Nice video Tomaz. I've thought about this topic many times. Against big servers I typically use continental, which allows me to block the forehand or slice the backhand without needing a grip change. When facing slower servers, I usually go with eastern backhand grip and transition to semi-western forehand when needed, which feels the most natural to me.
As a one hander, I´ve always used continental. This video is precious to me, specially for 5:46. I never looked out for the receiver´s grip when I´m serving. Can´t wait to try this.
Always grateful to listen to ideas from the pros, in my last match I used the FH grip and it helped me to have a better return but I wasn't sure it was an ideal grip for return of serve, so thanks for give us insights to clarify ours concerns. Regards
Good summary of the ready position grip positions, Tomaz. There is another option, though, whereby you can return both with both the correct forehand and backhand grips (not the Continental grips) IF you use a Western forehand and an Eastern backhand grip. It turns out that if you are in either of the latter two grips you can switch to the other grip simply by keeping the same side of the racket's string bed facing the oncoming ball. This automatically results in a grip "change" without having to change the position of your hand on the handle. If you use a semi-Western grip, the same procedure will get you very close to the other grip--just 1 bevel away--which is less movement than being in a Continental and switching to a semi-Western. I've tried this technique but what trips me up is moving the racket so that the same side of the string bed faces the oncoming ball. This requires a clockwise or counterclockwise movement of the racket head which takes some practice to get comfortable with. It doesn't take any more time to execute but it has a very different "feel", one that I've never gotten comfortable with.
Yes, George, this option is extremely rare and I would prefer not to suggest it to a recreational tennis player. I have seen it only a couple of times on the pro tour as even the players with extreme western grip still prefer to switch / turn the racket to their backhand grip which I assume they got used to as juniors.
Tomaz, Personally on second serve returns my left and right hands are both on the handle. Right dominant hand is in the forehand grip. And left hand is in the 2hbh grip. This allows me to do a drive return in both sides. If it goes to forehand I’m ready to hit the forehand. If it goes to the backhand my left hand is already in the 2hbh grip while my right dominant hand which is the bottom hand in the 2hbh; will rotate to find the continental grip as I prepare my backswing. First serves my right dominant hand is in continental grip for sliced returns. Left non-dominant hand is also on the handle so that it looks the same.
I have a 2 handed backhand choose D: both - dominant hand in the forehand grip, off hand in the backhand grip. Release the offhand for a forehand, loosen the grip on the dominant hand and let the racket naturally spin as you move to hit the backhand then grip again.
Thank you Tomaz for going outside in the snow. Very informative. I guess you'd call my ready position old school. I hold the racket in both hands on opposite sides of the grip with the head vertical. Ironically, the plus side is the down side. I have to adjust whether the ball is a forehand, or backhand. I've tried several others, but ended up here in large part due to the fact that it forces me to change grip every time. I don't have to think about keeping, or changing my grip depending on where the serve goes. As with many things in tennis, there is no right, or wrong. However, I will admit that I don't see why anyone would hold the racket when receiving like Nishikori. :-)
I actually use all 3 depending on what the other player is doing. I used to always hold forehand, but it was too hard to switch to one hander grip. Now, I wait in continental grip simply because if I don't have enough time for a switch, it's easy to hit a chip return, if I have time, I can switch easily. I only wait in one hander backhand grip if a server really picks on my backhand like Tomaz said. So for fast servers, I go into continental, for servers that know how to hit to backhands, I hold the backhand grip. If all I get is slow serves to the forehand most of the time, I wait in forehand grip.
I had the same questions but chose to stick with A version from this video with my left hand on the neck of the racquet even if I have 2 hb. If the server is doing a really good job serving on my bh side i will have the forehand grip with my right hand and bh grip with my left hand having the hand moved from the racquet's neck to the handle of the racquet. In this way I can switch very fast reducing the risk of not finding the right grip.
Thanks Tomaz, I use a tip you gave in one of your excellent videos. As soon as one can say to oneself Backhand! or Forehand! as the served ball approaches the net, this instigates a left or right turn of the upper body and racket in preparation for the return, which then moves the loose grip (semi- automatically -if you have two hands on the racket) from continental to forehand or backhand grip. (one has to assist the semi-automatically a little to get a proper grip but not too much or too tight).
Tomas---I switched from eastern to semi-western (wrist issues). I find sw grip, you have to commit more and catch ball more in front...which makes serve return tricky since there's less margin for all that (timing etc). Any pointers? I thought about maybe return with eastern, but I think that's complicating things and probably should just stick with one grip for FH...
