I learned eastern forehand in the early 80s. I think it was the only grip they taught at the time in PR. I tried to change it for several years in order to "modernize' and generate spin. Right now I accept the fact that I will not generate monster spin or have a high ball trajectory on my forehand. I mostly step in and take it early. I look at Tsistipas for inspiration.
I went from semi western to a full western grip not a long time ago. If you want to adopt it too, some advices and things you have to know. ( of course it is only from my personal experience ) First, western grip is really hard for you elbow and even more on your wrist, you will need to be very loose and it will require training. Then, a pro and a con at the same time, the ball goes up a lot, it means that your balls have a lot of net clearance and usually come down before the baseline. But at the same time, it makes them slower and i need to put an insane force into my forehand to make the ball not only rotate but also fast. And finally, if you hesitate for a bit while hitting a forehand with a western grip and don't put a lot of racket speed, the ball will go straight to the bottom of the net.
The change in racket technology allows player like Nadal to generate massive topspins McEnroe used a continental forehand grip as the racket was much heavier back then.
In the 40 years I’ve been playing,, I went from the Continental, Eastern, Semi-Western and Full Western …… then back to Eastern. I got bored with the semi-Western and full Western . The flight path were too loopy for my taste and didn’t offer the power I wanted. With the Eastern grip ,, I don’t need to change my grip . I use the Eastern for my forehand, backhand , serve and volleys. No grip change. And the power is awesome!
I started at tennis playing with semi western. I don’t know how to use any other grip for my forehand. I had never heard anyone more accurate than you explaining this grip.
well explained sir,. I was thinking of changing to eastern grip from continental grip, but you took me to next level by advising the semi Western. I like it and also I like you the way of natural explanation and natural behaviour. Thank you very much sir. I love you.
Great explanation of pros cons of the grips. I use Eastern , I've tried western but found that transitioning to volley requires more grip change when using Eastern.
Same here, I graduated naturally from the old continental grip to an eastern grip. I can do the SW, but feel less control with it. And because I could hit heavy TS with a continental grip, Its a little easier with the eastern and I don't feel I'm lacking anything.
I’ve always been an Easterner for years. Once in a while, I’ll switch to the semi-Western if I hit a high ball. I think the semi-Western is superior in hitting high balls. As far as deep driving and heavy pace shots, the Eastern is superior. I’ve hit topspin with the Eastern grip for years by manipulating the contact point on the ball. I think racquet technology has allowed many to hit semi-Western because racquets are much lighter now. Young kids can now hit with a semi-Western. There are still pros who hit with the Eastern i.e. Federer, del Potro, and Gasquet.
Long time ago I used semi western grip. I then switched to Eastern Grip for sometime. bottom line, I feel like the best grip is semi western because it plays good for low and high balls. Djokovic used semi western grip. It is very difficult to hit lots of topspin for eastern grip especially when you are tight in a match. Federer used this grip. We can see that Federer does not win more than Djokovic in clay courts. Djokovic uses semi western grip and is more all around surfaces. Do you agree with me on this one?
Federer uses eastern forehand, one thing different is he closes his racket in tap the dog backswing so he still gets easy topspin, most club players wont close racket in eastern and can hit more balls long especially if grip is close to continental which is what I was doing for a while. I wish I could hit semi western, too uncomfortable, but may keep trying.
04:58 i'm having exactly that difficulty that you say (when hitting high forehand balls , racket opens up and i cant keep the ball in as they go skyhigh!) from now on i'm gonna go with the semi-western grip (knuckel on 4) + i can 1 hand backhand now !!! thanks
Would it not make sense to use both depending on how the ball is being returned and how you want to play it? I mean it takes a millisecond to switch grips, why would you not have both in your arsenal.
I use a semi-western forehand and a 1 handed backhand and I always use the opposite racquet face for each. I couldn't imagine using the same side face for both strokes. It just feels so wrong
I start with a semi-western grip, but my heal pad ends up on bevel 3 (eastern) after 1 or 2 hits. My knuckle stays put on bevel 4. Is this a problem since it changes the angle of the hand to the racket?
Would you consider the grip advice the same for singles and doubles? I play primarily doubles and the eastern grip really helps me there. However, I dabble with the semi-western when I play singles and it much works better as I can rally longer with deeper shots.
I thought ur continental was eastern backhand and according to uspta or a number 1 then continental number 2 then eastern forhand number 3 then semi western number 4 then full western number 5? Idk😎
Awesome video, I use the semi-western and this makes me very consistent, but as you say it is difficult to flatten the ball, and sometimes my topspin stays short and guys who play with the eastern can bully me around. I wish I could use both.
