For more than a decade, Ashok Pinnamaraju has been working as a pharmacist. Starting his career at Walgreens in Minnesota, he soon became part-owner of a Lexcare Pharmacy and now serves as owner of the independent Williamson Road Pharmacy in Roanoke, Virginia. When he’s not overseeing the daily operations of his business, Ashok Pinnamaraju enjoys playing tennis.
Tennis players employ several racket grips over the course of a game. The grip depends on which bevel the heel pad and index knuckle of the hand rest upon when holding the racket. Here are a few of the more popular tennis racket grips:
- Continental. Also known as the hammer or chopper grip, the continental grip is ideal for serves, overheads, slices, and volleys. Although it is the standard grip for many shots, the continental lacks consistency and makes adding topspin difficult. For this grip, both the index knuckle and heel pad are on bevel two.
- Eastern forehand. With the index knuckle and heel pad on bevel three, this grip is best suited for fast, flat shots. Due to the hand positions, most shots made with an eastern forehand grip come from waist level. Unfortunately, players using this grip cannot control high balls very well.
- Semi-western. Used for both forehand and backhand swings, the semi-western has become the preferred grip for forehand swings due to its ability to provide power and topspin while maintaining control. To hold a semi-western grip, the index knuckle and heel pad must be on bevel four.
