Which FH (SW, W) for jr player

[douglas168]

My son started to play tennis for about a year now. Last week, we went to see a local jr tennis tournament for beginners. I notice some difference with kids playing with W and SW FH. The kids with W grip are more likely to hit the ball in the court because they can hit these "moonball-like" shots though not always with depth because they are young. The kids with SW grip seem to have trouble with these shots because they are hitting them late and can't drive through the ball. Their shots will most likely go long or into the net. I am sure kids with SW will learn how to hit high bounce balls eventually.

I am wondering which style of FH, SW or W, is better suited for jr player.

thanks for the input.

 

[EndLy]

how old is your son? my little brother is about 12 now but i started him about a year and a half ago. i started him with an eastern grip and he slowly progressed to almost a SW by himself. he hits the ball deep consistently and put away shots when he needs to. actually surprised that he hits as hard as he does.

i did this because i didn't want him to hit those weak high shots

just my method of teacher ... both of my brothers started with eastern grips but kept hitting the ball long.. now both hit with SW grips but can flatten it out when needed...

hope i helped

 

[NLBwell]

I'd start with Eastern or Semi-Western. He will gradually develop the grip that is comfortable for him. I wouldn't favor starting with an extreme grip because that limits the ways he can develop the game that is natural for him.

 

[LeeD]

Depends...
If he's got controlled power, SW or even hard Eastern.
If he's got power, but needs control, W to keep the ball in play.
And taller, can play more with E grips.
Short forever, doomed to play W grips.
If he's got too much energy always, go W.
If he tends to get tired, go E.
Longterm concentration, go W. Shorterm concentration, go SW or E.

 

[chico9166]

Not one time in the past 20 plus years of teaching, have I ever started a kid in full western grip, nor have I seen any decent pro do so.

 

[SFrazeur]

This is written with knowing the age of the child and children at the tournament:

Having a child use a western grip is not a good idea. It does not teach them the proper aera of impact. Depending on the age of those kids, if they were young, I'd imagine most of them were striking the ball too high, possibly over their heads. These kids do well while they are young but once they start to get into their teens they find they cannot hit through the ball well enough.

-SF

 

[SFrazeur]

Depends...
If he's got controlled power, SW or even hard Eastern.
If he's got power, but needs control, W to keep the ball in play.
And taller, can play more with E grips.
Short forever, doomed to play W grips.
If he's got too much energy always, go W.
If he tends to get tired, go E.
Longterm concentration, go W. Shorterm concentration, go SW or E.

The things you mention either have nothing at all or merely superficial baring over grip choice.

Stay far away from developing kids, please.

-SF

 

[LeeD]

Actually, even thos you are currently a coach or pretend to be, you know nothing about tennis, strokes, and why players use certain grips.
Sorry, but you really don't know anything at all about tennis.
No matter what grip the kid chooses, he will learn to hit the ball. Then, you modify his grip to meet the highest percentage of incoming balls.
Some start kids with conti.
Some start kids with eastern.
Some start kids with SW.
Some start kids with W.
And HEIGHT of player is super important.
And mental and physical tendencies are huge.
YOU MAKE A LOUSY AND UNSUCCESSFUL COACH !!!:shock::shock:

 

[SFrazeur]

Actually, even thos you are currently a coach or pretend to be, you know nothing about tennis, strokes, and why players use certain grips.
Sorry, but you really don't know anything at all about tennis.
No matter what grip the kid chooses, he will learn to hit the ball. Then, you modify his grip to meet the highest percentage of incoming balls.
Some start kids with conti.
Some start kids with eastern.
Some start kids with SW.
Some start kids with W.
And HEIGHT of player is super important.
And mental and physical tendencies are huge.
YOU MAKE A LOUSY AND UNSUCCESSFUL COACH !!!:shock::shock:

No. You start a kid off with a solid grip that allows a them to hit through the ball at waist level, somewhere around the eastern grip fits the bill. Just because a player can learn to be started off with a grip like the Western doesn't mean they should. An instructor must set sound fundamentals. Kids constantly hitting ground-stroke balls over their heads with a western grip is not sound. When developing kids you have to look five, ten years down the line.

-SF

 

[LeeD]

And how many 10 year old 4'3" tall kids get to hit any balls at "waist" level??
Sure, YOU can throw in a few from the service line, but once they start to hit against other kids and adults from the baseline, most of the balls will be OVER THEIR HEADS in height.
Now you tell them to move back, to a mile behind the baseline, to wait for the ball to drop to "waist" levels ... ??????
Or you make them half volley from "waist" level... ???
Whatever for? Most balls THEY get will be head high or HIGHER! Why not give them a grip which can deal with such balls?
Starting today's kids with Eastern forehand only works if they're 6' tall NOW.

 

[Slicendicer]

LeeD is correct. An eastern grip is NOT what you teach a jr. player. The juniors (especially the little guys) hit almost every shot 3 ft above the shoulder with a lot of topspin. The eastern FH player would not be able to keep up with the western FH player.

I coached high-level jr tennis... as high as can be without being a parody like the USTA coaches. We coached several top ten juniors, D1 players and many pro's (several in the top 30).