If you are not good at changing the grip, you can wait with continental grip so that you are forced to change and thus train the changing of grip. But for that you need to play lot's of matches and perhaps losing them in the beginning of the season. 😁
Hello, for a righty, 2 handed backhand player, with the ready position (for serves returns and general waiting position) in continental grip, with left hand on the grip (ready to hit a backhand) - isn't this the best grip to have and wait for the ball, as you are ready for every shot (2hbh, slice, serve block, volleys, drop shots) except forehand? You then only need to change the grip when hitting the forehand. I do not see many players using this though, and the coaches do not recommend it. Am I missing something?
Yes, theoretically you are right but the reality is the most players in the usual ready position when playing from the baseline hold the forehand grip by default and only change it to backhand when needed. So they are used to only one way of changing: from forehand to backhand. If you now ask them to also learn changing from continental to forehand (and that extremely quickly when returning), it turns out to be a mess. They are not used to it and even it practice sessions you cannot make as many repetitions doing a "change to a forehand" grip on the return as you do the number of repetitions changing "from a forehand to a backhand" grip just hitting from baseline. So that's where theory and reality clash and usually reality, meaning number of repetitions and how used the players is to those changes, wins. Maybe some players can learn both ways of changing grips (really quick and also precise) but majority will struggle with it.
You can start building the serve with these 7 steps: ruclips.net/video/CXgfNBnetzQ/видео.html. After that work on the swing & throw drills: ruclips.net/video/cKeSQHjm4gM/видео.html.
No, don't think so analytically, just swing at nice speed (not too fast!) and aim. Then just keep trying, learn through trial & error. Serve takes long time to learn, be patient and work on it regularly.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Winter in Slovenia, lovely ❤️, thank you Thomas 👍🏻❤️🎾
Nice video Tomaz. I've thought about this topic many times. Against big servers I typically use continental, which allows me to block the forehand or slice the backhand without needing a grip change. When facing slower servers, I usually go with eastern backhand grip and transition to semi-western forehand when needed, which feels the most natural to me.
Excellent, never even thought to observe the returner ready position when I am serving. Great advice, I will keep an eye on this.
As a one hander, I´ve always used continental. This video is precious to me, specially for 5:46. I never looked out for the receiver´s grip when I´m serving. Can´t wait to try this.
Glad you enjoyed it!
When serving, it never occurred to me to observe my opponent's racket position and to exploit this. Great tip, as always!
Thank you. Greetings from the beautiful Algarve. Hope to see you!
Always grateful to listen to ideas from the pros, in my last match I used the FH grip and it helped me to have a better return but I wasn't sure it was an ideal grip for return of serve, so thanks for give us insights to clarify ours concerns. Regards
Good summary of the ready position grip positions, Tomaz. There is another option, though, whereby you can return both with both the correct forehand and backhand grips (not the Continental grips) IF you use a Western forehand and an Eastern backhand grip. It turns out that if you are in either of the latter two grips you can switch to the other grip simply by keeping the same side of the racket's string bed facing the oncoming ball. This automatically results in a grip "change" without having to change the position of your hand on the handle.
If you use a semi-Western grip, the same procedure will get you very close to the other grip--just 1 bevel away--which is less movement than being in a Continental and switching to a semi-Western. I've tried this technique but what trips me up is moving the racket so that the same side of the string bed faces the oncoming ball. This requires a clockwise or counterclockwise movement of the racket head which takes some practice to get comfortable with. It doesn't take any more time to execute but it has a very different "feel", one that I've never gotten comfortable with.
Yes, George, this option is extremely rare and I would prefer not to suggest it to a recreational tennis player. I have seen it only a couple of times on the pro tour as even the players with extreme western grip still prefer to switch / turn the racket to their backhand grip which I assume they got used to as juniors.
Tomaz,
Personally on second serve returns my left and right hands are both on the handle. Right dominant hand is in the forehand grip. And left hand is in the 2hbh grip. This allows me to do a drive return in both sides. If it goes to forehand I’m ready to hit the forehand. If it goes to the backhand my left hand is already in the 2hbh grip while my right dominant hand which is the bottom hand in the 2hbh; will rotate to find the continental grip as I prepare my backswing.
First serves my right dominant hand is in continental grip for sliced returns. Left non-dominant hand is also on the handle so that it looks the same.
I have a 2 handed backhand choose D: both - dominant hand in the forehand grip, off hand in the backhand grip. Release the offhand for a forehand, loosen the grip on the dominant hand and let the racket naturally spin as you move to hit the backhand then grip again.
great video - always have your go-to preparation and make adjustments...
Perfect.. Like always.. Thank you coach... I m thinking the same.. Depends from many factors..
