Tennis racket grip comes in a range of sizes. The grip sizes start from 4” for juniors to 4 7/8” for the largest or adult hands. This may not look like much of a range, but the difference of even 1/8" grip is astounding. While choosing a racket grip for yourself, you have to be careful. For one, continued use of too small a grip can affect your hand, wrist and elbow, whereas too large a grip can also result in strain.
Tennis Racket Grip: How to choose the perfect one!
Are you a tennis freak? Do you have a unique taste for an exclusive racket? Are you pinned on to have your very own perfect tennis racket? If so, then at first you need to know what your exact grip size is. This is how you can do it. Watch out your palm thoroughly; it has three main creases. Now hold the hand flat with the fingers placed flat alongside each other. Hold your hand flat, with the fingers alongside one another. Now measure the length from the middle crease of your palm up the line between your middle and ring fingers, to an equal length up to the tip of your ring finger.
Tennis Grips of various Age Groups
- For most women, the racket grip measurement is between 4 1/8" and 4 3/8".
- Grip for most men is between 4 3/8" and 4 5/8".
- For the juniors, the tennis racket grip will generally measure less than 4".
To choose an apt tennis racket if you find you are between the eighths, it will be better to go with a larger grip. Grip, a little too large with 1/16”, may be a lot more comfortable than one that is slightly small.
Grip sizes between 4 1/8" and 4 5/8" are trouble-free to find in a racket meant for adults. In particular, the larger and smaller grips are made for the tennis racket, but then not all of them are made with that purpose in mind.
Tennis and Racket Grips
Tennis - to get started in this exciting game, you have to pick the right racket in the first place. To progress with tennis, you should know how to hold the racket in the right way. Tennis Racket plays a very significant part in your progress in the game. It helps you develop basic tennis skills.
If you are one tennis player with exceptionally large or small hands, you have nothing to worry. You can have your own custom-made tennis racket at any pro shop at $5 or $15.
Tennis players who are still in the junior division will need an exactly-made junior racket to play the right game. Matching the exact size of the palm hold and the tennis racket is very important.
Tennis Racket: Holding it the right way
To play tennis the right way and have fun, you have to hold the bat in an apt way.
- One of the holds that are the most popular with the beginners is the Eastern Hold. It is used with forehands and gives a lot of comfort. It is also used for backhands, volleys and serves.
- Grip of the next kind is handy for the players. Racket is to be held in front in the left hand or the right, if you are a leftie, before going for the serve. You will see the difference yourself.
- Grip method 3 is equally interesting. Tennis racket is to be rotated in a way that the strings are perpendicular to the ground.
- Tennis, to a great extent, depends on a player’s idea and expertise of holding the bat. Grip method 4 talks about laying the palm of the free hand flat on the face of the bat.
- Tennis is no doubt a game of technique. The player’s skill helps him secure a strong position. Grip is one factor that takes him one step closer to that aim. Tennis Racket is to be held firmly with the palm moving towards the body. Racket shaft and the end of the handle should hit on the way down.
- Racket holding technique 6 needs the player to drape his fingers around the handle and then space them slightly apart. The thumb and the forefinger are to lie approximately straight on top of the handle. It should form a V-shape, one that should point toward the right shoulder. For the lefties, the direction should be towards the left shoulder. The player’s thumb should stretch out transversely on the top of the handle.
- Next is the continental hold. Tennis technique number 7 refers to this. More often used by the experienced players this technique is used for the twin purposes of serving and volleying. Racket should be first held in the eastern hold to move on to the continental.
Last but not the least is the Western Hold. It is one excellent stroke for forehand play techniques. Tennis, as a game, gives more experienced players a lot of scope to use this hold for the forehand plays, serves, volleys and backhands. |
