I've been playing tennis for about 10 years and i'm a 4.0 player. I've always had a hard time producing enough topspin on groundstrokes and serve to really allow myself to swing out. I currently use a semiwestern grip on forehand and continental on serve. If I really concentrate I can get the spin that I need, but it's not really consistent and lots of times it'll be too flat so the ball will go long (forehand and 2nd serve). Recently I've found that If i use more extreme grips on forehand/serve then I can trust that the spin will be there and swing out on my strokes. The thing is...I've heard a lot of coaches say not to use these extreme grips. What I like about it is that I don't have to think too much about my swings when I use those grips - the spin just comes for free. What do you guys think?
is it a bad idea to use a more extreme grip to force more spin?
- Thread starter buttman
- Start date
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
Use whatever grip works.
MayorGorman
Rookie
Grips dont really effect spin they just change the racquet face direction. For some students it helps having the strings more "shut" which is accomplished by a stronger grip because mentally they have to swing up on the ball more to ensure the ball doesnt bounce in the net. With regards to your forehand if a Western Grip is allowing the ball to go in more its hard to say change it, but I would start watching how many balls you hit in the net now to make sure you arent robbing Peter to pay Paul. For serve normally 2nd serves are hit long at below 4.0 level or lower because of open strings (palm up), an unfinished or pushy stroke, or ball toss/impact. I would never change grips on a serve to anything other than a continental.
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
You should be able to get ample topspin with a SW grip. Are you dropping the racket head below your hand and below the intended contact point? If so, you might just need a steeper swingpath to impart more spin.
For your serves, you might try a grip that is somewhere between an EBh (bevel 1) and a standard Conti (bevel 2) grip. Many ppl will use a grip like this (or a bit more extreme) for their 2nd serve. And a std Conti grip for 1st serves.
Another was to get more spin is with a different type of string. Polyester string is supposed to have a lot more spin potential than a softer string (like gut or nylon). However, polyester can be a lot harder on your shoulder, elbow, wrist or hand -- especially if you mishit or you mechanics are not optimal. Stringing polyester at a lower tension is advisable. You might try a hybrid setup -- like poly on the mains and nylon / synthetic gut on the cross strings.
If you want to stay away from poly completely, then consider a nylon / synthetic gut of a thinner gauge, like 17 (or 16L). Or look for a string that is textured (not smooth).
For your serves, you might try a grip that is somewhere between an EBh (bevel 1) and a standard Conti (bevel 2) grip. Many ppl will use a grip like this (or a bit more extreme) for their 2nd serve. And a std Conti grip for 1st serves.
Another was to get more spin is with a different type of string. Polyester string is supposed to have a lot more spin potential than a softer string (like gut or nylon). However, polyester can be a lot harder on your shoulder, elbow, wrist or hand -- especially if you mishit or you mechanics are not optimal. Stringing polyester at a lower tension is advisable. You might try a hybrid setup -- like poly on the mains and nylon / synthetic gut on the cross strings.
If you want to stay away from poly completely, then consider a nylon / synthetic gut of a thinner gauge, like 17 (or 16L). Or look for a string that is textured (not smooth).
ByakuFubuki
Semi-Pro
My normal stance on changing grips is "Try if you think you can benefit from it, just don't expect to automatically gain spin only because you have a more extreme one now". In your case, since you already tried and like the result, I would say to keep experimenting with it, try to evaluate the differences with your usual Semi-Western grip as critically as possible (preferably also asking for your sparring partner(s)'s feedback on how your shots felt) and decide for yourself if the advantages of the Western grip outweigh the disadvantages (if any).
The reason why I emphasize being critical and suggest asking for external feedback is that in my experience, in these situations, your worst enemy is the honeymoon period. If you are super-happy with your new grip, then get used to it and start playing similar to before (as often happens when making a significant change in technique), what are you going to do, change to an even more extreme grip? And what if that happens again when you're already using an Hawaiian?
The reason why I emphasize being critical and suggest asking for external feedback is that in my experience, in these situations, your worst enemy is the honeymoon period. If you are super-happy with your new grip, then get used to it and start playing similar to before (as often happens when making a significant change in technique), what are you going to do, change to an even more extreme grip? And what if that happens again when you're already using an Hawaiian?
mental midget
Hall of Fame
yeah SW should automatically generate decent spin...personally not a big fan of full W although of course people find success with it.
Dragy
Legend
Is your SW true? Does your palm rest on bevel 4? Or just index knuckle?
If your grip isn’t diagonal enough, even with index knuckle on bevel 4, it may be closer to Eastern than to true SW. especially if you use small grip.
Here’s an example (Tsitsipas):
Same for conti grip on serve, but the other way around. If your grip is very diagonal (pistol grip), you may want to get index knuckle a bit towards bevel 1. Or put your palm on bevel 1.
If your grip isn’t diagonal enough, even with index knuckle on bevel 4, it may be closer to Eastern than to true SW. especially if you use small grip.
