Grip Structures in the Modern Forehand

The forehand grips of the two top players–opposite ends of the spectrum. We need a simpler and more accurate way to describe the forehand grips in the modern game. It’s commonly believed that most pro players use a “semi-western” grip. But that term has become almost meaningless. In the old days the terms “eastern,” “semi-western,” and “western” were considered sufficient. But if we really look at what is going on in the modern game, it’s more complex than that. The range of grips is much wider than is normally recognized. The differences in the actual grip structures can be hard to see, but these differences have a fundamental influence over the capabilities and style of the top players. Because of this, grips dictate much of what his happening. As we’ll see in these two articles, there are at least 6 distinct forehand grips that are used at the highest levels of the pro game. At least 3 of these could be considered some version of “semi-western.” But there are a significant number of top pro players who play with less extreme eastern grips, including Roger Federer. And there are also pro players who play with more extreme grips that should…