The way you hold your tennis racquet dictates the spin, power, and trajectory of your shots. While modern baseline bashers often default to heavy topspin grips, there is an enduring elegance and devastating efficiency to the traditional eastern grip.
For decades, eastern grip tennis was the gold standard on the pro tour. It allows players to flatten out the ball, drive through the court, and seamlessly transition to the net. Though the heavily spun semi-western grip dominates today's game, the eastern grip remains a vital tool for players looking for penetrating pace, aggressive court positioning, and classical all-court versatility.
Whether you are a beginner learning your first forehand, or an intermediate player looking to flatten out your approach shots, understanding the nuances of this grip can completely transform your offensive capabilities.
THE SHORT ANSWER
The eastern grip is a classic tennis grip achieved by placing your index knuckle and heel pad on the third bevel of the racquet handle. Also known as the "shake hands" grip, it naturally produces a flatter, more driving ball trajectory, making it ideal for aggressive baseline play, attacking low balls, and smoothly transitioning to the net.
To understand the eastern grip, you first need to understand the anatomy of a tennis racquet handle. The handle is an octagon consisting of eight flat sides, known as bevels. If you hold the racquet frame perpendicular to the ground (like you are holding a hammer) and look at the butt cap, Bevel 1 is the flat surface facing straight up.
Moving clockwise for a right-handed player (or counter-clockwise for a left-handed player), the bevels are numbered 1 through 8. The eastern forehand grip is formed when the base knuckle of your index finger and the heel pad of your palm rest squarely on Bevel 3.
Because of this hand placement, the racquet face remains naturally vertical when extended in front of the body. This structural alignment allows players to hit directly through the back of the tennis ball, transferring maximum linear momentum into the shot. It is vastly different from the continental grip, which is primarily reserved for serves, volleys, and slices.
How to Find the Eastern Grip
- ✓The Shake Hands Method: Hold the throat of the racquet with your non-dominant hand so the strings are perpendicular to the floor. Extend your dominant hand, keeping your palm flat, and simply "shake hands" with the grip.
- ✓The Flat Surface Method: Place your racquet flat on a table or the court surface. Pick it up by the handle naturally. You will almost always pick it up in a perfect eastern forehand grip.
- ✓The Bevel Method: Locate Bevel 1 on top, count clockwise to Bevel 3 (for righties), and place your index knuckle and heel pad right on that edge.
Every grip in tennis represents a trade-off between power, spin, and the optimal contact point. The eastern grip leans heavily toward power, driving depth, and early ball-striking.
The Power Advantage
Because the racquet face is flat at the point of contact, players using the eastern grip drive the ball rather than brushing up the back of it. This results in a heavy, penetrating ball that skids quickly through the court upon bouncing. It robs opponents of time, making it a fantastic weapon for players who like to step inside the baseline and dictate play.
The Net Transition
If you are an all-court player or enjoy serve-and-volley tactics, the eastern grip is highly beneficial. Transitioning from an eastern forehand grip (Bevel 3) to a continental volley grip (Bevel 2) requires turning the racquet handle by just one bevel. This fraction-of-a-second shift is much easier to execute when sprinting forward than rotating from an extreme western grip.
PRO TIP
Because the eastern grip naturally hits a flatter ball, good tennis footwork is essential. You must bend your knees to get down to low balls, as you cannot rely on heavy topspin to pull a loosely hit ball back down into the court.
Icons of the Eastern Grip
When discussing eastern grip tennis, we are talking about some of the most graceful, aggressive, and iconic ball-strikers in the history of the sport. While the modern game on the ATP Tour features a multitude of semi-western grips, several legends have used the eastern grip to devastating effect.
Roger Federer: Often cited as having the most beautiful forehand in tennis history, Federer uses what is best described as a "modified eastern" grip. It sits right on the edge between a true eastern and a mild semi-western grip. This allows him to hit his trademark flat, penetrating inside-out forehands while still generating enough topspin to keep the ball deep and safe.
Pete Sampras: The 14-time Grand Slam champion used a classic eastern forehand. Known for his aggressive, all-court game, Sampras used the eastern grip to hit a heavy, running forehand and quickly transition forward to close out points at the net.
Juan Martin del Potro: To understand the sheer velocity capable of being produced by eastern grip tennis, look no further than del Potro. The towering Argentine utilized an eastern grip to hit one of the most feared, flat, and explosive forehands the game has ever seen, frequently hitting clean winners through the most elite defenders.
Chris Evert: On the women’s side, Evert’s legendary baseline consistency and pinpoint accuracy were anchored by an eastern forehand grip, proving its viability for steady, tactical baseline rallies.
The eastern grip allows players to 'punch' through the ball with effortless timing. It forces you to rely on proper mechanics and weight transfer rather than just brute wrist strength.
