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.
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?
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?
All volleyer's shouldn't use a true continental, as this leaves the forehand volley racquet face too open in most cases.
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.
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
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 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.
where is the hand placement on the eastern backhand grip?
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...
Did you watch this YouTube video?Federer uses a semi-western forehand grip, not eastern.
Federer uses an Eastern Forehand Grip, period.Federer uses an Eastern Forehand Grip and an Eastern Backhand Grip.
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=263767
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXcsblS3Jl4
I am confused as to why so many people don't understand this?![]()
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.
Did you watch this YouTube video?
Federer uses an Eastern Forehand Grip, period.
This is the definition of an Eastern Forehand Grip:
![]()
I am confused as to why so many people don't understand this?![]()
Did you watch this YouTube video?
Federer uses an Eastern Forehand Grip, period.
This is the definition of an Eastern Forehand Grip:
![]()
I am confused as to why so many people don't understand this?![]()
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.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.
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?
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.
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!
On a stretch FH volley you would be using close to an eastern BACKHAND grip. I think you misread what I wrote.
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.
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.