Gr-r-i-p Guide

by Jon Levey Apr 01 '05
taken from tennis.com

Fluid, powerful, and accurate strokes are the combination of many factors. But it all starts with how you hold the racquet.

No matter how much time you spend finding the perfect frame to beef up your game, the most important part of your racquet just might be your grip--not what the handle is made of, but how you hold it. Although they're largely overlooked, grips are the foundation of all the strokes in tennis. Where you position your hand on the eight-sided handle has a huge impact on each ball you hit. Your grip affects the angle of the racquet face, where you make contact, and ultimately the pace, spin, and placement of your shot.

The difficulty with grips is choosing the right one for a particular stroke. The fact is, there is no perfect grip; each has its advantages and limitations. But some are clearly better-suited for certain strokes and styles of play than others. This guide will help you to (1) learn to grasp the racquet for each grip correctly, and (2) determine the best uses of each of the common grips.

Finding the Grips

There are various ways to explain how to find a certain grip, but the simplest and most reliable is to use the base knuckle of your index finger as the main reference point. The diagrams for each grip show the bottom view of a racquet handle (where the butt cap is attached), which has four main sides and four narrower bevels between the sides.


Continental Grip

The Continental is the one grip that you can use for every shot, but that hasn't been standard practice since the days of long pants and skirts. The Continental is used primarily for serves, volleys, overheads, slices, and defensive shots. Find the Continental by putting the base knuckle of your index finger on bevel No. 1, which puts the V created by your thumb and forefinger on top of the handle. Lefties put the knuckle on bevel No. 4.
Plus :
Hitting with the Continental grip on the serve and overhead is standard, as it allows your forearm and wrist to naturally pronate through contact. This results in a more explosive and versatile shot with the least amount of stress on the arm. It's also the preferred grip on volleys since it provides a slightly open racquet face for underspin and control. Since you need quick hands at net, having the same grip for forehand and backhand volleys is also crucial. As mentioned, your grip affects the angle of the racquet face. The more closed the face, the higher and farther in front of your body your strike zone should be for proper contact. Since the racquet face is relatively square on a Continental grip, for ground strokes the strike zone is low and to the side of the body. That's why it's helpful for defensive shots, low balls, and wide balls that you're late on.
Minus :
You can hit flat or with slice using the Continental, but it's tough to put topspin on the ball. That means hitting with power and keeping the ball in play requires you to aim the shot just above net level, leaving you little margin for error. And without that safety spin, returning a ball out of your strike zone can be difficult. So lack of consistency is often a problem.
Pros who use it : Virtually all of them, on serves and volleys.


Eastern Forehand Grip

Place your hand flat against the strings and slide it down to the grip; put the racquet flat on a table, close your eyes, and pick it up; or shake hands with the racquet. These are just a few of the tricks you can use to find an Eastern forehand grip. The more technical way is to hold the racquet in a Continental grip and then turn your hand clockwise (counterclockwise for lefties), so that the base knuckle of your index finger slides over one bevel.
Plus :
This is generally considered the easiest grip for learning the forehand. It's versatile, allowing the player to brush up the back of the ball for topspin or flatten out the shot for more power and penetration. It's easy to switch quickly to other grips from the Eastern, making it a wise choice for players who like to come to net.
Minus :
The strike zone is higher and farther out in front than with the Continental grip, but it's still not a great option for returning high shots. An Eastern forehand can be very powerful and penetrating, but because it tends to be a flatter stroke it can also be inconsistent, making it difficult to sustain in long rallies. It's not the best choice for players looking to put a lot of topspin on their shots and outlast their opponents.

