Modified Eastern or Semi-western

[Grizvok]

What forehand grip would you recommend for a 5.0-5.5 player trying to further develop his game? I am a hard hitter, somewhat Safin like with a big forehand and 2handed BH.

My high school coach or the various camps I have went to have never really went over grips and see which worked best for me. Right now I am using a modified eastern FH, which is between eastern and semi-western. Do you think a power baseliner would get more out of the semi-western grip?

 

[Grizvok]

Doesn't seem like you can edit posts on this site but I wanted to add that I will have a video of my forehand stroke up tomorrow.

Thanks!

 

[dennis10is]

There is just too much obsession over grip and little details that doesn't really address the larger picture.

As a 5-5.5 you would already know much more about tennis mechanics than what a tennis forum would be able to provide.

Wouldn't your coaches or other strong players who have seen you game, have hit against and played against you be able to give you so much better quality advice?

 

[Grizvok]

I really haven't visited here before and don't really know the quality of the players/coaches on these forums. I do know that many professional stringers hang around the stringing forums so I thought maybe a few good coaches were here as well.

My coaches/instructors at camps and such have never really stressed different grips and how they pertain to different play styles.

 

[WildVolley]

The best player in the world at the moment hits with a modified eastern grip. So very high level play with this grip is possible(not saying most of us mortals can duplicate Federer's shots). However, most of the top 100 are probably playing with a semi-western to western grip.

The general consensus is that the semi-western grip makes it easier to hit high bouncing shots from the baseline. Clay court players will often tend even further toward the western.

 

[dennis10is]

I really haven't visited here before and don't really know the quality of the players/coaches on these forums. I do know that many professional stringers hang around the stringing forums so I thought maybe a few good coaches were here as well.

My coaches/instructors at camps and such have never really stressed different grips and how they pertain to different play styles.

From their posts, there are a few very knowledgeable coaches around here.

Your coaches do not stress grips so that should tell you that they don't think grip is important in terms of making you become a better player. You may want to double check with your coaches but I think they would rather concentrate on other aspects of your game.

Here's my entire instruction regarding grip when I was learning it and when I was getting intruction while getting my coaching certification.

Continental: better for lower point of contact and latter point of contact.

Eastern: better for ball in strikezone and medium point of contact.

Western: better for high point of contact and earlier point of contact.

BTW, my grips varies from semi-western backhand to semi-western forehand. And the primary reason why I vary is basically due to the reasons listed above. I not recommending this approach mind you, just sharing.

 

[Grizvok]

From their posts, there are a few very knowledgeable coaches around here.

Your coaches do not stress grips so that should tell you that they don't think grip is important in terms of making you become a better player. You may want to double check with your coaches but I think they would rather concentrate on other aspects of your game.

Here's my entire instruction regarding grip when I was learning it and when I was getting intruction while getting my coaching certification.

Continental: better for lower point of contact and latter point of contact.

Eastern: better for ball in strikezone and medium point of contact.

Western: better for high point of contact and earlier point of contact.

BTW, my grips varies from semi-western backhand to semi-western forehand. And the primary reason why I vary is basically due to the reasons listed above. I not recommending this approach mind you, just sharing.

Yea, I should probably stick with what got me this far and work on my weaker points which definitely isn't my forehand.

 

[FiveO]

If you hit your fh well and especially if you're not at one extreme or the other, i.e. continental or full western or beyond, the best advice is not, repeat not to futz with your grips.

Instead focus on footwork, balance, consistent optimal contact points, swing path/speed, shot shape, spin and depth control.

Screwing with good grips is unnecessary and most times counterproductive and frustrating. In short a good way to stagnate or move backward.

Working on the other elements of your strokes will probably and unconsciously cause a very minor modification of your grips on most shots. Changes you will not really be aware of.

You're in a sound ballpark for your grip choice, but I agree with Ivan Lendl when demonstrating posed grips to be photographed for his instructional book said that one's grips in repose are only approximations of the grips one actually hits with.