Years ago, Tennisplayer created a new system for identifying forehand grips. The usual verbal terminology was obviously too vague and inaccurate. Eastern, semi western, western?
What did those words mean and how did they compare with how top players actually held the racket? It was apparent that there were many variations not accurately reflected in the standard terminology. (For that groundbreaking article, Click Here for Part 1. Click Here for Part 2.)
We created this new system by numbering the bevels on the racket handle, and then identifying two key points on the hand. The bevels were numbered 1 to 8. The key points on the hand were the base of the index knuckle and the center of the heel pad.
Then we looked at how various top players matched them up. Where did the index knuckle and the heel pad connect with which bevel or bevels or the edges of the bevels?
Suddenly we had a far more precise way of identifying and labeling grips and could differentiate the grips of the top players. We could see several variations of eastern and also semi western. But none of the players we looked at were fully western with the hand fully under the handle.
John Yandell is widely acknowledged as one of the leading videographers and students of the modern game of professional tennis. His high speed filming for Advanced Tennis and Tennisplayer have provided new visual resources that have changed the way the game is studied and understood by both players and coaches. He has done personal video analysis for hundreds of high level competitive players, including Justine Henin-Hardenne, Taylor Dent and John McEnroe, among others.
In addition to his role as Editor of Tennisplayer he is the author of the critically acclaimed book Visual Tennis. The John Yandell Tennis School is located in San Francisco, California.
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