Last week we talked about the topspin forehand. This week are talking about something that can affect your ability to hit the ball with spin…your grip size. Grip sizes used by pro tennis players have been in the spot light off and on in the last few years. Rafael Nadal has a 4 1/4″ grip size while Serena Williams uses 4 5/8″. What difference does it make for you? Mostly it’s preference, but there are arguments for creating spin and arm comfort.
If you already put a lot of spin on the ball, a smaller grip may help generate more. Today’s lighter, open string pattern frames make it easier to put more spin on the ball and a smaller grip helps players whip the racket head faster. The smaller grip accomplishes this in 2 ways.
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you can slide the heel of your hand off the end of the racket, making it effectively longer and allowing for more snap, especially on the serve.
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more wrist snap is possible for ground strokes using today’s extreme western forehands and open-stance hitting styles
Older, heavier rackets necessitate larger grips so players can control the racket, especially on off center hits. Heavier rackets can also create arm discomfort with smaller grips.
So analyze (or better yet, have a pro analyze) your swing style and your racket, and try out some different grip sizes to see if your game could benefit from a new grip size.