Changing your grip refers to how your hand is placed on the handle of your racket for a specific shot. This is important because it helps determine many factors, such as the angles created at the racket face during your swing and the point of contact with the ball after it is struck by the racket.
To change your grip, you can either move or slightly reposition your hand to hit a better shot with your racket in most cases. Most grip style definitions are not contained in a rulebook. They are simply how a coach or player interprets that particular grip style.
All best practice recommendations in this article are developed as guidelines based on experience working with hundreds, if not thousands, of other players, but they are not considered rules.
What A “Grip Change” Means In Practical Terms
Grip changes occur from one shot to the next as you turn the racket slightly with your fingers.
If you wait to change your grip until you start your backswing, you are not able to hit your next shot effectively.
The reason for changing the way you grip it is that you place your hand in the correct position well before actual contact to ensure you swing smoothly rather than too quickly.
Your hand is moving along the sides of the racket handle that are called called bevels. As your hand shifts position on the handle, it also changes the angle of the racket face, which is the part of the racket you use to hit the tennis ball.
As a result, your execution of grip changes naturally affects how you control the flight of the ball, such as the height of the ball that goes over the net, and how much spin you create, such as topspin and backspin.
Every player employs their own technique when changing the grip on the racket. However, it is common practice for players to believe that a successful grip change is fast and compact; this means that the grip change occurs in conjunction with the player moving toward the shot rather than occurring right before they hit the shot.
Why Do Grip Changes Matter?
Various strokes require the tennis racket to meet the tennis ball at a variety of angles and swing paths.
One grip that works well in one stroke may feel awkward in another stroke. Therefore, it is necessary for a player to adjust their grip to accommodate the ball and the conditions surrounding where it is hit.
A clear example of changing your grip is when going from the serve to the next shot such as the return or a rally because the grip used for serving may be completely different from the grip you use to return or rally.
During a rally, in addition to switching between forehand and backhand strokes, players also continually adjust their grips as they transition between groundstrokes and volleys, and fast reaction times with hands in a more neutral position can improve performance.
Plus, for many players, if they have an open racket face at impact, it is usually easier for them to hit a slice with less spin, as well as gain better control and consistency with that slice shot. Changing or adjusting their grip, even slightly, may help them reach this objective.
That is one of the reasons why many accomplished players look smooth as they play. In addition, they begin moving their feet to the ball and position their hands before they hit it.
What Grip Changes Usually Look Like
Grip changes are categorized into two main groups.
Full Change
One type of transition is called Full Change, meaning you start a completely new grip family to execute each shot based on the shot category, such as serving and groundstrokes.
Full grip changes occur between points or just after a serve, and you can identify these really well with your visual knowledge.
Shaded
A second form of grip change involves an adjustment that consists of a slight alteration in the direction of the previous grip style but also involves shading the previous grip. The degree of grip rotation or how much force is placed on the racket creates the specific way the ball should be shaped.
For instance, if you are trying to hit with just enough topspin, instead of adjusting your grip by moving it up or down, you use your body to provide stability.
A strong coaching cue for players who consistently feel late to contact with the ball is that the grip may switch too late. Another possibility is that they delay ball contact and, therefore, prepare to hit out in front earlier before they begin a full swing.
When To Grip Change During A Rally
A lot of players want to change grips right after they are able to figure out what they are actually hitting before they even connect with it, and most people can change grips upon arrival at the court.
For example, as a way to visualize timing, you can imagine the moment the opponent strikes the ball. After they strike the ball, your first action is to perform a split step, read the ball direction, determine whether to execute your stroke with your forehand, backhand, or volley; adjust your grip; rotate your body toward the ball to prepare for your swing; and complete your swing.
You are able to change grips quickly if you get into a ready position first. The grip change depends on being properly set up with your racket before you rotate quickly as you hit your shot.
To help ease the transition between different grip types, one tip a trainer may use is to keep your nondominant hand on the racket throttle, the taper area of the shaft. That way, when you want to switch grips, you can quickly rotate your nondominant hand to adjust grips, rather than needing to dramatically slide or readjust your dominant hitting hand.
4 Common Grip Change Mistakes
Here are a few mental notes to take when trying to avoid making grip change mistakes:
#1 Waiting Too Long
One frequently occurring mistake is changing your grip too late on the racket. Continuing to move your hands while you make a forward swing makes your stroke feel rushed, and you have difficulty controlling the racket face angle.
Making your grip a fixed component after you identify whether the ball is headed toward your forehand or backhand is one method of fixing this. It then allows your racket and swing to complement, rather than conflict with, each other.
#2 Gripping to Tight
Another mistake often made is holding onto the racket handle too tightly; this slows your movements down and makes the majority of grip changes seem to move jerkily.
Many coaches recommend that players grip their racket as if they are going to shake someone’s hand. This helps you get an idea of what kind of grip pressure you should use.
The act of making contact with the ball increases grip pressure, without thinking about it. Conversely, you typically do not want to have maximum grip pressure while you are in a ready position before making contact.
