May Mechanics

Friday Forehands

Mechanics are an important part of an athlete’s game and often determine how successful they are in their sport. The forehand is my favorite stroke in tennis, and the first one I learned. Here are some informative descriptions of the common forehand grips used in tennis:

Eastern Forehand:
A natural eastern forehand grip is easy to learn. The simple way I was taught was to act as if I were “shaking hands” with the racquet handle. Instructors also advise their students to place their dominant hand on the strings of their open-faced racquet and slide it down to the handle. The resulting grip is the eastern forehand. Eastern forehands place your palm directly on the side of the handle’s grip, with the base knuckle (on index finger) on one of the sides. On fast surfaces, this grip is best because it allows the player to fend off overpowering opponents. Pete Sampras used a traditional eastern forehand effectively on all surfaces, but he probably benefited most on the grasses of Wimbledon with his choice grip. The grip requires some preparation because it is accompanied by longer strokes. Players should hit the ball in a closed stance as they setup the forehand shot with the eastern forehand grip. The grip is not as forgiving as the other forehands and may not be advantageous in all situations. It does allow for a later contact point, in front of the shoulder. The follow through does not go over the shoulder but instead, finishes in front of the body. I use the eastern forehand most often at the net or in doubles because I think it gives me the best chance to create a powerful, penetrating shot. The transition from the forehand to the volley grip at net is easier with the eastern grip when you have little time to react to the ball. It is difficult to get good topspin and the ball will pass low over the net compared to the other forehand grips. Therefore, I would not use the eastern forehand to outlast long rallies because the ball is hit with flatness. A heavy topspin often gives you the edge and this grip isn’t as suitable as the others. The eastern forehand grip is probably most conducive to serving, overheads, slicing and volleying.
Western Forehand:
The Western grip is an effective tool to counter high oncoming bouncers from the opponent. The heel of the hand is on the bottom of the racquet, with the base knuckle on the lowest bevel of the handle. Players who learn on slower surfaces, such as clay, would use the western grip to their advantage because the balls bounce high. If you prefer the open stance when stroking the ball, the western grip would also be of use because the forehand is best hit with this style. An established western forehand supplies deliberate and structured shots. Open stances convey power and topspin as contact is made in front of your body. The western grip allows the largest margin for error of the three and a quicker recovery to the center of the court. With a straight wrist, the angle of the racquet ensures a downward trajectory on the hit. An over-the-shoulder finish with an elbow facing the opponent is typical of the western forehand. I am not keen about the fully western forehand because it is very uncomfortable and awkward. It does generate tremendous topspin, but it’s too extreme for my particular style. I don’t hit the ball with high bounces or topspins that send opponents beyond the baseline very often. This is an ideal shot to use when you have to slow the game down or a facing a moonballer. I prefer faster-paced tennis with low, driving shots. It’s troubling to attack low, wide balls with this grip.
Semi-Western (extreme Eastern) Forehand:
A semi-western forehand grip keeps the heel on the lower bevel of the racquet and the hand slightly underneath the racquet. The thumb and forefinger should almost form a V into the handle’s side. The semi-western grip is not as extreme as the western, allowing the player to handle both high and low bounces. A three quarter open stance enables tennis players with this grip to adapt to any type of pace placed on the ball. Flat shots can be hit authoritatively, or the user can fluidly flick a topspin winner. The versatile semi-western grip also requires an over-the-shoulder finish, very similar to the western forehand. The contact point is usually out in front with an upward sharp swing. Because the hand is more behind the grip than in the eastern forehand, more power is exuded. Most players switch to this grip and prefer playing with the semi-western as they develop. Power baseliners are encouraged to use the grip to apply spin and have more racquet control. Short angle shots and lobs are especially effective with the hand shifted one bevel clockwise from the eastern grip. The positioning poses possible setbacks too. With a naturally closed racquet face, low balls may be harder to get back. I find this grip hard to use when playing close to the net or trying to drill a deep approach shot. Considerable grip change is still necessary when you get to net and employ a semi-western forehand. I do frequent this grip most often however. It is the best of the three forehands in ensuring my shot selection and preferred placement on the court.
Hopefully you learned a little about the different forehand grips in tennis. Ultimately, it’s up to the athlete to find their forehand grip. What works for one player might not be the best for another. I’ve been fortunate enough to take countless amounts of tennis lessons and had fun trying to discover which suited my the most.

Parting points: “People who know me understand that I torture myself sometimes just to win matches.”- Pete Sampras