Question to those who use Wonder Wedge/Power V Grip

limitup

Professional
Simple question to anyone who uses or has used the Wonder Wedge AKA the Power V grip...

Regardless of what grip you tried to use on your forehand, did you find that it almost "forced" you to use a more extreme grip i.e. eastern to SW or SW to full western?

I normally use a SW grip for groundies but no matter what I do I find that my grip just keeps sliding over to a full Western. I've expiremented with full western before but I'm not sure I want to go that direction.

I'm just expirementing with this WW/Power V grip ... not sure what I think yet ...
 
That's unusual. I find that the PVG in fact makes it easier to identify whatever grip I am trying to use. I use an eastern fh grip, but sometimes move over to sw for higher balls or to hit with more topspin, PVG makes this process much more accurate than with a standard handle. Have you gone through the PVG's website to ensure you are placing base knuckle of you index finger on the appropriate bevel? Perhaps TimTennis can comment on this.
 

limitup

Professional
I can find the SW grip easy enough. I'm thinking that it fits better in my hand i.e. more natural, or more confortable with a Western grip so somehow it is sliding over in that direction as I hit balls. I don't know if it's me doing it subconsciously or what...
 

eagle

Hall of Fame
I use a SW grip, so the PVG is perfect for me. Stability is the improvement I mostly prize with it since I use a light (10.2oz) racquet.

r,
eagle
 

Tim Tennis

Professional
You got to love it.

limitup said:
Simple question to anyone who uses or has used the Wonder Wedge AKA the Power V grip...

Regardless of what grip you tried to use on your forehand, did you find that it almost "forced" you to use a more extreme grip i.e. eastern to SW or SW to full western?

I think that is an excellent observation. As far as the EF grip I think this is fairly neutral with the PVG although it will certainly feel different at first. The racquet head angle should be about the same as a standard shaped handle. When you go to the SW grip the PVG will encourage you to move your hand all the way over to what I call a full SW grip. You used the term "forced." I like it, that is a good way of saying it. It will encourage/force you to move your hand on the handle. Your have probably moved your hand further over then you did pre PVG which will slightly close the racquet face. You will probably draw the ball into the net. That is the start of the learning process to master the increased leverage and traction. When you make minor adjustments in your mechanics to get the ball over the net you will notice immediately the increased action and draw you will get.

http://www.tennisgeometrics.com/SemiWestern_power_forehand.html

You should notice the same affect with the Continental grip. Most people don't move their hand all the way over to what I call a "Full Continental" grip. They kind of stay on a "fringe" EF grip. The PVG will probably cause you to close your racquet face slightly on the "C" grip also. This is a good thing, master it and notice the increased action you will get.

http://www.tennisgeometrics.com/Continental_Tennis_Grip.html

I don't think the PVG will cause the racquet head angle on the Eastern Backhand grip or the Western grip to be any different then with a standard shaped handle. You will just have much better leverage and tracton with the PVG.

limitup said:
I normally use a SW grip for groundies but no matter what I do I find that my grip just keeps sliding over to a full Western. I've expiremented with full western before but I'm not sure I want to go that direction.

I'm just expirementing with this WW/Power V grip ... not sure what I think yet ...

Like I mentioned above you are probably closing your racquet face some which is making you hit with some of the charactoristics of the W grip without the extreme swing path. This is a very good thing.

Best regards,

Ed
 

Tim Tennis

Professional
eagle said:
I use a SW grip, so the PVG is perfect for me. Stability is the improvement I mostly prize with it since I use a light (10.2oz) racquet.

r,
eagle

Hello Eagle,

I agree, if you use the SW grip the PVG is such an advantage vs a standard shaped handle. That is interesting you mentioned the light racquet. I will have to think about that.
 

eagle

Hall of Fame
Hi Tim,

I have the Volkl Cat 4 which is headlight and very maneuverable. But not having the heft of a 12oz+ racquet also presents some problems. Personally, I think the PVG helps with the stability of the grip in my palm. This may not hold true for others, but it does for me. So, YMMV.

Thanks,
eagle
 

Roforot

Hall of Fame
I had previously used eastern-sw fh grip (favoring sw).
When I added the wedge, I felt uncomfortable holding that grip.
B/c of the immediate benefits though to my continental grip in volleys
and serves I did not want to give it up though.

I ended up holding it revesrse: my palm is flush w/ the normal bevel and the fingers curl around the wedge in a (full) western grip.

It may sound crazy to go through this change, but the benefits are accumulating. Besides subjective feel of more spin and comments from opponents, I consider as objective evidence that I had gone from someone who almost never broke strings to one who breaks every 6-8 weeks (I rotate through 3 racquets)

Perhaps you can try using it this way? I have had a comfortable experience w/ it this way as well, if you are concerned about western grip and arm strain.
 

Tim Tennis

Professional
Roforot said:
I had previously used eastern-sw fh grip (favoring sw).
When I added the wedge, I felt uncomfortable holding that grip.
B/c of the immediate benefits though to my continental grip in volleys
and serves I did not want to give it up though.

I ended up holding it revesrse: my palm is flush w/ the normal bevel and the fingers curl around the wedge in a (full) western grip.

It may sound crazy to go through this change, but the benefits are accumulating. Besides subjective feel of more spin and comments from opponents, I consider as objective evidence that I had gone from someone who almost never broke strings to one who breaks every 6-8 weeks (I rotate through 3 racquets)

Perhaps you can try using it this way? I have had a comfortable experience w/ it this way as well, if you are concerned about western grip and arm strain.

Hello Roforot,

Very good, I think that is the way to go if you are a full western user. It creates so much more leverage and traction. With a standard shaped handle, especially using the W grip so much of your hand does not even make good contact with the handle. I love the string comments which is absolutely true. The reason being is when you make contact with the ball instead of the racquet twisting ever so slightly it is now more stable transferring more energy to the ball which is going to "stress" the strings.

Thanks for your comments.
 

Tim Tennis

Professional
eagle said:
Hi Tim,

I have the Volkl Cat 4 which is headlight and very maneuverable. But not having the heft of a 12oz+ racquet also presents some problems. Personally, I think the PVG helps with the stability of the grip in my palm. This may not hold true for others, but it does for me. So, YMMV.

Thanks,
eagle

Maybe, the lighter the racquet, the greater the transfer of energy back up the handle upon contact with the ball. If you make perfect contact it will just push the racquet back but still feel good. On slightly off center shots the racquet will twist in your hand to some extent.
 

limitup

Professional
Thanks for all the replies. Mainly I was wondering if it was just me or if others noticed this. I guess it has to do with the way the grip fits differently in your hand.

I ended up holding it revesrse: my palm is flush w/ the normal bevel and the fingers curl around the wedge

This is an interesting idea, I'm going to try it today. Doing it this way the grip change from a SW forehand to an Eastern backhand is incredibly easy and lightning fast!
 

Roforot

Hall of Fame
limitup said:
This is an interesting idea, I'm going to try it today. Doing it this way the grip change from a SW forehand to an Eastern backhand is incredibly easy and lightning fast!

Yes be patient though as initially this change is difficult and you'll have a point or two when you end up fighting yourself on a gripchange.
 
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