Eastern
The Eastern grip originated on the medium-bouncing courts in the eastern United States. It is the classic forehand grip. The Eastern grip offers flexibility for individual styles, comfort for beginners, and versatility for all surfaces.
The Eastern backhand, the classic backhand grip, offers maximum stability and allows the player to drive the ball and hit with topspin. Pete Sampras employed this grip. I recommend to most players that they adopt a strong Eastern grip on topspin backhands.
The advantages of the eastern grip are that it is easy for beginners to learn, it is easy to generate power, it is ideal for waist high balls, and you can hit a variety of topspin, underspin and flat drive. The disadvantage is that it is difficult to hit very high balls.
Semi-Western Forehand
This grip offers both strength and control to the forehand. Beginners feel comfortable with it because the palm of the hand supports the racquet and provides additional racquet-head stability at contact. It is especially suited for hitting powerful topspin and loop forehands.
The advantages to this grip are that shoulder high balls are easy to hit, you can hit heavy topspin and you can disguise your shots. The disadvantage is that low balls are difficult, slicing is difficult and grip changes are required to hit volleys and overheads.
The Semi-western backhand is the same as the Semi-western forehand in reference to the hand and the racquet, but reversed. This grip offers considerable topspin but requires strength and ability to accelerate the racquet on contact.
This grip tends to cause the player to lead with the elbow during the forward swing. A more advanced player might consider this grip. Professional players use it frequently when hitting topspin lobs and angle shots. I do not recommend this grip for the majority of players.
Western
This grip originated on the high-bouncing cement courts of the western United States. The drawback of this grip is that it closes the racquet face too soon before contact. This is an excellent grip for high balls and topspin but is awkward for low balls and underspin.
Players who use a great deal of topspin use this grip. Unless the player has an immensely strong wrist and impeccable timing, a Western grip will cause problems. I do not recommend it for most players.
The advantages of the Western grip is that it is great for high balls and can attack high balls. You can also generate immense racquet head speed. The disadvantages are that it is very difficult to lift low balls and you cannot hit slice or drop shots without a grip change.
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