominant hand on top 2 hand stroke as my son, as well as a couple of young high school players. I read Dave Smith's advice on another thread and plan to get his book for further reading. I plan to, also, print this thread and show it to the instructor in hopes that he will give my son a break.
Thanks for everyones advice so far.
Thanks for everyones advice so far.
albino smurf
Professional
Instructor prob knows best. Get your son to be patient and work through it if he wants to get better. A lot of times we are afraid to change the things that hold us back. When we do we make the most progress.
Get your son to play ping-pong, so he gets used to holding the bat with one hand.
Return_Ace
Hall of Fame
I'd say when training keep on practicing the single handed forehand, definitely more advantages on this side I would think..
However in matches as such maybe single handed as much as possible until he's angry/frustrated etc. and then let him use his doublehanded for a while ?
Obviously not the best solution but it's a compromise towards one =X.
However in matches as such maybe single handed as much as possible until he's angry/frustrated etc. and then let him use his doublehanded for a while ?
Obviously not the best solution but it's a compromise towards one =X.
Eastern Technifibre
Rookie
tell him rafa did the same thing and struggled a little but if he loves the game he should stick with it
