Tip of the Week: Find the Right Grip for You

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There is always a lot of discussion on grips in tennis.

There isn’t one grip that is perfect for everyone. Most players change their grip slightly from forehand to backhand. Most have a grip that is different for serving and when volleying.

My suggestion is to go with what feels best to you. Your coach or tennis professional can make slight adjustments from there to help get the results you are looking for from your shot. Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal all have different grips on their forehand.

I recommend a grip between the Eastern Forehand and Semi-Western Forehand for most beginners. However, even without an intentional change from your pro or coach, your grip is likely to move slightly as you play more matches and hit more shots. The goal would be to have the racquet face close to perpendicular to the ground at the point of contact. Since each player also has a slightly different swing, this can be achieved with different grips or by turning your wrist slightly to compensate for your natural grip.

Please address your questions and concerns to your pro or coach and tell them what you are trying to achieve-a hard flat shot, more topspin or slice, or just moderate rotation on a specific shot. They should be able to help you find the right grip for your game and help you make the proper adjustments.

 

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March/April 2024 Digital Edition