Kohlschreiber's Return Grip

[rosheem]

I just noticed that Philipp Kohlschreiber waits to return in an extreme backhand grip, and stays in that same grip for a forehand return. This allows him to hit his western grip forehand or backhand without shifting his grip.

He is the only pro I've seen who does this...I started by checking Henin and Kuerten since I thought they both hit with fairly closed grips on both sides, but they both do it the more traditional way by starting in something close to continental or eastern FH, and then rotating to their backhand grip for a BH return.

Kohlschreiber's approach seems interesting. I suppose the drawback would be that it might make the chip or slice return more difficult.

[carrerakent]

rosheem...the chip or slice return is pretty non=existent these days. especially for kohl who has such a good backhand it would be silly to slice/chip it back.

artem sitak does the same thing. he waits in a double back hand grip and doesn't' move the right hand at all for a forehand...not just on returns either. they both hit the ball on opposite sides of the strings on BH vs FH. it really does make more sense than all of the grip shifting all of the rest of us millions do...also makes more sense that a two handed BH'er would do it since the racket handle is swung with the top hand and not the hand used for the forehand.

[jaguarbob]

rosheem...the chip or slice return is pretty non=existent these days. especially for kohl who has such a good backhand it would be silly to slice/chip it back.

artem sitak does the same thing. he waits in a double back hand grip and doesn't' move the right hand at all for a forehand...not just on returns either. they both hit the ball on opposite sides of the strings on BH vs FH. it really does make more sense than all of the grip shifting all of the rest of us millions do...also makes more sense that a two handed BH'er would do it since the racket handle is swung with the top hand and not the hand used for the forehand.

Slice return non-existent??? Silly to chip it back??? Have you ever heard of this guy named Roger Federer? He's got a pretty good backhand itself. But he also knows to use the slice backhand return as well. And he's not too shabby at it.

[GeoffWilliams]

Berasetegui did it. I do it. It's called the unigrip, frying pan full western grip, string bed face down, with wrist fully locked back, for a closed face. Saves time on returns due to no grip change. The first three bh I tried with it bounced into the ground before hitting the wall. Almost everyone changes grips when returning. I switched to the uni grip to save return time and eliminate the grip change. The return has to be very natural and fast reacting.