TennisOne Lessons



Face the Facts

What You See is What You Get

by Corky Cramer

Click photo to hear Corky Cramer talk about the importance watching the racquet face.
As a professional I feel it's my responsibility to communicate in as many languages as possible. My native language is English, I can fake it in French and read a little Hebrew, yet I think I've taught the forehand in at least 1000 tongues. Simply put, it's my job to find the right words to get you, the player, to obtain the result you want. It's not your job to understand what I have to say.

In the following piece I am going to speak in "Face." In other words, the language of the racquet face. I believe the more you understand about the face of the racquet, the easier it is to play the game. I could have chosen to write this piece in the language of "Grips" but I have found that people tend to get wrapped up in debating where the knuckle is on a Continental grip versus a Semi-Western grip, rather than knowing what benefits you can reap from playing with one grip or another.

In each of the photos, simply by looking at the angle of the racquet face we can make a highly accurate guess as to strengths and weakness of the player holding that racquet. From five courts away I can be heard yelling at a player "How could you have possibly expected to make that volley holding a backhand grip." Even with my eyes, which still require no glasses or contacts, I couldn't possibly see their grip but by seeing the angle of the racquet face, I could tell how they were holding the racquet.

Based on the assumptions we can draw from the angle of a racquet face we can organize a solid game plan even before the first ball has been struck.

Certainly this is not fool proof and in accordance with Darwinian theory, we as a species must learn to adapt in order to survive. This is why each year I come across a couple of unique strokes someone has invented due a physical limitation or simply from years of repetition (by the way these people tend to be covered with braces and arm bands).

Some of the biggest changes in today's games aren't really changes but rather admissions of facts that have existed for over a hundred years. If you ask any pro player what grip they use on their forehand, the truthful answer is one I heard Billie Jean King tell me as a kid over thirty years ago. " I don't have a forehand grip I have forehand grips".


Grip #1: Ready position with racquet throat slightly angled across body. Racquet face pretty much faced flat down.
In the following series of pictures examine the different angles of the racquet face. Can you tell what their strength and weakness will be? At the conclusion of the article check to see the name associated with each style of forehand.

Every Picture Tells a Story

Grip #1

Advantages: This grip will allow physically weak players to develop a powerful shot. This is due to the whippy nature of the stoke you often see top ranked players under 12 using it. The grip is great for generating topspin a prime reason why top Europeans and South Americans who play a lot on clay can bee seen with it. It's a great tool for consistency for those who like to keep the ball in play. High ball present no problem.

Disadvantages: Players with this stroke should be on the look out for low, short sliding balls with backspin. The racquet face will be closed so they won't be able to do much. Most likely their only shot will be a wrist snapping, short angle cross court......so simply stroll over there as they deal with this headache and volley it away for a winner. Players with this grip tend to break out in a rash if they have to volley. The grip change they need to be successful at the net is just too much to handle. Hitting a slice approach shot is pretty much out of the question.

  • During the backswing (left), the butt of the racquet is draw back way before the head. The hitting surface of the face is actually pointed away from the body.

  • The center photo displays a comfortable height in the hitting zone for this style forehand.


    Grip #2: Traditional ready position with hitting hand in front of right hip. Left hand supports head in front of body. Racquet throat is parallel to pelvis.

  • The Follow through shows the head has total flipped upside down and looks suspiciously like the beginning of a backswing for a topspin one handed backhand. Note the forearm has crossed in front of the body and the head ends lower than the hitting hand.

Grip #2

Advantages: Makes getting under low ball a snap. Short angled forehands tend to be a weapon as well as the ability to hold a shot hitting it what might appear to be late and sending it down the line. This only works well on slower balls that sit up.

This grip also allow for great disguise on drop shots. These folks tend to try and get into the net a lot since this is the predominant grip used for volleying, serving and smashing.

Disadvantages: Difficult to convert high, deep, and especially soft balls. (Moon ball style). The racquet face naturally is closed making it very tough to hit up on the ball.

Hitting forehand passing shots down the line off a power approach are extremely tough because the only support behind the shot will be the players wrist, not their body.

  • Closed face back swing (left). Unlike the previous style the hitting surface of the racquet is pointed in at the players body. The butt remains behind the head until the swing changes direction toward the ball.
  • The center photo displays a comfortable height in the hitting zone for this style forehand.
  • The Follow through (right) shows a bent elbow with only the racquet coming up. Note the bicep has come up and the head has totally closed over the shoulder


Grip #3: This is the picture that most club players imagine when they think of a proper ready position - butt pointed straight back with the racquet on edge.

Grip #3

Advantages: This is going to be a short tale. The greatest thing about this grip is there are no major weaknesses.

Although waist level is probably the prime hitting zone, high balls and low balls present no major problems. This stoke is just good old fashioned solid.

Disadvantages: This too is going to be a short story. The major disadvantage is that usually nothing spectacular will come off the strings toward your opponent.

However, how many times have you lost a match because of inconsistency rather then the inability to hit winners. This grip will help you minimize miss hits and increase consistency.

  • Back swing (left) seems to fit a majority of players image of good preparation. The head of the racquet is well behind the hitting hand and perpendicular to the ground well before the ball has gotten within striking distance.
  • The center photo displays a comfortable height in the hitting zone for this style forehand.
  • A pretty typical follow through (right) with this stoke will end with the racquet head up on edge coming to a rest in the left hand,. Note how the bicep has remained down low and how linear the stoke is from preparation to follow through.


Grip #4: In the ready position the hitting hand is not centered. The throat of the racquet is angled across the body, the racquethead angled up, and the face fairly closed. I see this style dominating the pro tour.

Grip #4

(This is the grip I personally promote when given the option.)

Advantages: The great thing about using this grip is it will allow you to generate tremendous topspin when in the rally mode yet when it comes time to step up to the ball and flatten out your shot for a winner, there isn't a grip which will let you put more pace on the ball.

Take a look at some of today's players who like to hit that inside out forehand.

Disadvantages: Like the first grip we looked at, low balls will tend to create problems but with this grip it's much less of an issue. Slicing the ball is fairly limited and volleying will require some additional grip changes.

  • During the backswing (left), the butt of the racquet is drawn back way before the head and the hitting surface of the face remains closed then pauses at this moment for a sudden change of direction to smack the incoming ball.
  • The center photo displays a comfortable height in the hitting zone for this style forehand.
  • The Follow through (right) shows a bent elbow with the head coming up high and a closed face. The complete follow through will continue until the hand has reached the left shoulder and the closed face is over the shoulder

Well how did you do? Were you able to recognize yourself or any of your recent foes? Grip #1 was the Western, Grip #2 Continental, Grip #3 Eastern, and Grip #4 semi Western.

The next time you're listening to some local "expert" at your club or one of the tennis gurus during a television broadcast referring to a Western Grip, imagine Grip #1 and see if the game plan being executed fits the patterns I've set forth.

Now that you're nearly fluent in the language of grips, you can use this knowledge to your advantage. Next time you play a match, check out the way your opponent holds the racquet. You should be able to formulate a solid game even before the first point is played.

Corky Cramer, TennisONE contributing editor, is beginning a new series of articles from America's Great Teaching Pros. He is the Director of Tennis at the Montecito Heights Health and Racquet Club in Santa Rosa, California. 

As one of the top coaches in Canadian history, he developed over 50 players who won national titles, and coached over a dozen Davis Cup and Fed Cup players. A 25 year USPTA member, Corky is also a board member for The Advanced Tennis Research Project ( www.AdvancedTennis.com ).