Tennis Technique, Grips & Strokes
Your grip is the starting point for every shot you hit. The way you hold your racket affects everything from how naturally you can swing to how much spin you can create.
Understanding the main types of tennis grips gives you a clearer foundation for every stroke. In this guide, we’ll walk through the grips that shape your forehand, backhand, volley, and serve.
Key Takeaways
The main types of tennis grips range within continental, eastern, semi-western, and western.
Your grip affects the angle of the racket face and the shots you can produce comfortably.
Semi-western grips are common for modern topspin forehands, while continental grips are commonly used for serves, volleys, and slice shots.
Backhand grip choices depend partly on whether you hit a one- or two-handed backhand.
Fast grip changes get easier when you use your nondominant hand to help position the racket.
A grip adjustment can sometimes improve your long-term potential without you having to rebuild your entire technique.
The Main Types of Tennis Grips
There are several different types of grips in tennis, but four serve as benchmarks for developing players: continental, eastern, semi-western, and western. "When evaluating a player's grip, the coach must take into consideration the individual's personality, game style and long-term goals," said Margie Zesinger, IMG Academy female tennis technical director.
Each one positions your hand differently on the racket, changing how the strings meet the ball.
Grip | How to Find It* | Best For |
Continental | Rest the base knuckle of your index finger on bevel 2. | Serves, volleys, slices, overheads |
Eastern | Rotate your hand so the index fingers’ base knuckle sits on bevel 3. | Flatter forehands and versatile groundstrokes |
Semi-Western | Rotate further so the index finger’s base knuckle sits on bevel 4. | Topspin forehands |
Western | Rotate all the way so the index finger’s base knuckle sits on bevel 5. | Heavy topspin forehands and high-bouncing balls |
*Bevel positions apply to right-handed players. Left-handed players should mirror the bevels in the chart (e.g., for continental grip, the base knuckle of the index finger rests on bevel 8).
No single grip works best for every player. The right choice depends on:
Your playing style. An aggressive baseliner chasing heavy topspin might use the semi-western grip, while an all-court player might prefer the eastern grip’s versatility.
The technique you’re developing. Working on a two-handed backhand, for example, calls for a different grip combination than refining a one-handed slice.
Choosing a grip that will allow you to reach your full potential and will not limit you in your future is the most important. It’s also very important to work with the strengths for each grips. Using the advantage of what the grip provides is also very critical.
Different Types of Tennis Grips for the Forehand, Backhand, and Serve
Below, we’ll cover the types of tennis grips that fit each major stroke.
Forehand Tennis Grips
The most common types of grips in tennis for the forehand are eastern, semi-western, and western:
The eastern grip can help you drive through the ball with a more level swing path.
The semi-western grip supports topspin and is widely suited to the modern baseline game.
A western grip can create heavy topspin but may make low balls harder to handle.
Don’t pick a grip just because another player uses it. Start by checking whether your grip lets you meet the ball at a comfortable contact point. If you constantly feel late or can’t control the racket face, you might take another look at your hand position.
Backhand Tennis Grips
Your backhand technique depends on whether you use one hand or two:
A one-handed backhand can often range within the eastern backhand grip to a semi-western.
A two-handed backhand pairs a continental or eastern backhand grip on your dominant (bottom) hand with an eastern or semi-western forehand grip on your nondominant (top) hand for extra topspin and control.
Don't try to force your forehand grip onto the backhand. That can leave the racket face in the wrong position, making clean contact harder. Practice finding your backhand grip before the ball arrives. With enough reps, your hands will start moving into position without you thinking about it.
"There are a lot of different styles out there now, but I personally love if you're a two-handed backhand, your left hand is in your backhand grip, but that's personal preference," said Weylu Chang, IMG Academy Boys Tennis Technical Director.
