My racquet grips in details

[FiReFTW]

Never really focused very in depth on my grips, apart from some general guidelines, so I was a bit curious and decided that I will investigate my grips in depth and analyze just what exactly happens in each of my grips and what the positions and pressure points are.

Serve (Continental grip):

Hand position- Very low towards the end of the racquet, pinky on the edge
Finger position- Index finger spread out quite a bit forward (New thing im trying, before fingers were very close, I feel like moving index finger more forward gives me more control and placement)
Pressure point- Put most pressure towards the end of the racquet around the ring finger, middle and pinky have tiny bit less pressure, index and thumb are for support and stability but held very loose to maximize RHS
Grip tightness- 2/10 (extremely relaxed and fluid, holding racquet just enough to not let it go)

(pic with pressure points drawn, green-loose, green/yellow- has some pressure, yellow - decent amount of pressure, orange - most pressure)

Volley (Continental grip):
Hand position- A bit more choked up on the racquet compared to serve grip
Finger position- Index finger spread a bit forward, not quite as much as serve
Pressure point- Pressure moves a bit more upwards compared to serve, ring and middle finger now have most pressure, but all other 3 fingers also have some pressure on them, stable pressure on all fingers
Grip tightness- 5/10 (Good stable grip, but not too tight)

Slice BH (Continental grip):
Hand position- Something between serve and volley, not completely at the edge but not so far choked up
Finger position- Index finger spread a bit forward, not quite as much as serve
Pressure point- Pressure points are similar as volley, with the difference that the pressure point moves even more upward so pinky finger now has less pressure while index finger has more pressure (probably to stabilize the racquet not sure)
Grip tightness- 4/10 (Fairly relaxed, but just enough pressure to maintain the racquet to arm angle)

BH (Not quite sure, Eastern Backhand? Index knuckle is on top beavel, then the rest of knuckles at a slight angle so pinky knuckle is 1 beavel infront of the top beavel or so)
Hand position- Very low towards the end of the racquet, pinky on the edge
Finger position- Index finger spread out forward just a tiny bit, fingers almost completely together
Pressure point- Pinky and thumb are loose, ring finger has pressure, middle finger has most pressure, index finger has little pressure
Grip tightness- 3/10 (very relaxed and fluid, just a tiny bit more pressure than FH and Serve)

FH (Not exactly sure, but I think modified Eastern grip? On the edge between Eastern and Semi Western)
Hand position- Very low towards the end of the racquet, pinky on the edge
Finger position- Index finger spread out forward just a tiny bit, fingers almost completely together
Pressure point- Ring finger has the most pressure, middle finger has a bit less, thumb and pinky mostly loose, index depending on the type of stroke is fairly loose or has a bit more pressure
Grip tightness- 2/10 (extremely relaxed and fluid, holding racquet just enough to not let it go)

So a few things im wondering now

1. What would you call my backhand and forehand grips?
2. What do you experience with ur serve grip in terms of pressure, index finger etc... is it similar to mine or different, do you think moving index finger upwards has a positive effect on your stroke?
3. I noticed alot of pro players have index finger very forward with their forehands aswell, more so than I seem to have, do you think it would benefit me having it more forward? Having tried it, my hand and arm felt a bit more tight and stiff, like the index finger was blocking the looseness, and the RHS felt a bit lower
4.Share what you experience with all ur strokes, what kind of grips you use, presure you feel, finger positions, would be interesting to hear what other people experience

 

[Chas Tennis]

I did a mouse right click and "copy link location" on your htttp in the OP.

All your jpg s will display.

'Edit' your post.

Right click on .jpg link as http://shrani.si/f/29/Fg/1EgXl2AQ/volley.jpg , click "copy link location".

Click the image icon above the Edit or Reply box. It looks like a moon over two mountains.

Paste 'link location' into the image dialogue box.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To do originally from the photo hosting website -

On your photo hosting website display the picture in the right size (not the tiny thumbnail). Right click on the picture. Click "Copy Image Location" . To post or edit paste that into the image dialogue box as above. Same can be done for any picture displayed on the internet.

 

[FiReFTW]

What do you mean, that I edit my post to display all pictures? I was under the assumption that you can have max 5 pictures in 1 post, thats why I added only links.

 

[Chas Tennis]

The forum software was changed a year or two ago.

I'm sure that I have put in more than 5 pictures since then and can't recall the annoying '5 picture' limit popping up. Put in as many as you can.

 

[FiReFTW]

The forum software was changed a year or two ago.

I'm sure that I have put in more than 5 pictures since then and can't recall the annoying '5 picture' limit popping up. Put in as many as you can.

Ok done, thanks!

 

[Chas Tennis]

For the high level forehand, one hand backhand and the serve, the fat pad is most often not contacted by the racket. 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

I believe one of the things being changed by the grip is the forearm-to-racket angle. Two reference spots on the hand are used as well as two on the racket handle. Varying those spots causes that angle to change. This post has photographs with a neutral wrist showing the forearm-to-racket angle for two Continental grips.
https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...d-doesnt-touch-anything.565060/#post-10380016

I notice that you use both the little finger area and approach the fat pad.

 

[Friedman Whip]

1. What would you call my backhand and forehand grips?
2. What do you experience with ur serve grip in terms of pressure, index finger etc... is it similar to mine or different, do you think moving index finger upwards has a positive effect on your stroke?
3. I noticed alot of pro players have index finger very forward with their forehands aswell, more so than I seem to have, do you think it would benefit me having it more forward? Having tried it, my hand and arm felt a bit more tight and stiff, like the index finger was blocking the looseness, and the RHS felt a bit lower
4.Share what you experience with all ur strokes, what kind of grips you use, presure you feel, finger positions, would be interesting to hear what other people experience

Like you presume, your BH grip appears to be standard Eastern Backhand, FH grip is hybrid Eastern (between Eastern and SemiWestern)

 

[NuBas]

As you improve you will find that you are gonna naturally adjust your grip from time to time depending on different shots. So its not gonna be totally exact each time.

For serve, backhand, and forehand most of the pressure is applied by my pinky, ring, and middle finger. My thumb and index finger just spreads out naturally to cover surface area but they still provide some pressure (green). What I feel is just I am holding the racquet as if the racquet head is my own palm spread out.

We have almost same grips but whats important is just to hold it naturally and whatever gives you a closed racquet face when swinging. I have no idea why some pros spread their index fingers so far apart, maybe its a comfort thing or it helps with the direction of their shots (like pointing a finger perhaps) but it doesn't help me to think about it or to use such a small muscle.
Your grips look on point and you are right, Eastern backhand and between Eastern/SemiWestern forehand.

Also I would like to share that you can absolutely change your grip later on if you eventually don't feel like these are the ones for you. It will be tough (months) but definitely not impossible to change.