#3 Regripping Every Swing
Yet another common mistake that many players fall victim to is thinking they need to make a large, obvious regrip each time before they swing.
While some players successfully create a bigger regrip, many recreational players create smoother, smaller, and more repeatable grip changes with help from their nondominant hand rotating the racket, rather than their dominant hand climbing around on the handle.
#4 Adjusting Pressure While Swinging
A final mistake many players make is confusing swing problems with changing grips.
Players who are having issues hitting the ball have a tendency to turn their wrists and change their grip pressure during their swing, which usually leads to more mistimed swings when making adjustments on the fly rather than setting their grip and pressure before beginning a swing.
There is a greater benefit to performing the two actions of grip and swing independently. To do this successfully, first establish a grip, then move into the swing.
How To Practice Grip Changes
To get started on changing grips while playing tennis, try practicing without the ball first.
Practicing in this manner allows you to focus fully and take all the time you want to adjust grips without feeling that you are being rushed.
First, get a partner to stand across from you while you assume an athletic stance. Next, your partner calls for you to do a forehand or a backhand.
When your opponent shouts forehand, make sure you hold your racket with the proper forehand grip. When your opponent shouts backhand, make sure you switch to the correct backhand grip.
With your grip firmly in place, take a slow, controlled swing and replace your old but incorrect grip with your new correct grip each time you do a shadow swing.
Once your swing becomes more fluid and comfortable, you use a simple feeding drill with a partner to alternate gently feeding balls to each other. You hit forehands to your partner and backhands to your partner.
Make sure that you have your one established checkpoint before the ball contacts the ground to set up your grip. The reason for using an established predetermined location before the ball bounces and contacts the ground is simple and measurable, and also encourages readiness and setting up your grip earlier.
Many beginners struggle to make the transition from serving to the first baseline hit after serving. Practice transitioning from your serve to a groundstroke using the same grip as your serve.
In order to accomplish this, you want to start by serving using your serving grip, then quickly change to the proper grip for your first groundstroke after serving. If you have a partner, they block your return shot back to you.
The purpose of this drill is not power but rather to help you feel comfortable and confident switching grips from serving to hitting your first shot when rallying the ball.
Practical Takeaways & A Simple Checklist
To switch up grips means changing the positions of your hands on a racket handle to prepare for different types of shots, including but not limited to forehand and backhand shots, volley shots, and slice shots.
As soon as you determine if you are going to hit a forehand, a backhand, a volley, or a slice, it is important to get started right away so that your swing remains smooth throughout your forward motion.
Holding the racket with your opposite hand on the strings improves speed and consistency when changing grips. It helps every player ensure that they are not late in changing their grip, do not build up too much tension, and do not try to make adjustments while swinging through the ball.
You usually see rapid improvement once you begin to practice grip changes without a ball, using only a small feed.
FAQs About Grip Changes
If you are looking to enhance your grip on the racket, take a look at the answers we provide below. If those do not help you find the information you need to improve your racket grip, do not hesitate to contact us directly.
What’s The Difference Between A Grip Change & A Grip Adjustment?
Switching grips involves changing your normal grip to another when you hit different types of shots. A grip adjustment involves making minor changes to your normal grip to create topspin and stabilize the racket face.
Do Beginners Need Multiple Grips Right Away?
Many beginners see improvement when they make fewer changes at first because it helps reduce confusion. As coordination improves and the athlete develops, they are able to add appropriate grip adjustments, which makes strokes easier to hit and more consistent.
Is There One “Best” Grip For Everything?
No. Characteristics of different racket face angles are needed to properly hit tennis serves, volleys, and groundstrokes with all types of racket grips. Therefore, some racket grips are better suited for different types of tennis shots than other grip styles. However, as tennis players continue to develop their tennis games, the majority use two to five different types of tennis grip styles.
Why Do I Miss More When I Try To Change Grips?
The most typical causes of not performing a good adjustment are a late change and gripping the racket too tightly. Training an early grip setting and allowing for a light hold while in the ready position allow for improved adjustment.
Should I Grip Change On The Run?
Most grip adjustments occur during the unit turn and just before your forward swing. Therefore, this is an ideal time to make them.
Fix Your Grip, Improve Your Tennis Game in Mountlake Terrace
Changing your grip allows you to prepare early for your hand position so that you can make a smooth, repeatable swing.
A week of focused effort to develop this fundamental skill, grip change technique, regarding the transition from how you hold your racket when starting at an addressed position until you hit your forehand or backhand shot will help you become a better player.
If you set your grip early, everything else in your swing naturally becomes easier to organize.
Learn to properly grip your racket when playing tennis at Basha Tennis in Mountlake Terrace. We have group lessons for youth and adult players and private lessons available upon request.
While here we encourage you to check out some of our web-assets, including our blog, which is full of useful tips, and our tennis glossary to help familiarize yourself with common terms.