 

[SFrazeur]

And how many 10 year old 4'3" tall kids get to hit any balls at "waist" level??
Sure, YOU can throw in a few from the service line, but once they start to hit against other kids and adults from the baseline, most of the balls will be OVER THEIR HEADS in height.
Now you tell them to move back, to a mile behind the baseline, to wait for the ball to drop to "waist" levels ... ??????
Or you make them half volley from "waist" level... ???
Whatever for? Most balls THEY get will be head high or HIGHER! Why not give them a grip which can deal with such balls?
Starting today's kids with Eastern forehand only works if they're 6' tall NOW.

LeeD is correct. An eastern grip is NOT what you teach a jr. player. The juniors (especially the little guys) hit almost every shot 3 ft above the shoulder with a lot of topspin. The eastern FH player would not be able to keep up with the western FH player.

I coached high-level jr tennis... as high as can be without being a parody like the USTA coaches. We coached several top ten juniors, D1 players and many pro's (several in the top 30).

All new players, childern to adults, that come to the facility where my program is based start on QuickStart (36'/60')courts and use transition (foam, oversize felt, low compression) balls prior top playing full size (78') Tennis courts. For juniors the ball bounce is more proportional to their height allowing them to actually drive through the ball. As they progress the grip can shift more towards semi-western.

The focus of my work is to not teach juniors to spin the ball over their heads and over their opponents heads. It is for them to play a full court game that is proportional to their size. The style of jr playing that you reference, I feel, is bad for future player development and Tennis in America.

-SF

 

[chico9166]

I think we need to make a distinction here, between what grip a kid should start with and what grip might evolve, as they progress.

The Op was asking about his son, who was one year into his development. Surely, this fact is significant.

 

[SFrazeur]

I think we need to make a distinction here, between what grip a kid should start with and what grip might evolve, as they progress.

The Op was asking about his son, who was one year into his development. Surely, this fact is significant.

It is significant. However, as we are left without more information, such as his level and age, it is difficult to address as we are only left with being more general.

-SF

 

[chico9166]

It is significant. However, as we are left without more information, such as his level and age, it is difficult to address as we are only left with being more general.

-SF

Well, I'm certainly agreeing with your postion on this subject, more than the others. As far as starting grips are concerned, however, i don't think a kid necessarily has to start in an eastern grip per say, but rather within a "range of acceptabilty", somewhere between strong eastern to mild sw. Within this grip range, they can still use more neutral stances initially, be taught to hit through the ball, all with the advantage of being slightly more underneath the handle.

You obviously understand grip principles, and how it relates to development. Let's just hope the Op doesn't decide to change his sons grip to a 5/5 western, in the first year of his development, based on what he saw at a beginner tournament. Or because of the "advice" he received on this thread.

 

[douglas168]

LeeD is correct. An eastern grip is NOT what you teach a jr. player. The juniors (especially the little guys) hit almost every shot 3 ft above the shoulder with a lot of topspin. The eastern FH player would not be able to keep up with the western FH player.

This is EXACTLY what I saw in the tournament. The ones hitting with W grip are hitting balls that kids with SW or E grip having trouble returning.

There were some question about age of my son. He is 8 years old now.

I guess I should clarify the question a bit. Yes, I agree that kids should start learning tennis with E grip, which he did. He is at a point where he will be playing with other kids soon. From what I saw in the tournament, more successful kids at his age are playing more with W grip (maybe they were taught this way because of their height).

I guess what I am trying to find out is given his age and height, what would be the more appropiate grip for him to use to play with other kids.

 

[Slicendicer]

This is EXACTLY what I saw in the tournament. The ones hitting with W grip are hitting balls that kids with SW or E grip having trouble returning.

There were some question about age of my son. He is 8 years old now.

I guess I should clarify the question a bit. Yes, I agree that kids should start learning tennis with E grip, which he did. He is at a point where he will be playing with other kids soon. From what I saw in the tournament, more successful kids at his age are playing more with W grip (maybe they were taught this way because of their height).

I guess what I am trying to find out is given his age and height, what would be the more appropiate grip for him to use to play with other kids.

Rally from deep court with SW/W and short court/ flat shots with E/SW grip... just an idea.

 

[Deleted member 25923]

At first, SW can be a difficult grip. I started with eastern at first, and then my cousin moved me to a semiwestern.

I'd say beginners should start off eastern so they can get decent depth, and once they understand depth and stroke mechanics, show them SW, but don't force them if they're eastern strokes are good.

But i'm a 16 year old student, and I've got no real qualifications. Best bet is to ask a coach or wait for BB!

 

[LeeD]

Once again, as in post #4, short people need W grips.
Tall, 6'10" people don't need W grips.
You grip the racket based on the most OFTEN faced balls coming at you. If you face head high to higher balls mostly, you use W grips.
If you face knee high incoming balls, you use Conti grips.

 

[LeeD]

Once again, as in post #4, short people need W grips.
Tall, 6'10" people don't need W grips.
You grip the racket based on the most OFTEN faced balls coming at you. If you face head high to higher balls mostly, you use W grips.
If you face knee high incoming balls, you use Conti grips.