Tennis Fundamentals
While the forehand often gets all the attention, the eastern backhand grip is a cornerstone technique for players who use a one-handed backhand. It provides the stability required to absorb pace and the biomechanical leverage to drive through the ball.
To find the eastern one-handed backhand grip, a right-handed player will place their index knuckle on Bevel 1 (the very top bevel). If you start in an eastern forehand grip (Bevel 3), you must rotate the racquet handle counter-clockwise by two bevels. This grip places the palm of your hand behind the handle, providing crucial wrist support upon contact.
Like the forehand, the eastern backhand is brilliant for driving the ball flat down the line, but it can be challenging to use when returning a high-bouncing kick serve above the shoulder. This is why many one-handed backhand players must master taking the ball early, on the rise, to prevent the ball from climbing out of their optimal strike zone.
TACTICAL INSIGHT
Handling High Balls
Because the eastern grip struggles with high, heavy topspin, modern players must adjust. If you use an eastern grip and face a heavy-spinning opponent, commit to stepping inside the baseline and hitting the ball on the rise, or dropping back deep to let the ball drop back down into your waist-high strike zone.
Eastern vs. Semi-Western: Which Should You Choose?
The debate between the eastern and semi-western grip is one of the most common topics in tennis instruction. According to resources from the USTA, there is no single "correct" grip; it depends entirely on your play style, physical build, and the surfaces you frequent.
If you play on fast indoor hard courts or grass, the eastern grip is spectacular. The ball stays low on these surfaces, playing perfectly into the eastern grip's preferred strike zone around waist height. It also allows you to capitalize on the faster court speed by driving the ball linearly.
However, if you play primarily on slow, gritty clay courts, a semi-western grip (index knuckle on Bevel 4) might be a safer bet. The semi-western grip closes the racquet face slightly, allowing you to aggressively brush up the back of the ball. This generates the heavy topspin necessary to push opponents back on slower surfaces.
Many players find a happy medium by adopting a "modified eastern" grip, floating somewhere between Bevel 3 and Bevel 4. This blended approach offers the flat power of the eastern grip with just enough safety margin provided by the semi-western spin mechanics.
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3 The bevel used for an Eastern Forehand. |
4 The bevel used for a Semi-Western Forehand. |
1 The bevel used for an Eastern Backhand. |
Drills to Perfect Your Eastern Grip
If you are transitioning to eastern grip tennis or looking to refine your current technique, repetition is key. Because the margin for error is smaller than a heavy topspin grip, your spacing and timing must be precise.
1. Mini-Tennis (Service Box Rallies)
Start inside the service boxes. Using the eastern grip, practice gently pushing the ball back and forth with a smooth, compact swing. Because the racquet face is flat, focus on a clean transfer of weight and hitting the ball cleanly in the center of the strings. Do not try to snap your wrist for spin; let the natural swing path do the work.
2. The Low-Ball Attack Drill
Have a partner or coach feed low, skidding balls (sliced feeds work best) toward your forehand. Focus on bending your knees to get your center of gravity down, stepping into the court, and driving through the ball with your eastern grip. The goal is to keep your shot deep and penetrating.
3. Approach and Volley Transitions
Feed a short ball to the middle of the court. Sprint forward, hit an aggressive approach shot using your eastern forehand, and immediately shift your grip one bevel over to the continental grip as you split-step for the incoming volley. This drill builds the muscle memory required to change grips swiftly without looking down at your hand.
The Golden Rule of the Eastern Grip
Hit through the ball, not just up the back of it. The power comes from linear momentum, requiring excellent forward weight transfer and early ball recognition.
Tracking Your Improvements
As you refine your mechanics and integrate the eastern grip into your game, you will naturally want to see how these technical improvements translate to match play. Measuring your progress in tennis can sometimes be frustrating if you only look at simple win-loss records. Understanding what UTR is and how the UTR Rating works provides a much clearer picture of your development.
Because a UTR Rating evaluates the percentage of games won in a match, as well as the skill level of your opponent, it offers a granular look at your performance. If your newly minted eastern forehand helps you win a few extra aggressive games against a highly-rated opponent—even in a loss—your rating might actually improve. Tracking your rating over time is one of the best ways to ensure that technical changes, like grip adjustments, are genuinely elevating your competitive level.
Conclusion: Embrace the Classic Grip
In an era dominated by extreme grips and heavy topspin, the eastern grip remains a beautiful, highly effective alternative. It rewards players who possess good timing, clean footwork, and an aggressive, forward-thinking mindset. By placing your knuckle on the third bevel, you unlock the ability to hit flat, penetrating shots that can rush opponents and put you in control of the point.
Whether you use it as your primary forehand grip, a situational tool for attacking low balls, or a stepping stone toward a more hybrid style, mastering eastern grip tennis adds a crucial layer of versatility to your game. So the next time you step onto the court, shake hands with your racquet, bend your knees, and enjoy the effortless power of this classic technique.