Wonder Wedge and SW forehand?

limitup

Professional
Just curious if anyone out there is using the Wonder Wedge (AKA Power V) grip with a SW grip. I'm trying this on a few of my racquets because my friend swears by it and I hate the shape of my Head grips so I figured I might kill 2 birds with one stone. I've played with it a bit but the thing is it seems to almost force me to move towards a full western grip. The SW just doesn't feel comfortable to me and no matter how hard I try I can't maintain the SW. Under pressure I just automatically go to a full western.

I posted about this awhile ago and got some interesting feedback, but now I'm specifically wondering if anyone is actually using a SW forehand grip with the WW? I'm wondering if it's just me, or if its the WW doing this.

It's hard to explain, but with to me it just feels like the bevel your index knuckle normally goes on with a SW grip becomes too big/wide with the WW and thus it's no longer comfortable/possible to hit with that grip.

The Continental feels odd too ... although not quite as bad. Maybe it's just the way the wedge sticks into my palm on the SW grip that doesn't feel right to me, I just can't figure it out.
 

vinky

Rookie
I've never used it before, and I've read some praise on it. However, I have a hard time seeing any real benefits from it. I guess, for me personally I don't think too much about what grip I'm using.
 

Bungalo Bill

G.O.A.T.
limitup said:
Just curious if anyone out there is using the Wonder Wedge (AKA Power V) grip with a SW grip. I'm trying this on a few of my racquets because my friend swears by it and I hate the shape of my Head grips so I figured I might kill 2 birds with one stone. I've played with it a bit but the thing is it seems to almost force me to move towards a full western grip. The SW just doesn't feel comfortable to me and no matter how hard I try I can't maintain the SW. Under pressure I just automatically go to a full western.

I posted about this awhile ago and got some interesting feedback, but now I'm specifically wondering if anyone is actually using a SW forehand grip with the WW? I'm wondering if it's just me, or if its the WW doing this.

It's hard to explain, but with to me it just feels like the bevel your index knuckle normally goes on with a SW grip becomes too big/wide with the WW and thus it's no longer comfortable/possible to hit with that grip.

The Continental feels odd too ... although not quite as bad. Maybe it's just the way the wedge sticks into my palm on the SW grip that doesn't feel right to me, I just can't figure it out.

I haven't heard of this as I have used and my kids still use the Wonder Wedge. It seems pretty natural to get right into the SW grip. During my testing I also found it comfortable to flip it around.

I will tell you, it takes time to get used to it.
 

Tim Tennis

Professional
Interesting feedback

limitup said:
I've played with it a bit but the thing is it seems to almost force me to move towards a full western grip. The SW just doesn't feel comfortable to me and no matter how hard I try I can't maintain the SW. Under pressure I just automatically go to a full western.

It's hard to explain, but with to me it just feels like the bevel your index knuckle normally goes on with a SW grip becomes too big/wide with the WW and thus it's no longer comfortable/possible to hit with that grip.

Yikes, that is the purpose/intent of the PVG to make bevel 4 larger. This makes it so much easier to find the SW grip plus it adds leverage and traction. Most people love it for the SW grip, those who currently use it and those who are trying to learn it. The problem may be in just how you are positioning the handle in the palm of your hand. With the PVG attached it should fit snugly underneath the base of your thumb. Check out the link below and see how it fits in the palm, it should just wrap around the V shape the PVG creates. So much more of your hand makes contact with the handle with the PVG attached versus the standard shaped handle. If the palm of your hand varies from this position I can see why it might feel uncomfortable. Anyhow, something for you to think about. Practice, experiment, seriously most people love it for the SW.

http://www.tennisgeometrics.com/SemiWestern_power_forehand.html

If you used the W grip before I can understand why you might revert back to it during play. If you did not use the W before I would be surprised that you are going to it because it requires a significant repositioning of the palm underneath the handle and quite a change in mechanics.

It is the same thing for the C grip. Bevel 2 is made larger on purpose to make it easier to find the C grip. Your problem may be the placement of your palm. The PVG fills the gaps that are left vacant on a standard shaped handle. Check the link below. It should feel great on all the grips except the EF. On the EF it pushes the knuckle away from the handle which feels very strange at first to the EF users.

http://www.tennisgeometrics.com/SemiWestern_power_forehand.html

Don't quit, master the new points of leverage and you will be sending me a great testimonial.

Thanks for the imput, hope I gave you something to think about. Keep me informed.
 
