what grip does federer

Jonny S&V

Hall of Fame
what grip does feder use?

Very strong eastern on forehand (although he changes grips when he needs to), eastern backhand flat-topspin, continental slice, very very slight eastern forehand on volleys, serves with slight eastern backhand (almost continental). He uses Wilson leather with Wilson Pro Overgrip on the standard Wilson shape grip with 4 3/8 size. There, that answers any and all questions.
 

Tchocky

Hall of Fame
I think he uses a modified Semi-Western grip on his forehand side and a Eastern grip on his backhand. The best thing to do is ask him. You can email him on his website and he may respond.
 

boojay

Hall of Fame
Federer uses the Doomsday Grip, named thusly because his forehand brings death to all those who dare oppose it.
 

aaganad

New User
what is slight eastern grip for FH volley? used a lot?

Very strong eastern on forehand (although he changes grips when he needs to), eastern backhand flat-topspin, continental slice, very very slight eastern forehand on volleys, serves with slight eastern backhand (almost continental). He uses Wilson leather with Wilson Pro Overgrip on the standard Wilson shape grip with 4 3/8 size. There, that answers any and all questions.

Jonny,
you bring up something I've been wondering about for a long time. You mention Federer's "very very slgiht eastern forehand on volleys..." I'm assuming you mean it is somewhere between continental and eastern. If he doesn't switch when doing BH volley that would mean his racquet face is more open than usual, wouldn't it? Is this what a lot of pros do? I notice others (e.g.the Williams sisters) also have a very open face on the one handed backhand volley and their FH volleys are definitely the stronger side.

I use a true continental for volleys and my racquet is perfectly perpendicular to the ground on both FH and BH and because of this my FH volley is definitely the weaker side. Am I doing it the old out-moded way of gripping the racquet for volleys with a true continental? Is it worth it to try this "very slight eastern" grip to strengthen my FH volley?
 

heycal

Hall of Fame
I use a true continental for volleys and my racquet is perfectly perpendicular to the ground on both FH and BH and because of this my FH volley is definitely the weaker side. Am I doing it the old out-moded way of gripping the racquet for volleys with a true continental? Is it worth it to try this "very slight eastern" grip to strengthen my FH volley?

I've been told diffferent things on this board by coach/teacher types. (I'm a 3.5). One guy said my eastern grip is fine for forehand volleys, another guy said I should try and change to continental.

I haven't noticed what the pros do, but it seems the better recreational players I know use continental on both sides.
 

Jonny S&V

Hall of Fame
Jonny,
you bring up something I've been wondering about for a long time. You mention Federer's "very very slgiht eastern forehand on volleys..." I'm assuming you mean it is somewhere between continental and eastern. If he doesn't switch when doing BH volley that would mean his racquet face is more open than usual, wouldn't it? Is this what a lot of pros do? I notice others (e.g.the Williams sisters) also have a very open face on the one handed backhand volley and their FH volleys are definitely the stronger side.

I use a true continental for volleys and my racquet is perfectly perpendicular to the ground on both FH and BH and because of this my FH volley is definitely the weaker side. Am I doing it the old out-moded way of gripping the racquet for volleys with a true continental? Is it worth it to try this "very slight eastern" grip to strengthen my FH volley?

The "very very slight eastern forehand" is also called the "Australian" grip, but that term is sorta outdated so I use the longer term. All volleyer's shouldn't use a true continental, as this leaves the forehand volley racquet face too open in most cases.
 

fedtastic

Hall of Fame
I think Federer uses the Eastern Grip for his FH as shown by the videos provided by BeakPoint. I think he varies it a little depending on the bounce of the ball and how he wanted to play the shot.
 

Jonny S&V

Hall of Fame
Does this mean that some should, or can?

I'm just saying, all the best volleyers in history that I can think off the top of my head didn't use a straight up continental. I can think of one (Rafter) that used an eastern forehand for volleys, but other than that varience, no-one else comes to mind.

But does that mean you can't be successful with a straight continental? Of course not, but the trend it that an "Australian" grip or modified continental has given the better results.
 

JeMar

Legend
Holy necrobump, Batman!

I went to a coaches clinic a few months ago that was keynoted by Luke Jensen. He said Federer usually hits with a semi-western, but he varies it slightly depending on the incoming shot and the shot he wants to hit.

I think John Yendell did a study and found something like 20-something different forehands that Federer uses.
 

heycal

Hall of Fame
I'm just saying, all the best volleyers in history that I can think off the top of my head didn't use a straight up continental.

So they mostly used a a slight eastern for FH volleys?

Where are the staunch contintental FH volley advocates I know exist here at TT? (Is it the tennis mastery guy? Or Jolly maybe?)

btw, I personally use an easternish grip for FH volleys. Seems more natural to me. But then, I'm not a very good player, so what do I know?
 

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
So they mostly used a a slight eastern for FH volleys?

Where are the staunch contintental FH volley advocates I know exist here at TT? (Is it the tennis mastery guy? Or Jolly maybe?)

btw, I personally use an easternish grip for FH volleys. Seems more natural to me. But then, I'm not a very good player, so what do I know?

