Need a method to switch grips on receiving the serve?

10usDad

New User
I am a righty and use a semi-western forehand grip when getting ready to receive serve. Racquet is out front. What is the best method to "quickly switch" to a 1-handed backhand grip(eastern backhand) and have the right grip. I need something or some type of method to get the grip fast before the ball is upon me. In other words, I need advice on a quick method! I need a method that will become natural and without having to "think through it" before it is too late.
 

Zets147

Banned
have you tried holding the racquet lightly in a continental? so the grip is neutral instead of leaning to your SW FH
 
I find it harder to switch from your forehand grip to ur backhand grip during receving of serves when it comes to your backhand.

What I do is I hold a continental grip so that when the serves come to my back hand side, I slice the ball back.
If it comes to my forehad I switch to an eastern forehand/ semis-western.

I find that easier to do than holding the racquet in my forehand grip then trying to switch the grip

Hope that helps
 

mclee025

Rookie
I am a righty and use a semi-western forehand grip when getting ready to receive serve. Racquet is out front. What is the best method to "quickly switch" to a 1-handed backhand grip(eastern backhand) and have the right grip. I need something or some type of method to get the grip fast before the ball is upon me. In other words, I need advice on a quick method! I need a method that will become natural and without having to "think through it" before it is too late.

I've played so much that changing grips is almost an automatic reflex. In the past year or so, I've been moving from an eastern forehand to a semi-western forehand grip. With the new forehand grip I was flipping grips to an eastern backhand with no problem.

With time however, I soon found that with the current grips, I could play tennis without repositioning my hand on the grip when I discovered that my semi-western forehand was just my eastern backhand grip flip over 180 degrees. Since I serve with an eastern backhand, I can probably glue my hand on a grip and still play my whole game. LOL!

So to answer your question, if I were you, I'd stand in the ready postion with a backhand grip and if the ball happened to go to the forehand side, just flip your wrist so that the racquet face flips 180 degrees before striking the ball.
 

burosky

Professional
Your non-hitting hand is the key here. I use a full western for FH and eastern for BH. When waiting to return serve, I hold my racket with my FH grip. I also have my non-hitting hand on the throat of the racket with my palms parallel with the racket face. If the serve goes to my FH, I just let go my non-hitting arm and take my FH swing. If the serve goes to my BH, I twist the racket with my non-hitting hand until it falls into my BH grip. At this point the palm of my non-hitting hand would be square with the ball as if hitting a left handed FH. Then I'm ready to swing. This takes place simultaneously as I turn my shoulders for the shot.
 

Bottle Rocket

Hall of Fame
With time however, I soon found that with the current grips, I could play tennis without repositioning my hand on the grip when I discovered that my semi-western forehand was just my eastern backhand grip flip over 180 degrees. Since I serve with an eastern backhand, I can probably glue my hand on a grip and still play my whole game. LOL!

The eastern backhand grip is not the same as the semi-western forehand grip. One of your shots is being hit with a much more extreme grip than you think!

My favorite link->

http://www.tennis.com/yourgame/gear/general/general.aspx?id=649

The previous two posters have also brought up the issue of rotating the racket between forehands and backhands or holding it with the same grip, say an eastern backhand (western forehand). I think the general consensus is that you should "re-grip" between shots, meaning you rotate the racket 360 degrees depending on whether you're hitting a forehand or backhand. Regardless of how proper that is, I don't do it.
 

VGP

Legend
Your non-hitting hand is the key here. I use a full western for FH and eastern for BH. When waiting to return serve, I hold my racket with my FH grip. I also have my non-hitting hand on the throat of the racket with my palms parallel with the racket face. If the serve goes to my FH, I just let go my non-hitting arm and take my FH swing. If the serve goes to my BH, I twist the racket with my non-hitting hand until it falls into my BH grip. At this point the palm of my non-hitting hand would be square with the ball as if hitting a left handed FH. Then I'm ready to swing. This takes place simultaneously as I turn my shoulders for the shot.

Exactly what to do here!
 
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