Ways to grip the tennis racket – (Forehand)
In this article, we will share with you ways to grip the tennis racket to deliver that powerful stroke.
Total Tennis
8/17/20252 min read
Holding a tennis racket may seem easy but in actual fact there are many ways to position your hand on the 8-sided handle. Grips are the fundamental of all the strokes in tennis though they are often overlooked. The position you place the hand on the handle has a huge impact on each ball you hit due to the angle of the racket face upon contact with the ball. Ultimately, it affects the spin, pace and placement of your shot. This guide will help you to (1) determine the best uses of each of the common grips, and (2) learn to grasp the racket for each grip correctly.
In this guide, we will be using the base of the knuckle of your index finger as the main reference point.
Continental Grip
The continental is held by putting the base knuckle of your index finger on bevel No. 2, which puts the V created by your thumb and forefinger on top of the handle. For left-handers, the knuckle will be on bevel No. 8. Continental grip can be used for every shot, but in modern-day tennis, it is primarily used for serves, volleys, overheads and slices.
For right-hander forehand. Anticlockwise for left-handers)
Eastern Forehand Grip
The knuckle of the index finger for the eastern forehand grip will be on bevel No. 3. For left-handers, it will be on bevel No. 7. This grip can also be called the shake hand grip.
Semi Western Forehand Grip
The semi-western forehand grip is held by putting the base knuckle of your index finger on bevel No. 4. For left-handers, the knuckle will be on bevel No. 6. An easy tip to remember will be to put your racket on the ground and pick it up. The Semi-Western grip is highly recommended as it has become a prevalent grip for power baseliners and many teaching pros are encouraging their students to use it.
Western Forehand Grip
The Western forehand grip is held by putting the base knuckle of your index finger on bevel No. 5. For left-handers, the knuckle will be the same on bevel No. 5. Clay-courters and those who hit with heavy topspin will favour this grip.
In the next guide, we will be looking at the various backhand grips. Stay tuned!