Pros who use it: Tim Henman, Lindsay Davenport


Western Forehand Grip

From a semi-Western grip, shift your knuckle one more bevel clockwise (counterclockwise for lefties), and you've got a full Western grip. Looking down at the racquet, your knuckle should be on the very bottom of the grip. This puts your palm almost completely under the racquet. Clay-court specialists and players who hit with heavy topspin favor this grip.
Plus :
This is an extreme grip that puts a lot of action on the ball. The positioning of the wrist forces the racquet to whip up the back of the ball severely, generating tremendous topspin. You can hit the ball well above net level and it will still drop into the court. The resulting shot will usually have a high and explosive bounce, pushing your opponent behind the baseline. The strike zone is higher and farther out in front than all other forehand grips. The ability to handle high balls is what makes this grip so popular with clay-courters and juniors.
Minus :
Low balls can be murder. That's why professionals with this grip generally don't do well on faster surfaces, where the ball stays low after the bounce. Also, you need tremendous racquet-head speed and wrist strength to generate adequate pace and spin. Otherwise, your shots will land short and your opponents can attack them. For some, it's also difficult to flatten shots out, so putting balls away becomes a problem. And just as with the semi-Western, transitioning to net and hitting an effective first volley is a major challenge.

Pros who use it: Rafael Nadal, Amelie Mauresmo


Semi-Western Forehand

Grip Moving your knuckle one more bevel clockwise (counterclockwise for lefties) from the Eastern forehand grip puts you in a semi-Western grip. This has become a prevalent grip for power baseliners on the pro tours, and many teaching pros encourage their students to use it. Plus :
The semi-Western allows a player to apply more topspin to the ball than the Eastern forehand grip, giving the shot greater safety and control, especially on lobs and short angles. Still, you can drive through the ball with this grip to hit a flat drive for a winner or passing shot. It also affords a player the option of taking a bigger swing at the ball since the topspin will help keep it in the court. With a strike zone higher and farther out in front of the body than the Eastern forehand, it's good for controlling and being aggressive with high shots.
Minus :
You can run into trouble returning low balls. Since the grip naturally closes the racquet face, forcing you to swing up from underneath the ball, it can be difficult to return lower shots. This, along with having to make a significant grip change to get to the Continental for a volley, is why so many power baseliners are uncomfortable coming to net.

Pros who use it : Marat Safin, Svetlana Kuznetsova


Eastern Backhand Grip

From a Continental grip, shift your knuckle one bevel counterclockwise (clockwise for lefties) so that it's on the very top of the grip. If you drilled a nail through that knuckle, it would go right through the center of the grip (just don't try that at home).
Plus :
As with the Eastern forehand, this is a versatile grip that provides good stability for the wrist. You can roll the ball for some spin or hit through it for a more penetrating drive. Some players can slice with an Eastern grip, but if not, a subtle grip change over to the Continental is easy enough to do. This grip also can be used for a kick serve, and it makes the transition to net for volleys a relatively smooth one.

Minus :
While solid for handling low balls, an Eastern backhand grip is not ideal for hitting topspin shots from around the shoulders. It can be difficult to control these balls, and many times a player is forced to slice them back defensively. You see this most often when players return kick serves that jump up high in the strike zone.

Pros who use it : Roger Federer, Lisa Raymond


Extreme Eastern or Semi-Western Backhand Grip

The backhand's answer to the Western forehand (a reason some refer to this as a semi-Western backhand), the base knuckle of your index finger moves one bevel counterclockwise from the Eastern backhand (clockwise for lefties). It's an advanced grip that only stronger and more accomplished players tend to use.
Plus :
Just as with the Western forehand grips, this is a very popular choice with clay-court players. It naturally closes the racquet face more than a regular Eastern backhand and moves the strike zone higher and farther out in front of you, making it more conducive to handling high balls and returning them with topspin. Some of the most powerful backhands in tennis are held with this grip.
Minus :
Its limitations are similar to those of the Western forehand. It's not well-suited for low balls, and because it's a rather extreme grip it's difficult to make quick changes for a transition to net. Players with this grip usually have long, elaborate swings and prefer the baseline.

