Eastern vs Western vs Semi-Western 🎾 Which Tennis Forehand Grip Is BEST For YOU?
When it comes to the forehand in tennis, the foundation is set by the way you hold your racket, your forehand grip. So which forehand grip is the best one for your game?
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There are three main ways to hold a racket on your forehand side:
1. The eastern forehand grip
2. The semi-western forehand grip, and
3. The western forehand grip

Each grip has pros and cons, and in this lesson, Coach Simon Konov of Top Tennis Training will explain in-depth each grip and hopefully give you all the important information required for you to make a decision on the best forehand grip for your playing style.

Eastern Forehand Grip
This is where you have the heel pad and the base of your index finger on bevel 3 on the grip. Due to the angle of the strings with this grip, it's much easier to flatten out the forehand, plus has a longer strike zone so it's easier to time your forehand effectively.

This grip would suit an aggressive game style, someone who likes to attack the net and play a more attacking style of play.
This grip works best on medium and low balls, but some players will struggle to handle high balls and create topspin using the eastern forehand grip.

Semi-Western Forehand Grip
This grip is where you have the heel pad and index knuckle base on bevel 4 of the grip. This is the most commonly used grip on both the ATP and WTA tours, and for good reason. It's the most versatile of the three grips, allowing you to create heavy topspin but also flatten out the forehand.
It's ideal for dealing with low, medium and high balls, and can be used on all court surfaces from grass to clay to hard court.

The only real negative is the fact you cannot extend through the strike zone as much as with the eastern forehand grip, but overall, it's the best grip for the vast majority of tennis players.

Western Forehand Grip
This grip is where you have the heel pad and index knuckle on bevel 5 on the grip, which is the most extreme of the three main forehand grips.
Due to the angle of the strings, it's ideal for producing heavy topspin but it isn't great for the flatter shots.
It's perfect for dealing with high balls, and many juniors will adopt this grip if they're playing on high-bouncing surfaces with normal tennis balls.

The major cons with this grip are the fact it's very hard to handle low balls and extremely difficult to hit flatter forehands or have an extended strike zone.

Video Timeline:
00:00 - Why your forehand grip matters
01:02 - Eastern Forehand Grip
03:34 - Semi-Western Forehand Grip
05:00 - Western Forehand Grip
08:16 - How to choose your forehand grip

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