You Think Maybe A Teensy Grip Change Would Help?

[larry10s]

i would not use eastern for ready position if you are trying to learn sw (maybe later). use continental for ready and sw for forehand. when yoy are home get your racquet and practice FEELING the sw grip. change from bh to fh. CLOSE YOUR EYES and feel the new grip. do this off the court .in no time the new grip will feel familiar and comfortable

 

[Bungalo Bill]

OK, I test drove the new grip today in a four-person clinic.

I didn't say anything to the pro about it, figuring it would be more entertaining just to see if he'd notice. He didn't say anything to me. But one of the poaching drills had two people at net, with another lady and me at baseline. He was encouraging the baseliners to shorten their backswings. I was having trouble, and he said I probably wouldn't want "that grip" in that situation, as it would require more backswing. So I guess he noticed.

You are using an inbetween grip right? The backswing comment was a little farfetched. If he sat down and studied it, he would be okay. I think he is a coach that cares a lot about your development and that you don't go out in left field and srew up your game. That is a sign of a good coach. I like that.

However, the SW or inbetween does not need a big backswing to support it. You need to use your legs/hips/torso more and rotation to drive through the ball. SW grips are used all day long in doubles.

Anyway, I say the new grip is a huge success. Usually, I am the player who misses groundstrokes in these drills.

SW is a great grip and a very good grip to develop players on. Kids and adults can benefit from the SW grip.

Today, I was able to rally with my new grip really, really well. I would just be careful not to hit flat, and all kinds of good things happened.

Eventually, you need to learn to hit flat. Also, I don't know if you watch the tennis channel, but they had a great little drill that made a player mix up spins. They had to hit underspin, flat, and topspin in a rotating fashion on both wings. Eventually, you want to be able to do this, so don't think your Eastern or Continental is gone forever. Take your time and get comfortable with your new grip.

Best of all, my ball was driving my opponents back, which made it really easy to come to net. One of the ladies was actually squealing at the topspin I was giving her from the baseline. And if I had to hit a passing shot, my ball was diving down just like it should. Huzzah!!

Good, sounds like you are having fun. Don't be surprised if you have some setbacks with something new. You might not, but don't panic if you do.

The biggest problem I am having is Grip Confusion. Geez, it feels like all I am thinking about is my grip. I found myself at net trying to volley with a SW grip, or hitting my FH with a Continental because I would get it backwards. I think I am going to need to practice my ready position in Eastern and then switch as needed for BH or FH or volley.

Hahaha, yup. That is perfectly normal. You have introduced something that was automatic before. All of your sensory information was geared around your hand being in a certain spot on the handle. Now, all of a sudden you need to "think" or "be sure" your hand is in the right spot and that causes delay in your response and if the ball is coming at you, perhaps confusion.

Work it!

Regarding the "pat the dog" thing, I played around with that a bit after the clinic finished, and it works really well. It gives just that teensy bit extra topspin. I like it!

Thanks, everyone!!!

You know the four general positions. Just relax and let your arm shape through each of the positions smoothly. Dont try to be perfect with it or you will slow down the swing momentum.

 

[Cindysphinx]

You are using an inbetween grip right? The backswing comment was a little farfetched. If he sat down and studied it, he would be okay. I think he is a coach that cares a lot about your development and that you don't go out in left field and srew up your game. That is a sign of a good coach. I like that.

Let me clarify the backswing thing.

See, the volleyers were trying to drive their volleys deep with underspin, so we baseliners were almost dealing with half-volleys. My attempts to wind up and hit a regular groundstroke weren't working too well. He was advocating an on-the-toes, knees bent position and keeping the racket out in front more with minimal backswing. It did work much better for me without the SW grip.

Let me ask, though. For a FH half-volley, is the SW grip still a good idea? It seems that if the ideal contact point for SW grip is chest high, hitting a half-volley with SW grip would be difficult, no?

 

[Bungalo Bill]

Let me clarify the backswing thing.

See, the volleyers were trying to drive their volleys deep with underspin, so we baseliners were almost dealing with half-volleys. My attempts to wind up and hit a regular groundstroke weren't working too well. He was advocating an on-the-toes, knees bent position and keeping the racket out in front more with minimal backswing. It did work much better for me without the SW grip.

Let me ask, though. For a FH half-volley, is the SW grip still a good idea? It seems that if the ideal contact point for SW grip is chest high, hitting a half-volley with SW grip would be difficult, no?

I use continental for half volleys. I might be in an Eastern at times. If I use an Eastern, I sort of have to lift up more. But the backswing for a half-volley??????? Not sure I am following.

 

[Cindysphinx]

I use continental for half volleys. I might be in an Eastern at times. If I use an Eastern, I sort of have to lift up more. But the backswing for a half-volley??????? Not sure I am following.

No, you're following. He didn't want us to have a big backswing for half-volleys. He wanted no or little backswing.

 

[Bungalo Bill]

No, you're following. He didn't want us to have a big backswing for half-volleys. He wanted no or little backswing.

That is correct. You dont want an SW for half-volleys. Work it girl!