How to Hold a Tennis Racket: 5 Grips Every Player Should Know

Your tennis grip determines everything — how the racket face sits at contact, how much spin you can generate, and which shots feel natural. The five main grips are Continental, Eastern, Semi-Western, Western, and Two-Handed Backhand. Learn which bevel of the handle each grip uses, then choose based on your style and level.

Understanding the Handle Bevels

A tennis racket handle has eight flat sides (bevels), numbered 1–8 for the right-handed player. Your grip is defined by which bevel sits under the base knuckle of your index finger.

The Five Main Tennis Grips

Grip	Index Knuckle Bevel	Best For	Spin Tendency
Continental	Bevel 2	Serve, volleys, slices	Flat / backspin
Eastern Forehand	Bevel 3	All-round forehand	Flat to light topspin
Semi-Western Forehand	Bevel 4	Modern topspin baseline	Moderate to heavy topspin
Western Forehand	Bevel 5	Heavy topspin on high balls	Very heavy topspin
Eastern Backhand	Bevel 1	One-handed backhand	Flat to topspin

Continental Grip

The Continental — knuckle on bevel 2 — is sometimes called the “hammer grip.” It is the foundation of serving, overhead smashes, volleys, and slice shots. Most coaches teach this first for serve mechanics because the wrist can pronate naturally through the swing. For groundstrokes, it produces a flatter trajectory and is less common on the modern baseline.

Eastern Forehand Grip

Place your hand flat on the strings, then slide it down to the handle without rotating. The knuckle lands on bevel 3. This is the most natural resting position for most players and produces clean, flat-to-moderate topspin forehands. It is the most recommended starting grip for beginners because it does not put excessive stress on the wrist.

Semi-Western Forehand Grip

Rotate one bevel clockwise from Eastern (bevel 4). This is the dominant forehand grip on the modern professional tour. It closes the racket face slightly at impact, naturally promoting topspin. It works best with balls hit at mid-to-high contact points — which is why it pairs well with heavy topspin play.

Western Forehand Grip

One more bevel clockwise from Semi-Western (bevel 5). This extreme grip produces very heavy topspin but struggles with low balls. Players who use it typically hit with high, looping groundstrokes.

Two-Handed Backhand

The dominant hand holds a Continental grip; the non-dominant hand wraps on above it in a loose Eastern forehand grip. The non-dominant hand does most of the work. This grip is widely taught to beginners for stability and is used by a large proportion of professionals.

How to Practice Grip Changes

In live play, you must switch grips between shots — Continental for volleys, Semi-Western for groundstrokes — quickly and without looking. Practice this:

1. Hold the racket in Continental at your side.
2. Drop the racket head slightly and rotate the handle into your forehand grip.
3. Repeat until it becomes automatic.

Most coaches recommend drilling grip changes separately before combining them with footwork and stroke mechanics.

Common Mistakes

• Gripping too tightly. A relaxed grip (loosened during the swing, firm at contact) allows the wrist to flow and reduces arm fatigue. Squeezing throughout a match is a frequent cause of tennis elbow.
• Not changing grips. Using one grip for every shot is a common beginner habit that limits both spin and control.
• Starting with too extreme a grip. The Western grip is hard to master. Most coaches recommend building from Eastern or Semi-Western.

Quick summary: The five main tennis grips are Continental (serve/volleys), Eastern (all-round forehand), Semi-Western (modern topspin forehand), Western (heavy topspin), and Two-Handed Backhand. Beginners should start with Eastern forehand and Continental for serve. Practice grip changes until they are automatic.