Tennis Grip

The tennis racquet grip is a very essential part of a stroke, because a faulty grip will ruin the finest serving. As your game improves you may need different grips.

The grip should be held as firmly as possible at contact and press your fingers tightly.

The wrist should be locked through the entire forward swing.

Check your grip after every shot.

The Western Grip is a natural grip for a top forehand drive. It is inherently weak for the backhand, as the only natural shot is a chop stroke.

The English grip with the low wrist on all ground strokes, has proved very successful in the past, but the broken line of the arm and hand is weak under stress.

The Eastern American grip is the English grip without the low wrist and broken line.

The eastern forehand grip is the most natural grip,but the other grips might suit you better.

Forehand grip

Hold the racquet with the edge of the frame towards the ground and the face perpendicular, the handle towards the body, and "shake hands" with it, just as if you were greeting a friend. The handle settled comfortably and naturally into the hand, the line of the arm, hand, and racquet are one.

The swing brings the racquet head on a line with the arm, and the whole racquet is merely an extension of it.

Backhand grip

This grip is used on service, volley and overhead.

A quarter circle turn of hand on the handle, bringing the hand on top of the handle and the knuckles directly up. The shot travels across the wrist.

This is the best basis for a grip. Model your natural grip as closely as possible on these lines without sacrificing your own comfort or individuality.

Having once settled the racquet in the hand, the next question is the position of the body and the order of developing strokes.