Missed this post.

If you would like to hit a few volleys next time I am up that way hitting with nytennisaddict, I would be glad to.

My personal opinion is that you should learn with continental off both sides, and then as you get more proficient and comfortable, and your ball recognition and placement improve, then you can adjust your grip slightly, but it should be an unconsious change.

If you start with continental as a base, then everything works off of that.

J
 

Jonny S&V

Hall of Fame
Missed this post.

If you would like to hit a few volleys next time I am up that way hitting with nytennisaddict, I would be glad to.

My personal opinion is that you should learn with continental off both sides, and then as you get more proficient and comfortable, and your ball recognition and placement improve, then you can adjust your grip slightly, but it should be an unconsious change.

If you start with continental as a base, then everything works off of that.

J

Are you meaning straight continental? Or slightly modified (as in the "Australian," which is what Dent or Edberg or all the old Aussies used)? I'm not arguing really, I'm just trying to clear up definitions here...
 

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
Are you meaning straight continental? Or slightly modified (as in the "Australian," which is what Dent or Edberg or all the old Aussies used)? I'm not arguing really, I'm just trying to clear up definitions here...

I am advocating starting with straight continental as the base, and then adjust from there as you become more proficient.

The tendancy for those more proficient is to shift slightly towards eastern FH for closer FH volleys, and closer to eastern BH for stretch FH volleys, conversely closer to eastern BH for close BH volleys, and closer to eastern FH for stretch BH volleys.

IMO this should NOT be a consious change, it should come as a natural adjustment without thought and the result of hitting a billion volleys.

J
 
Last edited:

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
Best pics I could find of Dent, will look for Edberg next.

taylordent4.jpg


taylordent3.jpg


2004-01-21-inside-dent.jpg


J
 

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
Oops, he is hitting a BH in the 2nd one, my bad.

But still, notice the difference between the backhand and the volley/serve grips in the knuckle alignment.

That is really important and many beginners don't understand that the base knuckle is on one bevel, but the others are not in line with it along the bevel on the volley/serve.

J
 

Jonny S&V

Hall of Fame
I do understand what your saying, but Dent uses an "Australian" grip/modified continental/whatever-you-want-to-call-it-w/o-saying-continental and not a straight up continental, as far as my definition goes anywho...

EDIT: Same with Edberg.
 

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
I do understand what your saying, but Dent uses an "Australian" grip/modified continental/whatever-you-want-to-call-it-w/o-saying-continental and not a straight up continental, as far as my definition goes anywho...

EDIT: Same with Edberg.

I understand the variation, but I find that people adjust WAY more than what you are describing.

Heck when I tell people straight continental, they are closer to eastern FH than what you are describing. So I find it is better to show via picture or in person.

J
 

Jonny S&V

Hall of Fame
I understand the variation, but I find that people adjust WAY more than what you are describing.

Heck when I tell people straight continental, they are closer to eastern FH than what you are describing. So I find it is better to show via picture or in person.

J

Ok, cool, just making sure my definitions weren't wrong...
 

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
Ok, cool, just making sure my definitions weren't wrong...

Yea, you just need to be consious of how slight the change is. Just like some pros hit a flat serve with a similar grip.

I have a pic of Safin precariously close to an EFH grip serving, but the way the rest of the hand lines up makes it functional.

J
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
I am confused as to why so many people don't understand this? :confused:

Because they lack the capacity or desire to think or look for themselves, and just parrot what they hear the commentators say during a match, or what they read in an article.

Just a guess on my part.

J
 

heycal

Hall of Fame
The tendancy for those more proficient is to shift slightly towards eastern FH for closer FH volleys, and closer to eastern BH for stretch FH volleys, conversely closer to eastern BH for close BH volleys, and closer to eastern FH for stretch BH volleys.

I've noticed I do this myself on stretch volleys, but hadn't realized what I was doing or why until reading this thread, and I'm hardly proficient.

But if I'm already using a easternish forehand volley, why must I go to continental at all if I'm just going to eventually migrate back to eastern?
 

bruce38

Banned
Did you watch this YouTube video?


Federer uses an Eastern Forehand Grip, period.

This is the definition of an Eastern Forehand Grip:

roger-federer_wimbledon_finals.jpg


I am confused as to why so many people don't understand this? :confused:

Oops sorry, I meant eastern. I did see that video.
 

Grigollif1

Semi-Pro
Did you watch this YouTube video?


Federer uses an Eastern Forehand Grip, period.

This is the definition of an Eastern Forehand Grip:

roger-federer_wimbledon_finals.jpg


I am confused as to why so many people don't understand this? :confused:


Because Federer`s Forehad resemble very little the Classic Eastern grip of Sampras, which was the most used grip for more than 20 years. And Federer stroke, his arm and shoulder rotation, swing direction, point of contact and spin is much more similar to most of the modern SW swinging pros of today. And little alike all the other pros that have used the Eastern grip for over 20 years. That is why.

