What Forehand grip do each of the top pros use?

[BackhandDTL]

Kyrgios

Zverev

Thiem

Wawrinka

Tsitsipas

Fognini

Goffin

Cilic

 

[Wander]

Isn't almost everyone these days on something more or less semi-western.

 

[Arzivu]

Everyone semi-western except Kyrgios (extreme western), Tsitsi (continental-eastern) and Cilic (eastern).

 

[BackhandDTL]

Everyone semi-western except Kyrgios (extreme western), Tsitsi (continental-eastern) and Cilic (eastern).

Ehh there’s no way anyone uses anything remotely close to continental-eastern these days.

 

[Arzivu]

Then, it seems you have not seen players like Gasquet, Del Potro, Federer and S. Williams...

 

[BrokenForehand]

Everyone semi-western except Kyrgios (extreme western), Tsitsi (continental-eastern) and Cilic (eastern).

Not trying to be mean but doesn’t look like you’ve held a racquet before.

 

[Jonesy]

Kyrgios

Zverev

Thiem

Wawrinka

Tsitsipas

Fognini

Goffin

Cilic

I'd rather use as reference for grips the bevel, as example:
Kyrgios - bevel 5
Wawrinka - bevel 4.5

 

[Clay lover]

Everyone semi-western except Kyrgios (extreme western), Tsitsi (continental-eastern) and Cilic (eastern).

Quite obviously a Western

 

[BackhandDTL]

Quite obviously a Western

Is that really a Western? I'd imagine no more than a SW with such a straight arm, or atleast in that photo there.

 

[BackhandDTL]

Isn't almost everyone these days on something more or less semi-western.

I thought many of them would be using something even more towards Western but I wanted to find out. I can't really tell with images.

 

[Arzivu]

Quite obviously a Western

You are right about that. His almost flat balls gave me the impression that his grip would be eastern. I admit I was wrong.

 

[Arzivu]

Not trying to be mean but doesn’t look like you’ve held a racquet before.

Apart from Cilic, where else am I wrong?

 

[what_army]

Apart from Cilic, where else am I wrong?

Tsitsipas

 

[BackhandDTL]

Tsitsipas

Looks like a mild Semi Western to me. But again I can’t tell without the index knuckle.

 

[gjm127]

I've tried this exercise before using photos only. Doesn't work, too difficult to identify the grip. Only way to know if to ask them in person.

 

[Shaolin]

Most players use Semiwestern to Western.

Fed has an extreme Eastern, almost SW.

Sock and a few other guys use extreme Western.

 

[Arzivu]

Tsitsipas

I do not think so. His grip looks to be eastern. His father mentioned that it is a classic eastern, like Delpo. If you do a further research you will notice that most people do not consider Tsitsipas grip to be sw... Edit:https://www.atptour.com/en/news/tsitsipas-milan-2018-forehand-feature-atp

 

[125downthemiddle]

Fed- extreme eastern

rafa- a little past semi western towards extreme

Novak - extreme semi western (more than Rafa but not full western)

Others don't really matter IMO

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Fed- extreme eastern

rafa- a little past semi western towards extreme

Novak - extreme semi western (more than Rafa but not full western)

Others don't really matter IMO

You are such a great fan of Tennis!

 

[125downthemiddle]

You are such a great fan of Tennis!

 

[Tennis_Hands]

 

[125downthemiddle]

 

[Tennis_Hands]

You are turning into an extension of my fingers. It is only natural, so, dance, puppet.

 

[BackhandDTL]

Fed- extreme eastern

rafa- a little past semi western towards extreme

Novak - extreme semi western (more than Rafa but not full western)

Others don't really matter IMO

Of course it matters. I’d rather have Fogninis forehand technique than Djokovic’s or Nadals for example.

 

[125downthemiddle]

Lol

 

[125downthemiddle]

Of course it matters. I’d rather have Fogninis forehand technique than Djokovic’s or Nadals for example.

