Playing With The Western Grip – Tennis Grips Explained

This blog is dedicated to the Western Grip, a tennis grip that produces EXTREME levels of topspin. It is not something you see very often in club-level tennis matches, but some players use it. Let’s analyse it further.

Remember the Bevels

As mentioned in other blog posts, the tennis racket anatomy states that the handle is comprised of 8 points. The sides of the 8-pointed shape are called bevels. We place our hands around the handle, and put our fingers on the different bevels, creating different grips in the process.

For ease of reference, we take note of the placement of the index knuckle and the heel pad of the hand. Their placement enables tennis players to easily understand the difference between the grips.

The bevels are numbered 1 through 8 going clockwise for right-handed players. For left-handed players, these go counterclockwise. Bevel #1 will be the bevel facing up if you were to hold your racket perpendicular to the ground. This way, even lefties are able to follow this blog.

What is the Western Grip?

This tennis grip allows players to hit the ball with a lot of topspin. Clay court specialists generally favour it as it gives them the best opportunity to whip the ball and attack their opponents from the baseline. It is interesting to note that this grip is favoured by baseliners, and netters rarely use this grip. The transition from the Western grip to any other grip is simply too complex to be done mid-point. However, one can still hit a volley at the net with this type of grip (it’s just super difficult). 

How do you get the Western Grip?

In order to achieve a full Western Grip, you should place the heel pad and index knuckle of your dominant hand on bevel number five.

To get to this point, hold the racket with your non-dominant hand so that the tennis racket is perpendicular to the ground, that is 90 degrees. Like this, you should be looking at bevel number 1. Twist the racket clockwise or anti-clockwise, depending on whether you’re a left-handed or a right-handed player. Once you get to the fifth bevel, make sure to spread your fingers around the handle of the racket, ensuring wide coverage and a comfortable hold.

What Players favour the Western Grip?

As mentioned, clay court players favour this grip. However, there are several players who make use of a Western grip or a version that is similar to it. Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic use an extreme version of a Semi-Western grip, making them appear as if they’re hitting the ball with a full-Western grip. Iga Swiatek also plays with such a grip. 

Which shots use the Extreme Grip?

This question can be answered very easily, as the only shots which use this type of grip are the groundstrokes. With a Western Grip, the racket is swung from low to high at a high trajectory. This creates topspin as a result of the whip effect generated by the fast racket head swing and wrist rotation. But more on this in the technical analysis of the grip itself.

Advantages of the Western Grip

• Can generate extreme levels of topspin
• Can be used for aggressive play
• Higher net clearance

Disadvantages of the Western Grip

• Difficult to use when receiving low balls
• Requires a fast racket head swing and tremendous wrist strength, increasing risk of forearm and wrist injuries
• Difficult to switch to the Continental Grip when coming up to the net

Technical Analysis of the Western Grip

Biomechanics of the Grip

With our hand positioned firmly on bevel number five, the tennis racket should be facing at an angle. The angle can be said to be between 30 and 45 degrees to the ground. When hitting the ball, players must use the wrist and forearm muscles to rotate the face of the racket, whipping the ball, and creating an exaggerated follow-through that finishes high above the shoulder.

One has to note that with this grip, your tennis racket grip size mustn’t be too big. The reason being that it will very easily twist uncontrollably, causing mishits and lost balls.

I personally don’t recommend this to beginners as it can feel weird to hold the racket at such an angle. If used incorrectly, injuries in the wrist and forearm can occur quite frequent

Effects on Shot Making

The Western grip profoundly impacts one’s groundstrokes as it generates extreme levels of topspin. This allows players to hit the ball with a greater margin for error over the net while maintaining control. It also helps players maintain a super high net clearance. The increased topspin results in shots that dip sharply after going over the net, making things rather challenging for opponents to handle.

The grip is particularly effective for high balls as it allows players to strike with an upward brushing motion – what we refer to as low to high. However, it is more difficult to hit low balls with such a grip. Players must get beneath the ball, which can be awkward and less powerful than other grips.

With regards to the different shots that one can hit with the Western Grip, players are limited to groundstrokes only. Other shots, especially volleys, are rather difficult to execute with such a grip due to the nature of how the racket has to be held.

Tactical Considerations

From a tactical standpoint, this grip is ideal for baseline rallies and aggressive play. Its ability to generate heavy topspin makes it difficult for opponents to attack, often forcing them into defensive positions. Players who use this grip can push their opponents back behind the baseline, creating opportunities to dominate points. However, its limitations become evident during net play as it is awkward to switch to a Continental or Eastern Grip. Additionally, the Western Grip is also not the best suited for fast surfaces, where lower bounces are common.

If you see your opponent playing with a Western Grip, get them to the net and hit low balls. If not, you will be bullied and pushed around the court. No one wants to run all over the court and just defend, right?