A Complete Overview of The Semi-Western Forehand Grip

The semi-western grip is one of three primary tennis grips used to hold a tennis racquet when hitting a forehand. While there is no perfect grip, the semi-western grip has become one of the most popular forehand grips in tennis.

In this article we’ll explore the semi-western grip as well as the pros and cons associated with it.

The Semi-Wester Tennis Grip

It wasn’t all that long ago when the continental tennis grip was the primary grip used by tennis players for all strokes.

At the time, the continental grip was convenient, however as racquet and ball technology evolved and the sport because more competitive, the use of the continental forehand grip quickly became a thing of the past.

Through the evolution and increased competitiveness of the game, the semi-western grip was born, allowing players to hit highly aggressive shots with a significantly higher margin for error.

Now, years later, the semi-western grip has become one of the most popular tennis grips taught and it’s currently used by professional tennis players around the world.

Holding a Semi-Western Grip

In order to form a semi-western forehand grip we’ll first take a look at the racquet handle to help guide the position of our hand. You may have noticed that the handle of a racquet isn’t a perfect cylinder, or smooth all the way around the edge of the handle.

Rather, the handle of a tennis racquet forms roughly the shape of an octagon with eight sides. This is convenient as it allows players to better grip the racquet and prevent it from slipping while hitting, but it also provides a great reference point when learning various grips.

If you check out the diagram below, you’ll notice we’ve labeled each side or bevel of the racquet handle. In order to form the semi-western grip we can simply place the palm side of our index fingers knuckle against the fourth bevel if you’re right handed, or the 6th bevel if you are left handed.

For many beginners, the semi-western tennis grip might feel rather awkward at first, which is fairly natural so don’t worry if that’s the case for you. However, it’s worth sharing how things feel with your instructor, as there are other grips, such as the less extreme eastern grip, which may feel more comfortable to start with depending on the player.

Generally speaking most players will be taught one grip, either the eastern or semi-western, and then slowly progress to a grip that suites them and feels comfortable.

Benefits of the Semi-Western Grip

The primary benefit of the semi-western grip is a players ability to generate topspin. With the continental grip the face of the racquet was rather neutral, that is if you held the racquet out in front of you the frame would line up perpendicular to the ground.

However, with a semi-western grip the angle of the racquet face is closed or pointing towards the ground. As a result, when you swing and come in contact with the ball you can rather effortlessly brush up and over the top of a tennis ball to produce topspin.

Players using a semi-western grip can hit the ball higher over the net and ensure the ball drops back into the court due to the topspin generated. Ultimately, this allows players to much more aggressively and with a higher margin for error.

Drawbacks of the Semi-Western Grip

While the semi-western grip is an extremely common grip for tennis players there are two potential drawbacks to using it.

First, it can sometimes be challenging for players to transition quickly from a forehand to a volley. For example, if you were to step into the court to hit a forehand approach shot, and then continue forward to hit a volley, you’d need to quickly rotate the racquet handle in your hand as you performed a split step and moved forward.

For most players, this may come as a challenge early on, however through practice, it’s a relatively easy drawback to overcome.

In addition, it can be challenging for players to hit an extremely low ball that’s only a few inches from the ground, because the semi-western grip forces a player to hit under and over the ball to generate topspin.

Again, overtime this typically becomes less of a concern as most players will feel comfortable hitting a low ball or simply adjusting their grip for that particular shot.

Should I use the semi-western grip?

Unfortunately there isn’t a simple answer to this question. Everyone is built differently, so each forehand grip will feel different for every player.

However, the semi-western grip can be a great starting point for many players – it’s not overly extreme or too conservative. With that said, most players will need to experiment with the eastern, semi-western and western grips to get a sense for what feels comfortable.

It can also be helpful to recognize that for many players it can take some time to grow into the grip that works best. The key is to be flexible. If you have the opportunity to spend time working with a tennis instructor they can help you work through the process.

Have questions about the semi-western tennis grip? Feel free to ask us in the comments below.

Photo Credit: 28 DIAS

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