As Chinese(girl) tennis players are having more and more success in Grand Slam tournaments, the game of tennis has been explored both in China and among Chinese communities aboard. Here in the northeast of U.S., I've seen many more Chinese people starting to play tennis in the free and often in great condition public tennis courts. However, from what I observe, many of players are not really playing properly. Tennis is once considered an expensive sport, and it still is to some degree. One of the reasons is the cost of hiring a good coach normally can run you $60-$100 US dollars. And of course, there are other expenses like Racquets, Balls, outfits, etc. but coaching is usually the most expensive part because tennis is a very difficult game. It takes longer time to master and requires long practice. The time it takes to master the game is even longer if the player did not start playing properly at the very beginning because bad habits can be developed.
I'll try to post a series of articles here in hope they can help some players finding their games and enjoy themselves out there in the tennis courts.
First thing first---The Grip
There are a few different grips that are being used.
Eastern Forehand - Sampras
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The basic and most common grip (though certainly not within the Spanish Armada). The hand is placed behind the racquet with the "V" of the hand intersecting line 2. Reference points: base knuckle of the thumb is on the top bevel (line 2), palm is behind the handle, fingers are spread, the butt of the handle is just out of the hand. | Point of contact: between belly button and the left heel.
http://i6.tinypic.com/2627bja.jpg" border= 0 > Optimum contact height: above the knee and below shoulder (see Picture) Feel: flat or topspin, a long, controlled stroke. Pros and cons: a versatile grip that handles high and low shots. Easy to transition to continental grip and eastern backhand grip. Favors an all court game. Rarely associated with the huge forehand weapons seen today (Courier, Agassi, Moya). |
Semiwestern Forehand - Agassi http://i3.tinypic.com/2627cc1.jpg" border= 0 >
The modern derivation of the eastern forehand. The hand rotates under the racquet one eighth turn from the eastern position with the "V" of the hand intersecting line 3. Reference points: base knuckle of the thumb is on the first bevel, palm is beneath the handle, fingers are spread. | Point of contact: even with the left heel.
http://i1.tinypic.com/2627f2g.jpg" border= 0 > Optimum contact height: above the knee and below shoulder. Feel: coming up and over the ball with topspin. Stroke, long and whippy. Pros and cons: a stronger grip, more racquet speed and ball spin. More difficult to transition to continental and eastern backhand grips. Favors players who generally prefer the backcourt and two handed backhand. Easier to come over high, loopy balls with topspin than Eastern or Contintal grips. |
The Full Western Grip-- used mostly by clay courters. I'll not discuss it here.
Service Grips
http://i1.tinypic.com/2627ius.jpg" border= 0 > The continental grip promotes hand action and spin on the serve. The fingers are less spread than on the eastern forehand, and the butt of the racquet can actually be placed within the palm. Rod Laver served with the continental grip. The eastern backhand grip promotes even more hand action and pronation, greater spin and disguise. Pancho Gonzalez served with the eastern backhand. Volley Grips The continental grip works for both the forehand and backhand, and produces a nice underspin shot.
Eastern Backhand - Sampras
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The classic one handed topspin backhand used by Laver and Edberg. Reference points: base knuckle of the index finger is on top of the handle, the thumb placed diagonally across the back of the handle, "V" of the hand intersects line 8. Palm is parallel to the ground. Fingers spread, butt end of handle just out of the hand. Point of contact: in front of the right foot. Optimum contact height: knee level to midchest area. Feel: swinging up and through the ball, contact well in front. Pros and cons: elegant backhands, but grip is a long way from the semiwestern forehand. | Two Handed Backhand - Hingis, Williams http://i5.tinypic.com/2626xjb.jpg" border= 0 >
Basic two-handed stroke favored by most touring players. Reference points: V of right hand falls between line one and eight. V of left and is on line one. Point of contact: just off front hip. Optimum contact height: above knee level to just above the navel. Feel: swinging up and through the ball. A compact, solid stroke. Pros and cons: more power and leverage than the one hander. Easier to hit high, loopy balls by moving forward and taking them at chest height. Less reach than one hander, requires quicker footwork. Harder to chip or slice |
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