Please folow Tim Tennis' advise and be persistent. The WW/PVG is not a miracle device, but I am convinced it will help the great majority of players if they stick with it, identifying and retaining proper grip mechanics. Good luck!

Ed, have you been on vacation or something? Hope all is well with you and the PVG.
 

limitup

Professional
Yeah Tim I think you're right in that it has to do with the positioning of the handle in my palm.

For whatever reason I notice that if I just grab the racquet and go to a SW grip without thinking about it, the butt of the handle is not in the right place. It's pushed more to the outside of my palm towards my pinkie finger. More in the direction of a "hammer" type grip.

If I consciously make sure the butt of the racquet is in that "V" - more towards the middle of my palm - it definitely feels better. This is the position it goes automatically when I use an extreme SW or Western grip, so that's obviously why the Western feels more comfortable now.

I'll play with it some more ...
 

jb193

Rookie
It seems to me that the Wonder Edge would be great for developing someone's SW forehand. But I have a question. Would it not distort other strokes that require a grip change, like the dominant hand going to a continental for serving and a 2 handed backhand? Just curious..........
 

Tim Tennis

Professional
jb193 said:
It seems to me that the Wonder Edge would be great for developing someone's SW forehand. But I have a question. Would it not distort other strokes that require a grip change, like the dominant hand going to a continental for serving and a 2 handed backhand? Just curious..........

Good question. Actually it makes all the grips easier to find because it provides a unique frame of reference for each grip or to put it another way it gives each grip a very distinctive feel to a much greater extent then a standard shaped handle. The PVG users vary all over the board as far as their primary grip and many of them are two-handers.

Thanks for the question.
 

Ko8727

New User
ima wonderwedge beliver it has raised my game to new heights, all i can say is bite the bullet and try it till yu get used to it,the first time i picked it up it felt like magic i was playing well ,i think it was a fluke, it took me 2 solid months during which i sucked but once it felt natural in my hand wow it is amazing ive gone from never playing tennis to a 4.5 varisty starter who won 3 rounds in state

it works, i use the sw grip and yeah you have to train you hand to stay in the sw becuase it des get pshed over unlees you keep your grip firm, good luck
 

Bungalo Bill

G.O.A.T.
Ko8727 said:
ima wonderwedge beliver it has raised my game to new heights, all i can say is bite the bullet and try it till yu get used to it,the first time i picked it up it felt like magic i was playing well ,i think it was a fluke, it took me 2 solid months during which i sucked but once it felt natural in my hand wow it is amazing ive gone from never playing tennis to a 4.5 varisty starter who won 3 rounds in state

it works, i use the sw grip and yeah you have to train you hand to stay in the sw becuase it des get pshed over unlees you keep your grip firm, good luck

The torque one can get on the ball is incredible isn't it?
 

Tim Tennis

Professional
Grip it and rip it

Ko8727 said:
ima wonderwedge beliver it has raised my game to new heights, all i can say is bite the bullet and try it till yu get used to it,the first time i picked it up it felt like magic i was playing well ,i think it was a fluke, it took me 2 solid months during which i sucked but once it felt natural in my hand wow it is amazing ive gone from never playing tennis to a 4.5 varisty starter who won 3 rounds in state

it works, i use the sw grip and yeah you have to train you hand to stay in the sw becuase it des get pshed over unlees you keep your grip firm, good luck

Thanks! Congratulation on your success, you will continue to get better. You will never go back to a standard shaped handle once you have made the transition to the PVG. I think one of the best things about the PVG is that it opens up a new awareness, people who may have been stuck on a certain level for years all of a sudden make a significant improvement in some aspect of their game. Their mind set goes from I am stuck at this level to getting excited about all the different ways they can improve their game. Once they get to the level of enjoying "the process" they will never stop improving their game, even if it is little by little.

Thanks for your support.
 

Tim Tennis

Professional
Torque it, rip it

Bungalo Bill said:
The torque one can get on the ball is incredible isn't it?

Hello BB, thanks for the comment. That is so true.

Below is an exert from the home page of the site.

The Power -V- Grip gives the handle superior form, function and utility the handles on todays racquets just do not have. Your hand does not fit will for all the grips on a regular handle. There are serious gaps. Your hand does not make good contact with the handle. The frame of reference it provides for finding grips is weak. With the Power -V- Grip your hand will make much better contact with the handle for all the grips. It's unique feel for each grip makes them easy to find. Simply put, it is a much better fit.

Home page: http://www.tennisgeometrics.com/
 
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