The whole definition of Knuckle head and palm position is fine and it helps understand strokes to a certain extend. But in my view, it is very broad measure and doesn`t mean too much. There are several aspects to be considered when talking about a Forehand stroke. Djokovic and Nadal both have western grips, yet their forehand is quite different. Federer and Sampras supposed to be Eastern and their swing types are also quite different.
 
Last edited:

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Because Federer`s Forehad resemble very little the Classic Eastern grip of Sampras, which was the most used grip for more than 20 years. And Federer stroke, his arm and shoulder rotation, swing direction, point of contact and spin is much more similar to most of the modern SW swinging pros of today. And little alike all the other pros that have used the Eastern grip for over 20 years. That is why.

The whole definition of Knuckle head and palm position is fine and it helps understand strokes to a certain extend. But in my view, it is very broad measure and doesn`t mean too much. There are several aspects to be considered when talking about a Forehand stroke. Djokovic and Nadal both have western grips, yet their forehand is quite different. Federer and Sampras supposed to be Eastern and their swing types are also quite different.
Yes, but we're talking only about Federer's grip (the way he holds the handle) and not how he swings nor his mechanics nor his technique in hitting forehands. To me, the biggest difference between Federer's technique and that of someone like Sampras, is that Federer hits the ball further away from his body and then rolls his wrist after contact with the ball.
 

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
I've noticed I do this myself on stretch volleys, but hadn't realized what I was doing or why until reading this thread, and I'm hardly proficient.

But if I'm already using a easternish forehand volley, why must I go to continental at all if I'm just going to eventually migrate back to eastern?

On a stretch FH volley you would be using close to an eastern BACKHAND grip. I think you misread what I wrote.

Look at the pics of Dent/Edberg. Is that what your grip is, or are you more to Eastern FH?

As I said before, I would gladly work with you on it if you want next time I am up in that area. I actually know a great deal about volleying because I struggled so much with it, as opposed to other stuff which just came very easily to me.


J
 

drakulie

Talk Tennis Guru
Although Federer for the most part uses a eastern grip on the FH, he does at times slide the base knuckle of his pointer finger over to a semi western position many times. Contrary to what FYB state, I have high speed photos (60 FPS), plus video (600 fps, 1200 fps) that clearly show he has slid his hand over to the semi-western position while keeping the butt of his hand in the eastern position.
 

lawrence

Hall of Fame
sorry to go off-topic here but drak would you mind posting up those action-frames of you serving again? im currently polishing my serve but my internet is capped so i have no access to videos.. images on the other hand my net can handle!
 

drakulie

Talk Tennis Guru
Because Federer`s Forehad resemble very little the Classic Eastern grip of Sampras, which was the most used grip for more than 20 years. And Federer stroke, his arm and shoulder rotation, swing direction, point of contact and spin is much more similar to most of the modern SW swinging pros of today. And little alike all the other pros that have used the Eastern grip for over 20 years. That is why.

The whole definition of Knuckle head and palm position is fine and it helps understand strokes to a certain extend. But in my view, it is very broad measure and doesn`t mean too much. There are several aspects to be considered when talking about a Forehand stroke. Djokovic and Nadal both have western grips, yet their forehand is quite different. Federer and Sampras supposed to be Eastern and their swing types are also quite different.

Actually, Fed's FH although very unique has lots of similarities to players of the past.

The biggest difference between Sampras and Fed, is actually quite easy. Fed hit's his FH with an almost completely straight arm, while sampras hits with a double bend. Fed's FH is noting new, as Vilas actually use to hit his FH like this from time to time, as did many other pros back then.
 

drakulie

Talk Tennis Guru
sorry to go off-topic here but drak would you mind posting up those action-frames of you serving again? im currently polishing my serve but my internet is capped so i have no access to videos.. images on the other hand my net can handle!


damn, I don't even know where I put those. I believe they are in my serve thread. sorry.
 

heycal

Hall of Fame
On a stretch FH volley you would be using close to an eastern BACKHAND grip. I think you misread what I wrote.

Right, I think my grip is like the eastern backhand grip on stretch FH volleys. It seems an odd position to me, but I notice I move to it unconsciously when stretching wide for FH volleys. On regular FH volleys, it's more eastern forehand I think.

As I said before, I would gladly work with you on it if you want next time I am up in that area. I actually know a great deal about volleying because I struggled so much with it, as opposed to other stuff which just came very easily to me.

May take you up on that, thanks. Though I have a lot more problems with other strokes, like, say, a basic friggin' backhand.
 

asafi2

Rookie
Although Federer for the most part uses a eastern grip on the FH, he does at times slide the base knuckle of his pointer finger over to a semi western position many times. Contrary to what FYB state, I have high speed photos (60 FPS), plus video (600 fps, 1200 fps) that clearly show he has slid his hand over to the semi-western position while keeping the butt of his hand in the eastern position.

Someone on TW posted a interview with Fed and the interviewer asked him what grip he uses and Fed replied, "it depends on the type of shot I want to hit."
 
Top