Why?

 

[what_army]

I do not think so. His grip looks to be eastern. His father mentioned that it is like Delpo. If you do a further research you will notice that most people do not consider Tsitsipas grip to be sw...

It's true that he curls his wrist and it gives the appearance that it is more eastern than it is but on impact when his wrist is rolled back you can clearly see that it is nowhere near as extreme as you make it out to be.

I'd say it is past or close to extreme eastern, but in no case continental-eastern.

 

[Jonesy]

Tsitsipas

Seems to be the same as Fed. I would say his index knuckle is at bevel 3.5 (between eastern and semi-western). Sometimes the name confuses more than it helps as people tend to diverge on opinions about the correct name depending where they are from.

 

[BackhandDTL]

Why?

Easily repeatable and compact. I’m not delusional. Nadals straight arm SW forehand is tough to time and buggy whipping every ball is taxing.

Djokovics forehand looks like he has a lot of moving parts that require rubber band like elasticity.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Easily repeatable and compact. I’m not delusional. Nadals straight arm SW forehand is tough to time and buggy whipping every ball is taxing.

Djokovics forehand looks like he has a lot of moving parts that require rubber band like elasticity.

You are explaining that to a guy who doesn't play tennis, so you are wasting your time. There are many shots that are much more straightforward to learn and better for one's health than those of the top guys, but to those that are blind followers the only thing that matters is that FH X belongs to his "male idol".

 

[socallefty]

You are right about that. His almost flat balls gave me the impression that his grip would be eastern. I admit I was wrong.

Who said Cilic hits a flat ball? Some one posted the average FH/BH rpm of top pros from 2018 in another thread. Cilic FH RPM has been measured to average 2900 (higher than Fed-Djokovic who are 2700-2800) which should be in the top 25% percentile of top ATP pros. His BH RPM is about 1900 (higher than Djokovic at 1800) which puts him in the 40%-50% percentile of top ATP pros.

 

[Third Serve]

Of course it matters. I’d rather have Fogninis forehand technique than Djokovic’s or Nadals for example.

wat?

Well, if you meant that it'd be an easier shot to pull off for someone actually playing the sport, then that's a fair point. But if you meant as a shot, then lol no.

 

[BackhandDTL]

wat?

Well, if you meant that it'd be an easier shot to pull off for someone actually playing the sport, then that's a fair point. But if you meant as a shot, then lol no.

I had written technique

 

[Arzivu]

Who said Cilic hits a flat ball? Some one posted the average FH/BH rpm of top pros from 2018 in another thread. Cilic FH RPM has been measured to average 2900 (higher than Fed-Djokovic who are 2700-2800) which should be in the top 25% percentile of top ATP pros. His BH RPM is about 1900 (higher than Djokovic at 1800) which puts him in the 40%-50% percentile of top ATP pros.

At the TV screen I cannot see what your numbers claim. Cilic producing spinnier forehand shots than Roger or Novak? Seems improbable..

 

[socallefty]

At the TV screen I cannot see what your numbers claim. Cilic producing spinnier forehand shots than Roger or Novak? Seems improbable..

Go watch a pro tournament live and watch Cilic, Djokovic, Federer and the other pros - if you can watch them on a practice court, you can be really close and see the topspin and side spin which you can’t see on TV. You’ll enjoy it and you‘ll stop believing your “lying eyes” from watching tennis only on TV. That’s why many rec tennis players enjoy watching practices from up close at pro tournaments even more than watching matches sitting far away in a big stadium - the level of hitting from a pace and spin standpoint, the quickness of their movement and anticipation is just mind-blowing.

 

[Deleted member 768841]

Looks like a mild Semi Western to me. But again I can’t tell without the index knuckle.

His swing path looks flat with a topspin finish, I honestly thought he uses eastern. Up close however looks a little different.

 

[BackhandDTL]

wat?

