Western Forehand Grip

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The western (or full western) forehand grip is where the heel pad and index knuckle of your hitting hand are resting on the fifth bevel of the tennis racket. At 0:10 in the video, you can see a shot of me holding the racket with a western forehand grip, and you can see my heel pad and index knuckle resting on the fifth bevel of the tennis racket handle.

A shortcut to finding the western forehand grip is to hold your tennis racket at the throat in your non-hitting hand, out in front of you. Grab the racket with your hitting hand, and then turn your arm and the racket over. Your arm will be in a position similar to a “fist pump,” with the racket sticking out to the side. For a visual (easier to understand) explanation of this, watch the video above at 0:22.

If you hit with a western grip, your natural contact height will be high up around shoulder level. Also, if you hit with a western grip, you will be able to easily hit the ball with a ton of topspin, but it will be very hard for you to flatten the tennis ball out and drive it like you can with an eastern grip.

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  • Number2

    I play with a extreme western and it works for me, im playing local tennis as well as on the High School team. Me and my doubles partner are currentley number 2 in the district and its surely not off of my terrible volleys, but this is just me.

  • Number2

    I play with a extreme western and it works for me, im playing local tennis as well as on the High School team. Me and my doubles partner are currentley number 2 in the district and its surely not off of my terrible volleys, but this is just me.

  • Agm2513

    I play with an extreme western grip and its not for the player in my opinion looking to hit winners every point.  It works well for setting up points, creating angles and forcing a lot of errors due to the extra topspin.  My biggest issue is brushing too much on the ball (also lifting my shoulders and body up in the process) and then dumping the point in the net.  To try and avoid that I make my point of contact way out in front of me, forcing me to hit threw the ball.  Doing that also gives the ball a little extra pace.  

  • abdurrahman

    how to hit with it I dont undersand