What kind of grip should I teach for a begineer?

Question

I am going to teach a girl who's 21 how to play tennis. I use a semiwestern grip for my forehand, but I was thinking of teaching her either a continental or eastern forehand grip since that might be easier.

What do you think is the easiest grip for a beginner to learn with? All she wants to be able to do is ralley from the baseline.

Answer 1

The Eastern grip would be the most comfortable for a beginner. Plus if she decides to get serious she could still use the eastern grip because it is very versatile.

Answer 2

Well a majority of people will suggest you to teach them an Eastern grip. But in this day and age, people are using the semi western grip more often now. What you should teach them is a grip that they feel comfortable with, unless they hold it stupidly, then you should give them something else. In my case, I had to start with an Eastern grip, but that grip sucked *** for me. So I changed to what I believed was comfortable, which was a full western. Since its a girl, semi-western, full-western, and continental grips are that common. So in conclusion, teach an eastern.

Answer 3

Try the continental first and if they are having trouble with that switch to the eastern.

Answer 4

I'd personally go with eastern, continental requires more forearm strength.  Also, not many people stick with a continental forehand, so might as well give her a forehand she'll use throughout her life.

You could try both out, and I wouldn't rule out semi-western either (it was the most natural for me).

Answer 5

eastern for sure... the easiest for a beginner for both strength and control, the whole palm natrually pushes from behind the raquet which doesn't require extra strength from her. continental grip will make her shots go too high all of the time. but with the eastern grip she will have to switch grips for the backhand which will add to the difficulty ... but still it's better than the continental grip. western and semiwestern are out of the question you're right about that  :) I meen come on she's only a beginner why talk about top spin now? and all she wants to do is to keep the ball going from the baseline :)

Answer 6

you should teach the eastern grip first .

Answer 7

Start with the continental.  I teach beginners, though they are between ages 5 and 10, I think it's probably the best grip to start with for anybody.  Just cause you can use it for literally every shot you teach.  Takes away the complications.

Now, if she picks it up pretty quickly, you might start moving her into a semi-western, and getting her to hit a little topspin.  If you at least give her the foundations for the topspin, she can keep learning it on her own as she uses it.

Answer 8

semi western

i have extreme western