Pros who use it : Gustavo Kuerten, Justine Henin-Hardenne


Two-Handed Backhand Grip

There's no doubting the popularity of this grip, but there is some debate about the ideal way to position both hands. One of the most accepted ways is to hold the racquet in your dominant hand with a Continental grip. Then take your nondominant hand and put it above your playing hand in a semi-Western forehand grip.
Plus :
This is an excellent choice for players who aren't strong enough to hit a one-handed backhand. A more compact stroke than the one-hander, the two-hander relies on shoulder rotation and an efficient swing to provide power. That's why it's particularly effective on the return of serve. It's also good on low shots, and the extra arm lets you power through on balls that are at shoulder level.
Minus :
Because both hands are on the racquet, the two-hander limits a player's reach. So doing anything with wide shots can be tough, especially since it's difficult to rotate your upper body when stretched. Also, two-handers can become dependent on topspin. Hitting an effective slice calls for extending through the shot with a steady front shoulder. This is unnatural for two-handers, who are taught to open their hips and rotate their shoulders. Taking the nondominant hand off the racquet to hit the slice or volley is also troubling for many two-handers; it's the reason why they're generally not comfortable at the net.

Pros who use it : Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova

NTRP : Objective and Description

Text taken from http://www.usta.com/leagues/custom.sps?iType=930&icustompageid=1237

The National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) is the official system for determining the levels of competition for the USA League Tennis, presented by Lincoln Program.

PURPOSE

The primary goal of the program is to help all tennis players enjoy the game by providing a method of classifying skill levels for more compatible matches, group lessons, league play, tournaments and other programs.

To place yourself:
A. Begin with 1.5. Read all categories carefully and then decide which one best describes your present ability level. Be certain that you qualify on all points of all preceding levels as well as those in the level you choose. B. When rating yourself assume you are playing against a player of the same gender and the same ability.

General Characteristics of Various NTRP Playing Levels

1.5 You have limited experience and are working primarily on getting the ball in play.

2.0 You lack court experience and your strokes need developing. You are familiar with the basic positions for singles and doubles play.

2.5 You are learning to judge where the ball is going, although your court coverage is limited. You can sustain a short rally of slow pace with other players of the same ability.

3.0 You are fairly consistent when hitting medium-paced shots, but are not comfortable with all strokes and lack execution when trying for directional control, depth, or power. Your most common doubles formation is one-up, one-back.

3.5 You have achieved improved stroke dependability with directional control on moderate shots, but need to develop depth and variety. You exhibit more aggressive net play, have improved court coverage and are developing teamwork in doubles.

4.0 You have dependable strokes, including directional control and depth on both forehand and backhand sides on moderate-paced shots. You can use lobs, overheads, approach shots and volleys with some success and occasionally force errors when serving. Rallies may be lost due to impatience. Teamwork in doubles is evident.

4.5 You have developed your use of power and spin and can handle pace. You have sound footwork, can control depth of shots, and attempt to vary game plan according to your opponents. You can hit first serves with power and accuracy and place the second serve. You tend to overhit on difficult shots. Aggressive net play is common in doubles.

5.0 You have good shot anticipation and frequently have an outstanding shot or attribute around which a game may be structured. You can regularly hit winners or force errors off of short balls and can put away volleys. You can successfully execute lobs, drop shots, half volleys, overhead smashes, and have good depth and spin on most second serves.

5.5 You have mastered power and/or consistency as a major weapon. You can vary strategies and styles of play in a competitive situation and hit dependable shots in a stress situation.

6.0 to 7.0 You have had intensive training for national tournament competition at the junior and collegiate levels and have obtained a sectional and/or national ranking.

