How to Play Tennis - Grip

How to Play Tennis - Choosing the Right Grip

Learning how to play tennis is all about learning the basics. The most basic step is choosing the right tennis grip. I'm going to review the different types of grips and talk about the pros and cons for each. Most beginners when they start learning tennis start out by "chocking" up on the grip of the racket as they think the racket is too long. Using the correct tennis grip from the start, as a newbie, is very important.

Eastern Grip - The eastern can be used by putting your hand flat against the center of the tennis strings and sliding your hand down to the grip. You should look like you're shaking hands with the racket. The eastern grip is popular and it is versatile, meaning that you can use the grip for ground strokes as well volleying. To change to a one-handed backhand eastern grip, simply rotate the grip a quarter turn counter-clockwise. For left handed people, the grip should be turned clockwise.

Continental - The continental grip is half-way between an eastern forehand and backhand grip. This grip is not used as much as it's hard to generate speed and top-spin.

Half-Western - The half western can be used by laying the tennis racket on the ground and simply picking it up. The half-western is used by many tour players and generates a lot of top-spin and power.

Western - The western can be used by grabbing the grip with your knuckles pointing towards the ground. This grip creates even more top-spin than the half-western but lacks in countering low balls.

Choosing the right grip does not seem like an important factor, but using the right grip for your playing style will make a large difference when learning how to play tennis.

How to Play Tennis - About Me

Hi and welcome to the How to Play Tennis blog. I would like to introduce myself and my tennis background before I get into the lessons.

My name is Rico and I've played tennis for about 13 years of my life. I played competitively in middle, junior, and high school and played intramural tennis in college. I was involved in the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and played regular tournaments throughout my state. Throughout my adolescence, I've taken many lessons and tennis clinics to hone my tennis skills. I also have experience teaching tennis lessons to beginners and enjoy watching beginners turn into expert tennis players.

I love tennis and think it's a life time sport that is cheap and fun. My goal for this blog is to promote tennis and teach beginners a thing or two about how to play tennis.