Grip Locator for a Right Handed Forehand
(Tennis article by Randy Lynn Rutledge - a former USPTA tennis teaching professional)
This article identifies the butt cap bevel numbers necessary to achieve various tennis racket grip changes.
The tennis grip change locator (below left) shows the order of numbers (1 through 8) which have been assigned to the bevels of a tennis racquet grip. The tennis racquet (below right) has been labeled to show bevels 1, 2, & 3.
For players using a right handed forehand.
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Grip change bevels 1, 2, & 3 are shown here
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Grips by Bevel Identification Numbers (right handed forehand)
Bevel 1: Eastern Backhand - This is a basic backhand grip used by all-court tennis players.
Bevel 2: Continental Grip - This is a basic service grip; it is also used for volleys, slice, and low balls.
Bevel 3: Eastern Grip - This is a basic forehand grip used by all-court tennis players
Bevel 4: Semi-Western Grip - This grip is used to hit high bouncing balls with topspin.
Bevel 5: Full Western Grip - This grip is rarely used.
Bevel 8: Semi-Western Backhand - This grip is used to hit high bouncing balls with topspin.
Bevel 1: Eastern Backhand - This is a basic backhand grip used by all-court tennis players.
Bevel 2: Continental Grip - This is a basic service grip; it is also used for volleys, slice, and low balls.
Bevel 3: Eastern Grip - This is a basic forehand grip used by all-court tennis players
Bevel 4: Semi-Western Grip - This grip is used to hit high bouncing balls with topspin.
Bevel 5: Full Western Grip - This grip is rarely used.
Bevel 8: Semi-Western Backhand - This grip is used to hit high bouncing balls with topspin.
Note: The above grip-change bevel indicator is for right handed forehands; for left handed forehands begin counting at one and continue counter-clockwise around the grip.
Grip-change repositioning
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Changes of grip can easily be made by moving the grip change repositioning line (an imaginary line between the heel pad of the palm and the base knuckle of the index finger) to the left or to the right around the tennis racquet grip. The red dot rests at the base knuckle of the index finger and the blue dot rests on the heel pad of the palm of the hand.
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Popular reasons for making grip changes are to present a different racquet face bevel for the string-to-ball contact and to reposition the forearm from a pulling position to a pushing position.
Presenting a Different Racquet Face Bevel for the String-to-Ball Contact
It is common practice for an all-court tennis player to make a grip change from the basic forehand groundstroke grip (Eastern grip: bevel 3), to the basic service grip (Continental grip: bevel 2) to serve during a game of tennis, to hit low groundstrokes, to apply slice to forehand groundstrokes, and when volleying.
It is common practice for an all-court tennis player to make a grip change from the basic forehand groundstroke grip (Eastern grip: bevel 3), to the basic service grip (Continental grip: bevel 2) to serve during a game of tennis, to hit low groundstrokes, to apply slice to forehand groundstrokes, and when volleying.
Grip Change to Reposition the Forearm into a Pushing Position
Net players routinely make grip changes from the basic forehand groundstroke grip (Eastern: bevel 3) to a volley grip (Continental: bevel 2). This change moves the forearm from being even with the grip of the racquet to a position which is just slightly behind the grip of the racquet, from a pulling position to a pushing position which is particularly helpful for volleying on the backhand side.
Net players routinely make grip changes from the basic forehand groundstroke grip (Eastern: bevel 3) to a volley grip (Continental: bevel 2). This change moves the forearm from being even with the grip of the racquet to a position which is just slightly behind the grip of the racquet, from a pulling position to a pushing position which is particularly helpful for volleying on the backhand side.