7.0 You are a world-class player.

NTRP FAQs

Text taken from http://www.usta.com/leagues/custom.sps?iType=930&icustompageid=1238 1. How does the NTRP compare to the traditional terms of beginner, advanced beginner, intermediate, etc., or the frequently used letter a, b, c. aa, bb, aaa, etc.? A. The NTRP was designed to standardize the classification of player ability. There is so much ambiguity associated with these systems that translation is difficult. In various parts of the country for example "A" or "Advanced" is the top level of play, while in other places "AAA" is the best. In general terms, a D player would be a 2.5 and below; a C player would be a 2.6 - 3.5; a B player would be 3.6 - 4.5; and an A player would be 4.6 - 5.5; an open player would be 5.6 and above. 2. Should players rate themselves as single players, double players, or both? A. Players should rate themselves based on their overall tennis ability. If players are stronger at singles or doubles, they should base their rating on the stronger game. Self Verification Information 3. Must players qualify on all points of all preceding NTRP descriptions before placing themselves in a particular category? A. No. The rating categories are generalizations about skill levels. The ultimate test is in match play results. 4. Can a player with an obvious stroke deficiency be rated at the same level, or higher, as a player who has no such deficiency? A. Yes. Some players, for example, cannot hit topspin backhands but have certain abilities that enable them to play competitively with players who can do so. A player's competitive record is the best test of his rating. 5. Does the NTRP rate men and women on the same scale? A. The NTRP is used to rate both men and women, but men's and women's ratings are not intended to be equivalent. When rating themselves, players should use players of the same gender as reference points. However, for those individuals wishing to compete against players of the opposite gender, the following can be use as a guide. At approximately the 3.5 rating for a man, a woman with a 4.0 rating will be competitive. When a man reaches the 5.0 level or above a woman needs to be approximately 1.0 higher in order to be competitive. 6. Is it possible to use graduations smaller that .5 in rating players? A. No, not when entering leagues by self-rating on TennisLink. The intent of self-rating is to get players on the correct level. The computer will generate a Dynamic rating in hundredths of a point for administrative use. 7. What does it mean to play "competitively" with another player? A. A "competitive" match is one in which the outcome is unpredictable (scores such s 6-4, 6-4 or closer). When one player consistently wins with only the occasional loss of a few games, the match is not "competitive." Properly rated, players within .2 of each other should be competitive in playing ability. 8. What does it mean to be "compatible" with another player? A. Players with up to a .5 difference is ratings are generally considered "compatible." At a .5 difference in ratings, the outcome is predictable with the higher rated player winning routinely. "Compatible" players however, can offer each other recreational, social, and practice benefits. 9. Can a player's rating change? A. Yes. The system may recognize improvement over the year and ratings may change at year- end. Age/Rating/Ranking 10. What is the relationship between ranking and rating? A. Ranking is based upon achievement in sanctioned tournaments, many of which are based on age divisions. Rating is based on match results, tennis background, and the NTRP Verification Guideline descriptions. 11. How should individuals rate themselves if they are formerly ranked players who have not played much in recent year or who have had a permanent injury? A. Ratings will not be downgraded due to layoffs. A person's rating should be closely related to his or her potential upon resuming play on a regular basis. Only permanent injuries or aging debilities should allow for downgraded ratings. Ratings should not be downgraded due to temporary injury. 12. How does age enter into the NTRP ratings? A. The NTRP is not based on age divisions. All players of the same gender, regardless of age, should be used as reference points in determining player ratings. 13. Can the NTRP be used to rate junior players? A. Yes if junior players participate in an adult activity using the NTRP, their ratings are in comparison to all other players of the same gender of any age - not just other junior players. Junior players should not be rated until they are experienced in match play. 14. How does mobility, age, competitive experience, and conditioning affect your rating? Mobility: Ability to cover the court is a prime factor in competitive success. Players need to be observed in a competitive situation so that, in addition to their shot making ability, mobility can be estimated. Mobility is a more important factor in singles that in doubles. Age and Competitive Experience: as speed decreased with age, a player's competitive ability may be affected. At the same time, strategy and skills may have improve as a player ages. Therefore, one must rely on competitive results. Conditioning: Temporary changes in conditioning such as a non-permanent injury should not affect a player's rating. Players whose game and physical fitness have suffered due to lack of practice and exercise will not be match tough and should be placed in the category where they normally compete.