Hey guys, how are you? Welcome to another video. Today I'm going to show you all tennis grips and an easy way to identify which one you are using in your game.

So, stay tuned. It is important to note first that the tennis grips have been developing according to the history of tennis. So, in the past just one tennis grip was used and because of natural evolution of the game new ones were created.

. . .

new ways to hold the racket. And another very important thing guys: change a player's grip is one of the biggest surgery that you can do on his game. It's not a simple thing.

Several details are changed. So whenever you change your grip, be careful. Preferably with the help of a tennis coach evaluating you, so he can show you the right way to change.

So the first thing is to identify some parameters here. I'll give you two parameters, so you can understand the rest of the video. The first thing is: looking at the racket handle, you will see that it has eight sides.

They form an octagon. So I want you to number the sides of the racket handle here, because it will tell you which grip you have. Then following the racket line, from the head of the racket, this side here that follows the let’s say it’s number 1.

I'll use the example as if it were for righties, I am right-handed and will help to explain better. If you're left-handed, just do it the opposite side of the racket handle. So this side that follows the racket line here is number 1 and we will count to the right.

Then next side number 2, 3, 4 and 5. Count it until 5. We don't need more than this for now.

And the other reference is that you open the palm of your hand. Keep an eye on the base of your index finger. Then the base of the index finger or seen from up this little bone here.

Depending on the side that this part of the hand is positioned, it will tell you which grip you will be using. So the first grip I want to explain to you is the most old one. It was the only one used decades ago, when tennis players used to play with berets and pants, and women dressed, and the men in shoes, which is CONTINENTAL grip.

To find it's simple: you put the base of your index finger in the side number 2. Doing this you will be on it. Nowadays it's widely used for strokes who need a little more feeling, a little more touch, because it simulates quite as if it were the palm of your hand.

In the past it was used for everything, today we use it a lot to serve, to volley, because they are strokes that need touch. And some other specific strokes like slices and drop shots. The second grip, on the side number 3, rotate it one more side to the right here.

Base of index finger on 3 is the Forehand EASTERN grip. This grip some players use to hit the forehands. A minority of them is not the majority.

For example, Federer uses the Eastern forehand grip. And I recommend this grip for beginners. So if you've never played or are starting it's a great neutral grip for you do a little bit of everything with it and gradually you improve according to each stroke.

Keep going, we will arrive to the side number 4, which is the SEMI WESTERN grip. It's the grip most used today by players to hit the forehand. It helps a lot to return higher balls, helps you a lot to generate a little more topspin on the ball, because the hand ends up getting a little bit under the racket handle, and this helps you to have a faster wrist movement.

Then it will help you to generate more topspin on your ball. And finally, in the side number 5, a little more extreme grip. It's the WESTERN grip handle, also called sometimes FULL WESTERN.

It’s a very extreme grip and I don’t recommend it to you, despite having some few players who use it. It's a grip that makes you practically hit with the back of your hand. It is not a very natural move for the body.

It is not an easy biomechanics to do. So, if you can avoid . .

. I teach my students how to get to Semi Western at most, which I think is the best grip for hitting a forehand. We also have the one handed backhand grip.

If you hit a one handed backhand, the correct grip is the Backhand EASTERN grip, where the the base of your index finger will stay in the side number 1, the side that follows the racket head. So to find it's simple. Hold the racket with your left hand, your right hand .

. . the bones of the hand follow the racket head.

Of course, it will depend on each one. There are people who hold it a little straighter, there are people who hold a little more turned on the handle. But the important thing is to know that at least this bone from your index finger is aligned with the racket head.

And finally, I didn't forget about you who hits the two-handed backhand. The two-handed backhand we will understand that the side numbering is repeated the same way to the left side. In the right hand it would be a CONTINENTAL grip, index finger base in side 2.

And the left hand of someone who hits with both hands would be an EASTERN grip for the left-handed. It would be in the third side to the left. Right hand, Continental, left hand EASTERN.

This is the most used grip by players that hit the two-handed backhand. Of course, it can vary. Tennis grips is something that everyone has a different feeling about it.

Sometimes the person wants to run a little more the hand there or here. But anyway, this basic sequence that I I passed will give you a good path for you to identify which one you use and which one are used on the tennis strokes. If you have any difficulty with your grip and how to identify it, leave a comment.

Also leave your message if you have any suggestion or any criticism or suggestion for a future theme. Feel free to comment. So that's it, guys.

I hope you enjoyed. I hope this has added value to your games and training. And stay tuned for more video coming around.

Take care everyone. See you on the court!