Thank you Tomaz for going outside in the snow. Very informative.
I guess you'd call my ready position old school. I hold the racket in both hands on opposite sides of the grip with the head vertical. Ironically, the plus side is the down side. I have to adjust whether the ball is a forehand, or backhand.
I've tried several others, but ended up here in large part due to the fact that it forces me to change grip every time. I don't have to think about keeping, or changing my grip depending on where the serve goes.
As with many things in tennis, there is no right, or wrong. However, I will admit that I don't see why anyone would hold the racket when receiving like Nishikori. :-)
Excellent place, excellent explanations ,thanks tomaz👍
I actually use all 3 depending on what the other player is doing. I used to always hold forehand, but it was too hard to switch to one hander grip. Now, I wait in continental grip simply because if I don't have enough time for a switch, it's easy to hit a chip return, if I have time, I can switch easily. I only wait in one hander backhand grip if a server really picks on my backhand like Tomaz said. So for fast servers, I go into continental, for servers that know how to hit to backhands, I hold the backhand grip. If all I get is slow serves to the forehand most of the time, I wait in forehand grip.
Very useful tennis 🎾 tips. Thank you 🙏
I had the same questions but chose to stick with A version from this video with my left hand on the neck of the racquet even if I have 2 hb.
If the server is doing a really good job serving on my bh side i will have the forehand grip with my right hand and bh grip with my left hand having the hand moved from the racquet's neck to the handle of the racquet. In this way I can switch very fast reducing the risk of not finding the right grip.
Thank you, nice video
Thanks Tomaz, I use a tip you gave in one of your excellent videos. As soon as one can say to oneself Backhand! or Forehand! as the served ball approaches the net, this instigates a left or right turn of the upper body and racket in preparation for the return, which then moves the loose grip (semi- automatically -if you have two hands on the racket) from continental to forehand or backhand grip. (one has to assist the semi-automatically a little to get a proper grip but not too much or too tight).
Yes, automating early preparation helps a lot, here's a link to that video in case someone wants to see it: ruclips.net/video/iXvWh-xMSd0/видео.html
Thanks. Three great points. Any recommendations on 🎉 grip to use?
Tomas---I switched from eastern to semi-western (wrist issues). I find sw grip, you have to commit more and catch ball more in front...which makes serve return tricky since there's less margin for all that (timing etc). Any pointers? I thought about maybe return with eastern, but I think that's complicating things and probably should just stick with one grip for FH...
If you are not good at changing the grip, you can wait with continental grip so that you are forced to change and thus train the changing of grip. But for that you need to play lot's of matches and perhaps losing them in the beginning of the season. 😁
Hello, for a righty, 2 handed backhand player, with the ready position (for serves returns and general waiting position) in continental grip, with left hand on the grip (ready to hit a backhand) - isn't this the best grip to have and wait for the ball, as you are ready for every shot (2hbh, slice, serve block, volleys, drop shots) except forehand? You then only need to change the grip when hitting the forehand. I do not see many players using this though, and the coaches do not recommend it. Am I missing something?
Yes, theoretically you are right but the reality is the most players in the usual ready position when playing from the baseline hold the forehand grip by default and only change it to backhand when needed. So they are used to only one way of changing: from forehand to backhand.
If you now ask them to also learn changing from continental to forehand (and that extremely quickly when returning), it turns out to be a mess. They are not used to it and even it practice sessions you cannot make as many repetitions doing a "change to a forehand" grip on the return as you do the number of repetitions changing "from a forehand to a backhand" grip just hitting from baseline. So that's where theory and reality clash and usually reality, meaning number of repetitions and how used the players is to those changes, wins.
Maybe some players can learn both ways of changing grips (really quick and also precise) but majority will struggle with it.
And by the way beautiful Slovenia!!!
Winter wonderland.
I thjnk we have to use continental for 1st serve
I have watch your serve course but still i have a problem in serving. Could you please help me out personally
Im a beginner player. I have practive with polythene in the ball like you said. But i still have problem, how can i target the ball in the box
One more question is when we serve do we need to point the butt of the cap to point the ball just like forehand. I use continental for serve
You can start building the serve with these 7 steps: ruclips.net/video/CXgfNBnetzQ/видео.html. After that work on the swing & throw drills: ruclips.net/video/cKeSQHjm4gM/видео.html.
No, don't think so analytically, just swing at nice speed (not too fast!) and aim. Then just keep trying, learn through trial & error. Serve takes long time to learn, be patient and work on it regularly.
Thank you. I will go through your link again. I can serve slice only with low power
Hammer for 1st serve ...FH grip for 2nd