[juninhOH]

Hi,

Right when I begun practsing tennis (3 weeks ago), I didn't know there were different ways to hold a raquet. I just found out watching forehand videos that my coach teached me the 'continental' way to hold the raquet. The guy in the video told "me" to hold it in 'semi-western' (if I heard correctly) way.

He says it's easier to hit topspin and I can also hit the ball flat. So, why did my coach teach me continental? I was reading and it seems like noone else uses it anymore. Did he teach me because its the easier way to learn because I have no experience at all with holding a raquet before? Should I talk to him and try to change it to western (or semi-western) right in the next class?

Thanks.

 

[GlennMirnyi]

Your coach taught you the eastern forehand, not continental. I don't think anybody who learnt tennis after the 80s learnt continental forehands. Continental is for volleying/serving/slicing and some backhands.
It took me a while to change to semi-western to be honest.

 

[juninhOH]

hey gustavo can I have your msn?

 

[Kolya]

If you want to learn the semi western or western grip, firstly you have to learn the correct technique and action to put topspin on the ball.

 

[sheeter]

Trust your coach. I doubt he's teaching you continental, though. Probably eastern, which is fine. Sampras used an eastern grip.