I have to make a correction to this comment because I actually thought I was using a semi western FH but was really hitting with a Full Western. Semi western is really good you can hit flat and Topspins but with a Full Western it's hard to hit flat.
It's more easy to learn the different grips with the number of the bevels, the bevel number three is the biggest one at the right of the racket and there it must be placed your index knuckle, and the semi western is on number four of course with all the variations possible like the Australian and the Hawaiian grips.
I absolutely hate the semi western forehand grip, it lacks both power & precision & also lacks the versatility of the eastern grip but unfortunately for me it is my natural grip and eastern feels awkward and difficult to use. One advantage the semi western grip has over the eastern grip is the forehand return of serve, especially if the ball is high.
Just opposite for me, semi western feels uncomfortable to me, heard also is harder on wrist as I am 56, most pros use semi and I know topspin is easier as racket is closed more.
I learned eastern forehand in the early 80s. I think it was the only grip they taught at the time in PR. I tried to change it for several years in order to "modernize' and generate spin. Right now I accept the fact that I will not generate monster spin or have a high ball trajectory on my forehand. I mostly step in and take it early. I look at Tsistipas for inspiration.
I went from semi western to a full western grip not a long time ago. If you want to adopt it too, some advices and things you have to know. ( of course it is only from my personal experience )
First, western grip is really hard for you elbow and even more on your wrist, you will need to be very loose and it will require training.
Then, a pro and a con at the same time, the ball goes up a lot, it means that your balls have a lot of net clearance and usually come down before the baseline. But at the same time, it makes them slower and i need to put an insane force into my forehand to make the ball not only rotate but also fast.
And finally, if you hesitate for a bit while hitting a forehand with a western grip and don't put a lot of racket speed, the ball will go straight to the bottom of the net.
The change in racket technology allows player like Nadal to generate massive topspins McEnroe used a continental forehand grip as the racket was much heavier back then.
In the 40 years I’ve been playing,, I went from the Continental, Eastern, Semi-Western and Full Western …… then back to Eastern. I got bored with the semi-Western and full Western . The flight path were too loopy for my taste and didn’t offer the power I wanted.
With the Eastern grip ,, I don’t need to change my grip . I use the Eastern for my forehand, backhand , serve and volleys. No grip change. And the power is awesome!
I started at tennis playing with semi western. I don’t know how to use any other grip for my forehand. I had never heard anyone more accurate than you explaining this grip.
well explained sir,. I was thinking of changing to eastern grip from continental grip, but you took me to next level by advising the semi Western.
I like it and also I like you the way of natural explanation and natural behaviour.
Thank you very much sir.
I love you.
I have always used a semi-western grip. Playing with Head Prestige flexpoint and Estusa Power beam braided racquets
Great explanation of pros cons of the grips. I use Eastern , I've tried western but found that transitioning to volley requires more grip change when using Eastern.
Thank you for this! It will help me to keep my eastern grip and forget about everybody saying that I should change for semi-western
yes if you like your grip... it feels good and it suits your style of play...let it rip baby!!!
Same here, I graduated naturally from the old continental grip to an eastern grip. I can do the SW, but feel less control with it. And because I could hit heavy TS with a continental grip, Its a little easier with the eastern and I don't feel I'm lacking anything.
I’ve always been an Easterner for years. Once in a while, I’ll switch to the semi-Western if I hit a high ball. I think the semi-Western is superior in hitting high balls. As far as deep driving and heavy pace shots, the Eastern is superior. I’ve hit topspin with the Eastern grip for years by manipulating the contact point on the ball. I think racquet technology has allowed many to hit semi-Western because racquets are much lighter now. Young kids can now hit with a semi-Western. There are still pros who hit with the Eastern i.e. Federer, del Potro, and Gasquet.
Long time ago I used semi western grip. I then switched to Eastern Grip for sometime. bottom line, I feel like the best grip is semi western because it plays good for low and high balls. Djokovic used semi western grip. It is very difficult to hit lots of topspin for eastern grip especially when you are tight in a match. Federer used this grip. We can see that Federer does not win more than Djokovic in clay courts. Djokovic uses semi western grip and is more all around surfaces. Do you agree with me on this one?
@@rayadisurya7343 That makes sense.
Djokovic uses full western grip
Federer uses eastern forehand, one thing different is he closes his racket in tap the dog backswing so he still gets easy topspin, most club players wont close racket in eastern and can hit more balls long especially if grip is close to continental which is what I was doing for a while. I wish I could hit semi western, too uncomfortable, but may keep trying.
