With a Helpful Diagram
As the game of tennis has evolved and moved toward hard-hitting baseline rallies, the western grip has gained popularity among players of all ages and skill levels.
In this article, we’ll take a complete look at the western forehand tennis grip and talk about some of the main benefits and drawbacks for players who use this grip.
Western Forehand Grip
Holding a Western Grip
Benefits
Drawbacks
Using a Western Grip
Wrapping Up
Explore and get to know us
About 100 years ago, the continental grip was the de facto tennis grip used by virtually all tennis players. At the time, the game was slower, and the technology, in the form of racquets, tennis balls, and gear, was much more simple compared with the equipment available to tennis players today.
Add to this that the sport of tennis has become considerably more competitive, and it makes sense that there has been a natural evolution away from the ultra-conservative continental grip to the rather extreme western grip.
As a result, the western grip has become one of the more popular grips used by professional and recreational players, providing the ability to generate an unprecedented amount of topspin when hitting the ball.
The western grip is usually far from how a first-time player would consider holding the racquet. However, it can be rather easy to find a western grip by using the handle of the racquet as a guide.
You may have noticed that your grip forms roughly the shape of an octagon, just like a stop sign with eight sides, as pictured in the diagram below.
We can easily find the western grip by placing the palm side of your index finger’s knuckle against the fifth bevel of the racquet handle.
At first, many players might find this grip hard to use. As such, many players might prefer to start with a semi-western or even eastern grip and then slowly move toward a grip that better suits the type of game they’re trying to develop.
At the end of the day, there is no right or wrong grip. Rather, you’ll want to find something that feels comfortable and allows you to play the style of tennis you’d like.
If you’re looking to develop a heavy baseline game with big groundstrokes that have a ton of topspin, then the western grip might be the right grip for you.
Without a doubt, the main benefit of the western tennis grip is the ability for players to generate a significant amount of topspin, which can be great for a few reasons.
First, topspin is important in tennis because it allows you to hit the ball aggressively while still keeping the ball in the court and not hitting it out of bounds. Topspin occurs when a player brushes up and over the top of a tennis ball, causing it to spin forward extremely fast.
When this occurs, a player can hit a few feet over the net, and due to the topspin, still have the ball drop into the court. This effect can be extremely beneficial, as it allows you to hit the ball consistently into the court.
Beyond consistency, a high amount of topspin also causes the ball to “jump” or spring back upward when it hits the ground on your opponent’s side of the court.
As a result, topspin keeps the ball out of your opponent’s ideal striking zone for groundstrokes, which is typically about waist-high, forcing them to step into the ball to catch it on the rise or to step away from the ball to catch it as it drops.
The farther back your opponent stands, the harder it becomes for them to hit a winner and the fewer angles they can hit, which can be helpful to keep your opponent on the defense.
Unfortunately, while a western grip can be a fantastic grip, it does have some drawbacks.
Most notably, switching from a western grip to the continental grip used for slice shots and volleys can be challenging, since it requires the player to rotate the racquet in his or her hand quite a bit. New players often find this transition to be quite difficult. However, with time, most players will become quite comfortable with the transition.
Another, less impactful drawback of the western forehand grip is the ability for players to hit a tennis ball that bounces extremely low. To be effective, a player hitting a forehand with the western grip needs to get underneath the ball to hit up and over the top, which can be particularly difficult using this grip.
For many players, the western forehand grip may be a great choice. However, if you’re just getting started with tennis, you may opt for the eastern or semi-western grip and then move your way over to the western grip if it feels comfortable.
Unfortunately, there’s no perfect answer to which grip a player should use. However, through experimentation and remaining flexible, you’ll be sure to find a grip that suits your style of play.
Have questions about the western forehand grip? Feel free to ask in the comments below.
Photo Credit: LJ Kong
Home > Instruction > Forehand > Western Forehand Grip
Improve your game alongside our community of tennis players
Why join?
Discussion Boards
Join the conversation with other members of the community.
5 Point Friday
Read our weekly recap of the 5 most interesting things we dig up in tennis.
In-depth Resources
Learn with comprehensive resources to help you improve your game.
Easy lesson on how to grip the racket and what each term means. I have taught and coached tennis for more than 30 years and I start a beginner with the “continental’ and as their ability increases, I move to the “eastern” and when they master that along with the ability to keep the ball in the court then I show the ” semi-western.” I would only introduce the “western” to a very advanced player. The player needs to be able to change grips often and rapidly during play and this ability comes from hours of practice,court time and play.
Coach Dave Hillmer
Hi Dave,
Great to have your perspective – thanks for sharing!
All the best,
Jon
Which racquet should I use with a western grip ?
Hi Marcos,
You don’t need a specific type of racquet to make use of the western grip – any racquet will do. Let me know if I can help with anything else.
All the best,
Jon