Well, if you meant that it'd be an easier shot to pull off for someone actually playing the sport, then that's a fair point. But if you meant as a shot, then lol no.

I would say that even other 5.0-6.0 players would have a better shot with Fabio’s technique or Tsitsipas’ technique instead of Nadal or Joker

 

[mental midget]

I do not think so. His grip looks to be eastern. His father mentioned that it is a classic eastern, like Delpo. If you do a further research you will notice that most people do not consider Tsitsipas grip to be sw... Edit:https://www.atptour.com/en/news/tsitsipas-milan-2018-forehand-feature-atp

agreed, i think it is. good choice for a tall guy, no problem w high balls and better path through the ball. one of the reasons he, like delpo, has such good finishing power on that side.

 

[Moonballballer]

I would say that even other 5.0-6.0 players would have a better shot with Fabio’s technique or Tsitsipas’ technique instead of Nadal or Joker

Straight arm forehands like tsitsipas aren't easy to be learnt for most people

 

[Hellenic Hero]

Wonder what Berretini is using

 

[BackhandDTL]

Straight arm forehands like tsitsipas aren't easy to be learnt for most people

Hmm you are right he does use a straight arm. Maybe Batista Agut instead.

 

[Zoid]

Kyrgios

Zverev

Thiem

Wawrinka

Tsitsipas

Fognini

Goffin

Cilic

Kygs - semi-western (but more western)
Thiem - semi
Wawrinka - semi
Tsitsi - eastern
Fog - semi
Goff - semi
Cilic - semi

Westerners - Sock, Delbonis, Djokovic was close earlier in his career.

 

[BackhandDTL]

Kygs - semi-western (but more western)
Thiem - semi
Wawrinka - semi
Tsitsi - eastern
Fog - semi
Goff - semi
Cilic - semi

Westerners - Sock, Delbonis, Djokovic was close earlier in his career.

Hmm that’s interesting. I thought Fog was extreme Semi and Cilic too. Wawrinka has also been noted many times to have close to a full western.

I guess this exercise is truly pointless without viewing where there index knuckle lies.

 

[Zoid]

Hmm that’s interesting. I thought Fog was extreme Semi and Cilic too. Wawrinka has also been noted many times to have close to a full western.

I guess this exercise is truly pointless without viewing where there index knuckle lies.

A full western is rare - Sock and Kachanov definitely. Maybe Djok when he was younger. But most guys technically have some semi in their grip.

 

[J011yroger]

I would say that even other 5.0-6.0 players would have a better shot with Fabio’s technique or Tsitsipas’ technique instead of Nadal or Joker

Ok, you talked me into it, I'll take Tsits's FH.

J

 

[_GOATbis]

Kyrgios - 90% SW and 10% continental (on the returns)

Zverev - SW

Thiem - SW

Wawrinka - SW

Tsitsipas - same as Federer (extreme estern)

Fognini - extreme SW

Goffin - SW

Cilic - Western

 

[Swingmaster]

Everyone semi-western except Kyrgios (extreme western), Tsitsi (continental-eastern) and Cilic (eastern).

Continental-eastern for Tsitsipas? I heard someone on tv say it was the same as Del Potro’s grip, which is pure eastern. I would like to believe it though, since it’s my grip.

 

[BackhandDTL]

Continental-eastern for Tsitsipas? I heard someone on tv say it was the same as Del Potro’s grip, which is pure eastern. I would like to believe it though, since it’s my grip.

Wow I wish I could hit with that grip. One day my wrist is going to explode with the 3/4 W grip

 

[Clay lover]

A full western is rare - Sock and Kachanov definitely. Maybe Djok when he was younger. But most guys technically have some semi in their grip.

May I add Nishikori

 

[Swingmaster]

Wow I wish I could hit with that grip. One day my wrist is going to explode with the 3/4 W grip

Make the switch. You won’t regret it. Itll feel like skinny dipping.