04:58 i'm having exactly that difficulty that you say (when hitting high forehand balls , racket opens up and i cant keep the ball in as they go skyhigh!)
from now on i'm gonna go with the semi-western grip (knuckel on 4) + i can 1 hand backhand now !!! thanks
Would it not make sense to use both depending on how the ball is being returned and how you want to play it? I mean it takes a millisecond to switch grips, why would you not have both in your arsenal.
I use a semi-western forehand and a 1 handed backhand and I always use the opposite racquet face for each. I couldn't imagine using the same side face for both strokes. It just feels so wrong
I learned back in the day that shake hands was number 1 but now i learned its number 3. The look of number one is more like turning a doorknob.
I start with a semi-western grip, but my heal pad ends up on bevel 3 (eastern) after 1 or 2 hits. My knuckle stays put on bevel 4. Is this a problem since it changes the angle of the hand to the racket?
Way late on this, but I think that's generally referred to as an Extreme Eastern grip, since it's halfway between an Eastern and Semi-Western.
Would you consider the grip advice the same for singles and doubles? I play primarily doubles and the eastern grip really helps me there. However, I dabble with the semi-western when I play singles and it much works better as I can rally longer with deeper shots.
Left handed, 77, female..this helps
i doht play annie tennis😁 but this was too interesting to pass up. excellent explanation thanks!!
Thanks
Thank you sir my favourite grip also semi western but everyone telling change in to eastern grip. What you tell sir I am follow that thanku sir
I thought ur continental was eastern backhand and according to uspta or a number 1 then continental number 2 then eastern forhand number 3 then semi western number 4 then full western number 5? Idk😎
you are right i was not using index finger to measure each bevel
Crunch Time Coaching
I have the book and it confuses me. I was gonna take the test and i gave up and became a teachers aid instead.,😆
Cool😀
Really helpful. Thanks.
Awesome video, I use the semi-western and this makes me very consistent, but as you say it is difficult to flatten the ball, and sometimes my topspin stays short and guys who play with the eastern can bully me around. I wish I could use both.
Hm, good insight.
I have to make a correction to this comment because I actually thought I was using a semi western FH but was really hitting with a Full Western. Semi western is really good you can hit flat and Topspins but with a Full Western it's hard to hit flat.
I used to use a semi western grip and now use an eastern grip, the older you are, the flatter you hit I guess.
Federer doesnt use the classic eastern like sampras. I would say its extreme eastern.
@@josevigil4619 lol that’s not a grip
@@commondirtbagz7130Extreme Eastern is a valid grip term, dirtbag.
Improve up to 2 levels in 12 months or less: crunchtimecoaching.com/tennis-thrive/the-next-level/
What if i am a player who flattens the ball like a federer but wants to stay in the baseline like a nadal
Never realised Nadal's was semi-Western because of how he strikes the ball.
My favorite grip is full western
Ok
It's more easy to learn the different grips with the number of the bevels, the bevel number three is the biggest one at the right of the racket and there it must be placed your index knuckle, and the semi western is on number four of course with all the variations possible like the Australian and the Hawaiian grips.
What a great explanation.
Next video western vs semi wedtern pls
Federer uses a mild semi-western and not a true eastern. Nadal uses a grip that's closer to western than semi-western
exactly ... sw no change 1 hand backhand. that is nice on the return of serve 2.
Who else on tour uses eastern grip (besides Fed)
Tsitsipas hits a pretty flat eastern forehand most of the time.
Delpo
Can you put subtitles in spanish, please?
Eastern is the best
semi western hit short ball
I'm semi western and i slice with semi western :-/
Ok interesting
how are you slicing semi western. that doesn't make sense
I absolutely hate the semi western forehand grip, it lacks both power & precision & also lacks the versatility of the eastern grip but unfortunately for me it is my natural grip and eastern feels awkward and difficult to use.
One advantage the semi western grip has over the eastern grip is the forehand return of serve, especially if the ball is high.
Just opposite for me, semi western feels uncomfortable to me, heard also is harder on wrist as I am 56, most pros use semi and I know topspin is easier as racket is closed more.
Djokovic is.. eastern or semi western?
Semi
Armand Gallanosa Djokovic uses full western.
@@jonathanH-j7c Nop
his way of talking pisses tf out of me
rafael nadal uses western not a semi western
you talk too much
No he doesn't
Waste of time watching this