Serving Tennis Grips
The continental grip is the cornerstone of a reliable serve. It lets the racket move through the proper throwing motion, which helps you generate pace (shot speed) and all of the spins as you develop different serve variations. A common beginner mistake is serving with a forehand-style grip because it feels more familiar. That position can make the serve feel like a pushing motion rather than a full overhead action. If you’re just learning to serve, get comfortable with the continental grip before worrying about hitting harder.
Switching Grips Mid-Rally
Experienced players might change grips several times during a rally, but the movements are quick and efficient.
Your nondominant hand can help guide the racket as you get ready for the next shot.
After a forehand, use that hand to support the throat of the racket as you recover.
As the next ball approaches, you can rotate the racket into the grip you need before beginning the swing.
Start slowly. Shadow your forehand-to-backhand transition without a ball, then practice with controlled feeds. Once the hand switch feels natural, speed it up.
Fixing Stroke Flaws Without Overhauling Everything
Not every missed shot means your entire stroke needs improvement. Sometimes the problem starts with the grip. Location and shot often determines grip.
If your racket face is consistently opening or closing at contact, check your hand position first. The same goes if you’re struggling with low balls, high balls, or generating topspin. Your grip might be working against the shot you’re trying to hit.
If you think you need to change up your technique, make one adjustment at a time. Test the change during slow feeds before bringing it into live points. A small grip correction can feel uncomfortable at first, so give yourself enough repetitions to learn the new position before judging whether it works.
The key is patience and learning to control the controllables. Focusing on preparation and the next technical step, rather than the result, helps you stick with it as the adjustment becomes more natural.
"You have to evaluate the ceiling of the technique," said Chang.
How IMG Academy Develops Complete Tennis Players
Long-term development goes beyond perfecting your forehand or serve. Technique gives you more options on the court, but it works best with mental preparation and smart training habits you can stick with over time.
That’s how our coaches approach development. Grip work, stroke mechanics, and on-court strategy and technique that is battle-tested under competition are all part of it, but so is building the mental side and the daily routines that keep you improving when no one’s watching. Our sports performance coaching is built around that full holistic picture.
Conclusion: Build Tennis Strokes from the Grip Up
The types of tennis grips you use shape nearly every major shot in your game. A sound grip gives your stroke a better starting point, and efficient grip changes help you respond faster as rallies develop.
If you’re still building your fundamentals, IMG Academy+ Essentials offers on-demand resources for tennis players that you can explore at your own pace. If you’re ready for more hands-on support, IMG Academy+ Personal Coach connects you with a coach who will work with you one-on-one on mental performance and nutrition to make your game stronger on and off the court.
FAQs
Which grip should I use for each stroke, and why?
The continental grip covers serves, volleys, slices, and overheads. Forehands typically use a range of eastern, semi-western, or western grips, depending on topspin and contact point.
Backhands depend on one or two hands: one-handed backhands usually use an eastern grip, while two-handed backhands pair a continental or eastern grip on the dominant hand with an eastern or semi-western grip on the nondominant hand.
How do I switch grips quickly during a fast rally?
Prepare your racket early, using your nondominant hand to guide the handle into position instead of waiting until the ball arrives. Practice the change without hitting first, then add controlled feeds and gradually speed up until it becomes automatic.
How do I know if my grip is holding back my strokes?
Watch for patterns like trouble controlling the racket face, generating spin, or making clean contact. These don't always point to your grip, but a coach can give you a second opinion before you overhaul your whole swing.
How do I develop a reliable serve technique from scratch?
Start with the continental grip, then build the motion in stages: preparation, toss, racket path, and contact point. Focus on a repeatable motion before adding power. Speed comes once the mechanics are solid.
How do I fix a stroke flaw without overhauling everything?
Identify one clear problem first: grip, preparation, contact point, or racket face. Then, work on it with slow, controlled reps. Avoid changing multiple things at once; give each adjustment time to settle before moving to the next.
How long does it take to get comfortable changing grips?
It varies by experience and practice frequency. Grip changes start as conscious effort but become natural with reps. Short, focused sessions with shadow swings, grip-change drills, and controlled rallies speed up the process.
