quick grip change when returning serve

[raiden031]

Ever since I learned to play, I read from some sources that its best to start in a backghand grip when returning serve. This makes sense for me since probably 80% of serves come to my backhand and my backhand has always been the weaker side.

My backhand grip is an eastern backhand. My forehand grip is a semi-western. I notice that I sometimes have trouble switching from backhand to forehand quickly during a hard serve to my forehand side. I don't know if this is due to my level of experience or the way I change grips. I discovered that my motion to switch grips is a bit inefficient. When waiting to serve, if I see it coming to my forehand side, I will use my non-dominant hand to rotate the racquet handle LEFT almost a 180deg turn (3 bevels) into a semi-western (also hitting with the opposite face compared to my BH). What I realized the other day is that if I turn the racquet RIGHT, I can rotate just 1 bevel into my semi-western (hitting with the same face for both FH and BH). Anyways I tried doing this a few times and really confused myself and screwed up a few returns on both sides.

My question the TTW experts, which way do/would you do this? Does it matter? Should I really make sure I do the most efficient grip change or do it the way my body is currently used to doing it?

 

[Rickson]

I usually wait in my forehand grip, the semi western, and switch to the backhand grip if I need, but if I'm up against a huge server, I wait in a more neutral grip, the eastern forehand.

 

[raiden031]

I usually wait in my forehand grip, the semi western, and switch to the backhand grip if I need, but if I'm up against a huge server, I wait in a more neutral grip, the eastern forehand.

If I'm against a huge server, I anticipate having to return with a slice backhand so I start in the continental and switch to SW forehand if necessary, but thats a rarity.

But since you start in a SW, when you have to switch to a backhand, do you turn the racquet in the most efficient direction to get there?

 

[Rickson]

If I'm against a huge server, I anticipate having to return with a slice backhand so I start in the continental and switch to SW forehand if necessary, but thats a rarity.

But since you start in a SW, when you have to switch to a backhand, do you turn the racquet in the most efficient direction to get there?

If by efficient, you mean the other side of the face, yeah, definitely, but if efficient to you means the same side face, no way.

 

[bobbyb]

for me i have my right on a semi western and my left in the eastern i use...if it comes to my backhand i just move my right hand to a continental and if its to my forehand i just take off my left hand...its pretty easy

 

[raiden031]

If by efficient, you mean the other side of the face, yeah, definitely, but if efficient to you means the same side face, no way.

How is hitting with the opposite face more efficient? For some reason switching like that was more natural to me, but required my grip to shift by more bevels (3 instead of 1). Why don't you like to hit with the same face on both FH and BH?

 

[Rickson]

How is hitting with the opposite face more efficient? For some reason switching like that was more natural to me, but required my grip to shift by more bevels (3 instead of 1). Why don't you like to hit with the same face on both FH and BH?

I use a semi western fh and an ebh, but I still like using the opposite sides. I think it looks so damn ugly to use the same face, but it's a personal preference. I don't know of any pros who do that and even Justine Henin, who uses extreme grips on both sides, uses opposite sides.

 

[Deleted member 25923]

For me it would be start to start out in Continental grip considering my backhand is a 2 hander with my left hand (i'm a righty) in a eastern/semiwestern (federer grip) and right hand continental and my forehand is SW

 

[Geezer Guy]

Raiden, I think you should continue to wait in your backhand grip, but if necessary change to your forehand grip the shortest twist possible (the new way).

This is something you can easily practice at home while you're watching TV or something. Just practice switching grips over and over.

 

[Nellie]

As a two backhander, I start with both hands in semi-western backhand. Then I can return by either letting go of the off hand to hit a forehand, or loosing the mainhand to do a quick grip change to the backhand.

For big servers, I start continental and block/volley the returns.

I would not start in a backhand grip. I have always read that it takes longer to swich from a backhand to forehand grip than vice verser (something about your fingers pulling versus pushing the racquet grip) IF you are getting so many backhands, maybe you should shade over the backhand side to hit more aggressive wide angle forehand returns.

 

[wihamilton]

Assuming two-handed backhand -- I hold the racket w/a FH grip w/my dominant hand and a BH grip (BH eastern) w/my other hand.

Assuming one-handed backhand -- A lot of pros will hold the racket w/a continental grip w/their dominant hand. That basically puts them in between a FH and BH grip and lets them switch equally fast to either one.

 

[SFrazeur]

You can be in the ready position with either a forehand grip, as Agassi, Roddick and Nalbandian do, or you can have a continental grip, as Federer, and Moya.

Both are acceptable. I personally go with a continental. However, my grips on either side are conservative.

-SF

 

[scotus]

I like the way Nadal does it. Just hold the racquet with its face horizontally and switch racquet face rather than the grip. You can do this easily if you have semiwestern or western forehand grip.

 

[Doc Hollidae]

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=171922