Grips Grip Righty Lefty Advantages Disadvantages Best Uses for (base (base this Grip knuckle) knuckle) Continental Generates more wrist snap Hard to learn for younger and Serves, Volleys, 2 8 on the serve, can hit a spin new players, not able to Underspin (slice) and flat serve with this grip, generate a lot of spin and don’t need to switch grips power on groundstrokes, flat when using serve and volley balls have low margin for tactics, easy to hit slice, flat error balls, low balls, wide balls and shots you are late on (good for defense) Eastern 1 1 Versatile can hit flat and topspin, High bouncing balls require a lot Backhands Backhand creates good wrist stability, easy of hand, wrist and arm strength to switch to be a continental grip when going to the net Eastern Easy to learn, versatile for either Hard to return high balls, not the Forehands 3 7 Forehand flat or topspin, easy to switch to most powerful grip or a grip for a continental grip when going to excessive topspin the net Semi Allows for more topspin but can Hard to handle low balls and Forehands 4 6 Western still drive through the shot, uses requires more of a grip switch to a higher ideal contact point can a continental grip when moving be aggressive on high balls. to the net Two Handed Bottom Hand Easier to hit for smaller and Limited reach, difficult to slice Backhands Backhand (dominant) in weaker players, more compact groundstrokes and use at the net Continental and top and efficient swing, good on (volleys) hand in Semi Western return of serves, low balls and high balls Western 5 5 Generates excessive topspin, Low balls, need extra racquet Forehands Forehand higher strike zone allows a speed and wrist strength, tough player to be very aggressive on to flatten out shots, big grip high bouncing balls. switch when going to the net
Grips Grip Righty (base knuckle) Lefty (base knuckle) Advantages Disadvantages Best Uses for this Grip Continental 2 8 Generates more wrist snap on the serve, can hit a spin and flat serve with this grip, don’t need to switch grips when using serve and volley tactics, easy to hit slice, flat balls, low balls, wide balls and shots you are late on (good for defense) Hard to learn for younger and new players, not able to generate a lot of spin and power on groundstrokes, flat balls have low margin for error Serves, Volleys, Underspin (slice) Eastern Backhand 1 1 Versatile can hit flat and topspin, creates good wrist stability, easy to switch to be a continental grip when going to the net High bouncing balls require a lot of hand, wrist and arm strength Backhands Eastern Forehand 3 7 Easy to learn, versatile for either flat or topspin, easy to switch to a continental grip when going to the net Hard to return high balls, not the most powerful grip or a grip for excessive topspin Forehands Semi Western 4 6 Allows for more topspin but can still drive through the shot, uses a higher ideal contact point can be aggressive on high balls. Hard to handle low balls and requires more of a grip switch to a continental grip when moving to the net Forehands Two Handed Backhand Bottom Hand (dominant) in Continental and top hand in Semi Western Easier to hit for smaller and weaker players, more compact and efficient swing, good on return of serves, low balls and high balls Limited reach, difficult to slice groundstrokes and use at the net (volleys) Backhands Western Forehand 5 5 Generates excessive topspin, higher strike zone allows a player to be very aggressive on high bouncing balls. Low balls, need extra racquet speed and wrist strength, tough to flatten out shots, big grip switch when going to the net Forehands
Grips%20Overview.docx