Grip
sizes used by pro tennis players have been in the spot light
in the last couple of years. Rafael Nadal has a 4 1/4" grip
size while Serena Williams uses 4 5/8". What difference does
it make for you? Mostly it's preference, but there are
arguments for creating spin and arm comfort.
If you
already put a lot of spin on the ball, a smaller grip may
help generate more. Today's lighter, open string pattern
frames make it easier to put more spin on the ball and a
smaller grip helps players whip the racket head faster.
The smaller grip accomplishes this in 2 ways.
you can slide the heel of your hand
off the end of the racket, making it effectively longer
and allowing for more snap, especially on the serve.
more wrist snap is possible for
ground strokes using todays extreme western forehands
and open-stance hitting styles
Older, heavier
rackets necessitate larger grips so players can control the
racket, especially on off center hits. Heavier rackets can
also create arm discomfort with smaller grips.
So analyze your swing
style and your racket, and try out some different grip sizes
to see if your game could benefit from a new grip size.
