CHAPTER 6

Grip and Racket Position

Players usually have a "forehand grip," a "backhand grip," and some slight variations for serve and volleys.

Through the methods in this book grip changes become automatic, as part of the feel of each particular stroke.

To learn your basic grip and racket position put the racket on the ground at your right side, with the head of the racket pointing forward, as shown in this picture.

Grab the racket by the handle with your right hand and center the racket butt by your bellybutton, as shown below.

Look ahead--not at your racket. "Feel" the grip. Your fingers should be comfortable, slightly spread apart. The position of your left hand can vary, according to your liking, and it might adjust itself as you learn. The racket is pointing forward, level or slightly downward, and the racket face is fairly perpendicular to the ground.

The left hand is basically helping you rest your racket in both hands while are you not hitting the ball. This is formally called "the waiting position."

On a ball coming to your right side, the left hand will release the racket at some point after the bounce of the ball to let you swing at it. After the finish of the swing the racket will come back onto your left hand, again resting centered near your bellybutton.

On this basic grip and racket position, make sure the racket feels comfortable in your hands. I have purposely not shown the position of my right hand in the last picture because this varies from individual to individual. It is the player who chooses the exact grip, rather than the instructor doing it for the student. Choose what is most comfortable to you, not the teacher's idea of what is best for you.

Somewhere in the learning process small grip changes occur. This is okay, since the person is adjusting to a more comfortable, or more efficient grip.

That is in essence your forehand grip. There is nothing complicated about it. You don't need to think about it, and you don't need to look at it. It just needs to feel comfortable and secure.

You don't need to grip your racket tightly. Just keep it firm throughout the hit. You can vary the finger pressure accordingly, usually tightening up your fingers at impact time.

DRILL #1: After you learn the above, walk around the court, or your house, with the racket in both hands as described, until you get used to this position of your arms while you move around.

Turn to your right, walk, turn to your left, walk, then get to the middle of the court and face the net. Repeat a few times.

In a short while you'll be ready to play tennis. You need to keep your racket near your body while you are waiting or running, so that you aren't tempted to start your swing well before its time.

DRILL #2: At some point close your eyes while standing. Release you right hand from the grip and move it to the right side of your body, while keeping the racket in position with your left hand.

After a few seconds bring your right hand back onto the grip getting the same feel as before. This way you'll learn to find your grip without looking at it.

DRILL #3: After you developed certainty in the last drill, with your eyes still closed, release your right hand from the grip and move the racket toward the left side of your body with your left hand.

After a few seconds bring the racket back to your bellybutton and grip it again with your right hand, always feeling the same grip.

After a few repetitions do it with your eyes open, but without looking at your grip.

Just a few minutes doing each of these drills will groove-in your grip for life.

Backhand Grip

This two-hand resting position is also the basis for the two- handed backhand grip. In that stroke the driving hand is the left one, with the right hand accompanying the process, fairly relaxed, still keeping the forehand grip. The hands are fairly close, or touching each other, as shown on the next page.

The power will be generated mostly by your left side.