Here’s an example (Tsitsipas):
Same for conti grip on serve, but the other way around. If your grip is very diagonal (pistol grip), you may want to get index knuckle a bit towards bevel 1. Or put your palm on bevel 1.
Bagumbawalla
G.O.A.T.
In theory one should be able to hit a wide variety of shots/strokes with almost any grip.
I have seen McEnroe hit some pretty good topspin with his continental grip.
I have see Nadal bash a flat ball for a winner.
But that is easier said than done. It tends to be easier, or harder, to hit certain shots with certain grips.
The more extreme a grip the more limiting it tends to be in one way or another.
The main problem with a full western grip is that there is a more limited strike zone. Your timing,
set-up and positioning need to be more precise- which can be a problem if the opponent is
pushing you around and changing pace and spin.
Whatever grip you finally settle on- you should practice hitting a variety of shots-- topspin, lobs, topspin lobs,
slice, flat balls... until you have them at your disposal when you need them.
I have seen McEnroe hit some pretty good topspin with his continental grip.
I have see Nadal bash a flat ball for a winner.
But that is easier said than done. It tends to be easier, or harder, to hit certain shots with certain grips.
The more extreme a grip the more limiting it tends to be in one way or another.
The main problem with a full western grip is that there is a more limited strike zone. Your timing,
set-up and positioning need to be more precise- which can be a problem if the opponent is
pushing you around and changing pace and spin.
Whatever grip you finally settle on- you should practice hitting a variety of shots-- topspin, lobs, topspin lobs,
slice, flat balls... until you have them at your disposal when you need them.
Last edited:
Yeah,all right, only truths, the most important things for rotation
the speed of closing the head and how inert/free the racket head is when creating a shot, etc...
Look at Nadal. He has a semi-western grip, but the most important thing is how the head works during the top spin shot.!!
The extreme Full western grip was used, but it was the worst way to play, it was always about quickly closing the shot and the head and maximum rotation of the head. Still, thanks to the force of gravity and allowing the head to inertia, it creates a strong top spin...
For this you need a more flexible body and the more you try to control the head of the racket and the more you try to control your body, the worse it gets...
Hit 'em clean
Semi-Pro
Extreme grip might help you brute force the situation to get you more spin, but that's not can really solve your problem. Extreme grips are frowned upon because they tend to limit your shot options and can make certain shots extremely difficult (return low balls with a western grip for example). I'm betting part of the reason your balls are flying is simply poor racquet face awareness and control. You don't need an extreme grip to have the racquet face slightly closed. Chances are you're racquet face is too open and/or you're hitting late.
Try doing some practice where you just drop an hit balls into an open court or have someone hand toss you balls. Focus on your contact point being off toe of your front foot, racquet face should be perpendicular to the court to slightly closed, and start swing slightly below ball swinging slightly upward through contact. Experiment with hitting this way to see what shot shapes you can make from different swings and racquet face angles till you find something that works for you and repeatable. To learn topspin focus more on the spin then power. You can learn to add power later by hitting more through the ball.
Changing your grip won't magically give you topspin... you still need the right technique and contact point no matter what your grip is.
Try doing some practice where you just drop an hit balls into an open court or have someone hand toss you balls. Focus on your contact point being off toe of your front foot, racquet face should be perpendicular to the court to slightly closed, and start swing slightly below ball swinging slightly upward through contact. Experiment with hitting this way to see what shot shapes you can make from different swings and racquet face angles till you find something that works for you and repeatable. To learn topspin focus more on the spin then power. You can learn to add power later by hitting more through the ball.
Changing your grip won't magically give you topspin... you still need the right technique and contact point no matter what your grip is.
that's how i used to hit... don't really need any more flexibility that other grips.. (the bent arm and contact closer to my body allows the face to be correctly oriented at contact).
For me, I would not go beyond SW of your forehand grip. A W or near W grip struggles against low balls and fast balls and makes the grip change from FH to BH grips too big. If you aren't getting enough spin with SW, then see a decent pro for 3 or 4 sessions.
For serve, I like a strong conti but am OK if you want to slide a little more toward EBH for more spin. Again, if you aren't getting sufficient spin with a good conti, then see a pro for some serve work. Be sure you aren't sliding out of a conti in the take back or loop when serving.
For serve, I like a strong conti but am OK if you want to slide a little more toward EBH for more spin. Again, if you aren't getting sufficient spin with a good conti, then see a pro for some serve work. Be sure you aren't sliding out of a conti in the take back or loop when serving.
I see, I use eastern and semi western,I don't like western grip too much.!
What matters is spinning the head of the racket and quickly closing the loop, which is why professionals practically spin the head of the racket close to the calf of the leg, like Sinner or Nadal (and closer to the ground, the more rotation).
And so the most important thing is practice on the court, intuitive sense of what suits you best for the top spin game, for me extreme western grip was a failure...
