What Is An Eastern Grip In Tennis?

An eastern grip in tennis is one of the newer grips. It evolved from the continental grip in the 1920s. Benefits of the eastern grip include comfort in holding the tennis racquet and that it is very similar to the continental grip, which is widely known. Keep reading to learn how the eastern grip works in tennis.

Eastern Grip

Players hold a racket with an eastern grip by placing the side of the racket handle that is parallel to the face of the racket in the palm of their dominant hand. The fingers are then wrapped comfortably around the handle. The eastern grip can be used for forehand and backhand shots and is typically executed one-handed even on backhands.

Benefits of the Eastern Grip

The eastern grip is good for hitting more aggressive shots, as the player using an eastern grip has good control of the racquet. On the contrary, western grips may be good for aggressive shots, but are not good grips for having comfort and control over the racket.

Another benefit of the eastern grip is its proximity to the continental grip. If a player wants to change grips quickly to hit a front-court shot, they could quickly and easily change from an eastern grip to a continental grip, and back again.

Drawbacks of the Eastern Grip

The one drawback of an eastern grip is that it is challenging to generate topspin. However, players can quickly change to a continental grip for more topspin when wanted. The eastern grip allows for flexibility and comfort when playing tennis, which is beneficial throughout a whole tennis match.