Technique of the Ready Position & Grip Change.
The definition of a tennis grip is: When the racquet face is in it’s correct/ideal position at the moment of contact and the hitting hand holds the racquet in it’s strongest position, then you have a good grip.
There are a few different grips that are commonly taught for the various shots. They differ from each other for subtle reasons of hitting style and physical ability of the player.
The basic rules for the grip are as follows, –
Be very certain of your point of contact and the position of the racquet at that point. This is the most important part of the swing. Whatever the racquet face is doing at the point of contact will determine what the ball does. The racquet face will meet the ball according to the grip with which you hold the racquet.
The ball impacts with the racquet on one side, the muscles and bones in your hand & arm must support the opposite side of the racquet.
So to find a good grip for you simply put the racquet at the ideal contact point with the ball and then put your hand on the handle so the palm of your hand supports the side opposite to that of the impact. If your point of contact is designed to hit with a lot of topspin the hand will grip the side of the racquet as shown in the diagram. DIAGRAM WESTERN GRIP
If your style is to hit with only a little topspin then you should find the best grip closer to that shown in this diagram. DIAGRAM EASTERN GRIP.
The modern topspin groundstrokes require us to change our grip on the racquet significantly more than in days of old (continental grip era).
The ball comes at us quicker than before so we have less time, and we are required to do more with our shots when we execute. This contradiction necessitates some expertise in grip change, ready position and anticipation.
Grip change:
It is now imperitive to use the non-hitting hand to help execute the grip change. Right-handed players will use their left hand to fully change to their backhand grip, allowing the right hand to focus on supportsing the racquet thru the shot..
Ready Position:
This is best learned by simply imitating the pro’s. Modern pro’s are have a wide and low stance. This prepares them for explosive movement to (or away from) the ball. I recommend positioning the racquet in the forehand grip. When moving for a backhand the player has the help of the ‘off’ hand to manufacture the grip change. The forehand preparation moves alone therefore we give it the benefit of the ready position grip.
Anticipation: As the game becomes quicker, the ability to anticipate the next ball position before the opponent has completed the stroke will put the player in the best position to be get to the ball early and be better balanced for the next shot. There are some tricks and patterns that the club players can use to anticipate better.
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Watch the ball but be aware of the opponent.
Know when your opponent is in trouble and will likely play a defensive shot. -
Know your own strengths and lean toward them.
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Know your opponents weaknesses and strengths, the better to exploit them.
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Guess – When you opponent has an easy put away shot. Before they hit that shot you should guess where they may hit it and move fast and early. Sometimes, by simply guessing correctly can cause the opponent to overhit.
Technique of the Ready Position & Grip Change:
The Importance of the Tennis Grip:
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A good grip is defined when the racquet face is in its correct/ideal position at the moment of contact, and the hitting hand holds the racquet in its strongest position. Various grips are taught for different shots, considering hitting style and the player’s physical abilities.
Basic Rules for Grip:
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Know your point of contact and the racquet’s position at that point, as it significantly determines the ball’s behavior.
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Muscles and bones in your hand and arm must support the opposite side of the racquet from the impact point.
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Find a good grip by placing the racquet at the ideal contact point and positioning your hand on the handle so that the palm supports the side opposite the impact.
Different Grips:
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Western Grip: Suitable for generating a lot of topspin.
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Eastern Grip: Preferred for hitting a flatter shot with less topspin. Remember you can hit flat and topspin shots with both Western and Eastern grips. They simply favor emphasis on either heavy topspin or flatter groundstrokes.
Modern Topspin Groundstrokes and Grip Changes:
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Modern topspin groundstrokes require more significant grip changes compared to the continental grip era due to faster-paced gameplay and the need for more versatile shots.
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Coach note: The full forehand western grip is the same as an upside down backhand grip. A modern interpretation of this allows a player play both shots with no grip change. Full forehand western grips are not overly common.
Grip Change:
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Use the non-hitting hand to execute the grip change. For right-handed players, the left hand helps change to the backhand grip, allowing the right hand to focus on creating forward racquet speed. Developing this efficient and early grip change is important as players improve, and the ball travels faster.
Ready Position:
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Imitate the pros by adopting a wide and low stance in the ready position. This prepares players for explosive movement towards or away from the ball. Position the racquet in the forehand grip, giving it the benefit of the ready position as it moves alone. Having an athletic ready position sends a competitive message to your opponent. In doubles, the servers partner can influence the point signifcantly by assuming an athletic ready position in an aggressive place at the net.