How to Hold a Tennis Racket Correctly: Basic Grip for Beginners

August 30, 2026

Gagang raket tenis berpenampang oktagonal berdiri tegak

The correct tennis grip starts by placing your hand under the racket as if shaking hands with the handle. For beginners, the Eastern forehand grip (natural position) is easiest: place your palm flat on the lower side of the handle with your index finger and thumb forming a V pointing toward your same-side shoulder. Your hand should be relaxed, not tense, so you can move freely when hitting.

What Is Grip and Why It Matters

Grip is how you hold the racket. It is the foundation of every tennis shot, from serve to backhand. A wrong grip causes the ball to go off target, your hand tires quickly, and injury risk to your wrist increases. Conversely, a correct grip gives you control, stability, and the ability to direct the ball with precision.

Beginners often grip the racket too tightly because they fear it will drop or they won't control the ball. Actually, a relaxed grip gives better control. Think of holding an egg: firm enough not to drop, but not so hard it breaks.

Eastern Grip: Best Choice for Beginner Forehand

The Eastern grip is most natural for beginners because it is easy to learn and suitable for many shot types. How to do it: position the racket in front of your body vertically. Imagine you are shaking hands with the racket. Your palm faces the side of the handle, not forward or backward.

More precisely, the 3rd bevel of the handle (if you imagine the handle as a clock, the 3rd bevel sits between 12 and 3 o'clock) should be underneath your palm. Your fingers curl around the handle relaxed. Your thumb and index finger form a small V, and that V should point toward your same-side shoulder (if you are right-handed, the V points to your right shoulder).

With this grip, you will feel that forehand is natural and requires little wrist rotation to produce a solid shot.

Continental Grip: One Grip for Serve and Volley

The Continental grip is often called the 'shake hands grip' because it feels like shaking hands in a slightly different way than Eastern. The handle sits between thumb and index finger more horizontally than Eastern.

This grip is most useful for serve and volley (shots near the net) because it gives greater wrist flexibility. For beginners, you don't need to master this yet. Focus on Eastern for forehand and backhand first. After the basic grip feels natural, you can begin introducing Continental for serve.

Backhand Grip: Eastern Backhand Grip

For backhand, many beginners initially use Eastern Forehand and shift slightly when hitting. This is not wrong for early practice. However, for better results, learn the Eastern Backhand Grip: shift your hand slightly to the left (if you are right-handed). The 1st or 2nd bevel is now under your palm.

The difference is small but significant: the backhand grip gives you more power and control when hitting from the backhand side. While playing, you will switch from forehand grip to backhand grip between each shot—this is part of good footwork and preparation.

Common Beginner Grip Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Grip Too Tight: This is mistake number one. A tense grip reduces feel of the ball and tires your hand quickly. Solution: relax your fingers until you can wiggle them slightly on the handle. Tighten grip only at impact (when racket touches the ball).

V Hand Not Correct: If your hand's V points in the wrong direction or is unclear, your shot will consistently miss to one side. Before each session, spend 10 seconds checking your V position in a mirror or with a friend.

Wrist Too Flexible: Some beginners try to rotate their wrist too much at impact, hoping to add power. This actually reduces control and increases injury risk. The correct grip means your wrist is stable at impact—power comes from shoulder and hip rotation and footwork, not from the hand.

Wrong Grip Size: Tennis racket handles come in different sizes. If grip is too large, your fingers cannot curl around comfortably, and control drops. If too small, you have to grip harder. For beginners, 4 1/4 or 4 3/8 inch is most common. If unsure, try a racket in-store before buying—this is why Agena Sports offers demo rackets.

How to Practice Grip Until It Feels Natural

A good grip must become reflex, not something you think about every time you hold the racket. Here are simple drills to turn correct grip into habit:

Drill 1: Static Grip Drill (no ball). Hold the racket in ready position (racket in front of chest, both hands on grip). Remove your non-dominant hand, check your grip position. Is your V correct? Are your fingers relaxed? Repeat 20 times. Do this daily for one week.

Drill 2: Shadow Swing. Without a ball, perform full forehand and backhand strokes as if playing a rally. Focus only on grip—does it stay consistent throughout the motion? Do 10 forehand swings, then 10 backhand.

Drill 3: Wall Rally. Hit the ball to the wall with forehand repeatedly. After each shot, notice if your grip stays in the correct position. If the ball goes off target, don't blame strength first—check your grip.

The goal is not to be perfect in one day but to build awareness. Within two to three weeks of regular practice, the correct grip will feel like the most natural thing in the world.

When to Change Grip During Play

In real play, you do not use just one grip. Here is a simple guide:

For Forehand: Use Eastern Forehand Grip throughout the forehand rally.

For Backhand: As soon as your opponent hits the ball toward your backhand, switch grip to Eastern Backhand Grip. This switch happens during setup (from ready position to backhand position).

For Serve: Switch to Continental Grip. This takes time to get used to, so don't rush. Practice serve with Continental Grip separately until it feels natural.

For Volley (shots at the net): Continental Grip is most common because it gives flexibility to respond quickly to different ball directions.

Tip: During practice, ask a coach or friend to watch your grip while playing. Beginners often forget to switch to backhand grip when the ball comes fast from the opponent. Awareness is the first step to making it automatic.

Choosing a Racket with the Right Grip Size

Even perfect grip technique won't work if your racket handle size is wrong. Grip size (handle circumference) usually ranges from 4 1/4 inch to 4 5/8 inch.

To find the right size: hold the racket in Eastern Forehand Grip. If there is a small gap between the tip of your middle finger and your thumb, that is the right size. If your finger touches your thumb, the grip is too small. If there is a large gap, the grip is too large.

If you are unsure or want to try several sizes before buying, visit Agena Sports at one of our physical stores: Setiabudi One (Jakarta Selatan), GAFOY Kelapa Gading (Jakarta Utara), MMT Puri (Jakarta Barat), Dome Permata Hijau (Jakarta Selatan), or Canggu (Bali). Our staff will help you find a racket and grip size that suits your needs, and you can try before you buy through our demo racket service.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take for grip to feel natural?

For a player training 2–3 times per week, correct grip usually feels natural within 2–3 weeks. The key is consistency—check your grip every time you practice and don't let old habits return.

Should I use an overgrip or additional grip?

An overgrip is an extra layer over your racket's original grip, making the handle slightly thicker and more grippy when hands sweat. For beginners, this is optional. The racket's original grip is enough. After a few months of practice and understanding your preference, you can experiment with overgrip.

My grip always shifts while I play. What's wrong?

This can happen because: (1) grip size is too large, (2) you are holding too loosely, or (3) the original grip is worn and slippery. Try checking grip size first using the finger gap method above. If it still shifts, consider replacing your racket grip or adding an overgrip.

Can I use the same grip for all shots?

You can use Eastern Grip for forehand, backhand, and even initial groundstrokes. But for serve and volley, using Continental Grip will give better results over time. Don't force it—learn one grip first until it feels natural, then add another.

Does a stronger grip give a harder shot?

No. A stronger grip actually reduces speed and control. Shot power comes from body rotation (shoulders and hips), good footwork, and correct timing—not from hand grip strength. Grip firmly enough not to drop the racket, relax enough for good feel.