How to Correctly Grip Your Racket for Any Shot - Beginners

One of the most frustrating aspects of learning how to play tennis is mastering how to hold your racket. It may sound simple in practice, since holding a racket is obviously not very physically demanding, but a majority of beginner tennis players struggle with not only remembering which grip corresponds to which shot, but also how to adjust their grip when transitioning between shots. In this guide, I hope to clarify the types of grips used in different shots in tennis and provide some tips on how to transition between grips.

How to Hold Your Racket

To align your racket with your hand, place the indicated bevel of the racket and align it with the line that is shown above. The bevels of the racket are shown below:

If you are left handed, simply reverse the side that the bevel is on (for example, the middle bevel would be on the left of the top bevel, which is unchanging).

Forehand Grip

The forehand is one of the most common shots in tennis. Most beginners prefer to use the Eastern Forehand grip, is provides a good balance of spin and power, and allows for more control. For right-handed players, take the line that is indicated in the picture of the hand in the How to Hold Your Racket section, and align it with the right side bevel. For left-handed players, it is on the bevel directly opposite the right side bevel.

Backhand Grip

The backhand is slightly different than the forehand, as there are two types of backhands, and thus two unique grips. The majority of beginners prefer the two-handed backhand, since it is more stable and can provide more power, but the one-handed backhand is also very popular. For the two-handed backhand, the bottom hand, which should the right hand for right-handed players, should be aligned with the middle bevel, and the top hand should be aligned with the side bevel. For the one-handed backhand, which only requires the dominant hand, the bottom hand should be aligned with the top bevel. This grip is called the Eastern Backhand grip, and is the preferred one-handed backhand grip for most beginners.

Volley Grip

The volley is also a common shot in tennis, especially in doubles, where the net player predominantly hits volleys. The grip for the volley is called the Continental grip, and it is used by almost all players - beginners and pros alike. To form the Continental grip, take your dominant hand and align it with the middle bevel, which should be on the right side of the top bevel for right-handed players and on the left side of the top bevel for left-handed players. The grip is the same for backhand and forehand volleys.

Serve Grip

Having the correct grip is very important for the serve; otherwise, you wouldn't be able to start a point! The grip for the serve is the same as a volley. Take your dominant hand and align it with the middle bevel, which is on the right side of the top bevel for right-handed players and the left side for left-handed players.

Tips for Transitioning Grips

To transition between grips for different shots, use your non-dominant hand (the top hand) to rotate the racket when turning your body. This should occur immediately after split-stepping, when you see your opponents ball travelling over the net and you are making a decision as to which shot you are going to hit next. You should always try and return to the Continental grip before every shot, even if it for a very brief moment, so that you are prepared to hit any shot. Common errors I find that beginners struggle with include turning their hand too much or too little when transitioning, or getting confused as to which grip corresponds to which shot. To practice changing your grip, start at the Continental grip and go through all your shots without a ball, changing your grip accordingly. By repeating the transition, your hands will soon be able to change your grip without you even having to think about it.