Holding a racket with some fingers off the grip - can it work

If you're timing is that precise and you can hit the ball cleanly that way it probably just reduces fatigue on the arm and allows more opportunity for using force through linear and angular momentum depending on the motions involved. In that event, it's as if your hand is just along for the ride once you set the racket in motion and you can direct it as needed. I think the service lends itself to that better than even ground-strokes though I wouldn't necessarily teach it to a student. 

Here is an interesting take as applies to sports/ice-skating but considering loop and ellipse motions involved in most strokes and especially serving it probably helps explain why well-timed players can let the racket do its thing at some point rather than forcing it with muscle.

Angular Momentum for Dummies
I'm not suggesting that you try and calculate it but rather know that it exists.  It probably explains why players using the physics of rotating bodies, ellipses, loops, and the gains of falling objects can harness these forces naturally and seemingly hit with little effort.   It allows them to loosen their grip.

Timing is everything

Tennis Equipment Costs - It's a bargain

I'm guessing at these prices based on memory but here is a representation of how to value your tennis gear.

Late 1970's Corolla $2k, Stan Smith Shoes $12-15, Jack Kramer Racket $20-25. Current price Corolla $20k, Newest Endorsed Shoes $60-130, Newest Endorsed Racket approx. $200. Everything went up 10x since mid 70's as the dollar went down in value.

The quality has improved generally along with the technology so I'd say we're good on most things. Don't buy the latest frame and when you find a frame you love pick up a dozen of them when they are being discontinued. You can always get your money back on Ebay if you switch out.

Pick shoes that work for you and avoid the logos with endorsements that add cost. If you are hard on shoes get and apply shoe-goo at Wal-M and wear those shoes when practicing and not playing or teaching.

Clothing, well that's your call but the modern fabrics are so much better at surviving stains, wear, and maintaining color that if you get the top quality stuff and wash cold you'll have it for years.

No matter what you think the value versus cost of tennis equipment right now is as good as it has ever been. Just don't think that you can buy skill with fancy equipment. Do the deep and repetitive spending on training, instruction , and competition whenever possible.


Addendum: Everything went up but tennis balls. I think they were $2 a can in 1960 and haven't seemed to budge since then. Spend your money on new tennis balls and laugh.

High Tech Racket Selection

Trying to find the right tennis racket? High Tech Solution

This is interesting and may  become standard someday, but for now your best bet is to choose a racket that feels good in your hand and doesn't strain your arm, wrist,  or shoulder to wield it.

If you can hit your strokes the way you want to with this racket that is what matters.  Tweaking a racket is best done by choosing first the stiffness and balance.  You can adjust the  weight and balance later with lead tape.  You can somewhat alter the feel of stiffness by the type of string, but it is best to find a frame that matches your play style.  Then the string is best chosen to manage your spin preferences.  You can alter the string tension to also change the characteristics but keeping in mind that too much tension of too hard a string can cause injuries.

 Head light rackets help in racket speed but add shock to the arm.

Head heavy rackets are slow to move and therefore are mostly suited to slow courts.

Stiff frames have massive power but very little shock absorption.

Flexible frames give better feel and much more protection against injury.

Gut string had great feel, spin generation, and control with minimal shock, but they are expensive.

Poly strings have great power and spin production but are tough on arms.

Nylon is a a great compromise string and there are types that can fit your style of play.

Hybrid string setups are a solution some players find useful but I never really found it ideal.

Continental Grip - The all around tennis grip.

With the big looping forehands in use today by the top players and many juniors it seems as if the continental grip is discounted as a relic of the past. True, it is no longer the grip of choice by professionals since the serve and volley game has almost disappeared while slower surfaces are dominated by heavy topspin western grip ground stroke players.

Where does this leave the lonely continental grip player? They are not necessarily lost. A doubles player can play a whole match with one grip if the grip is continental. Moderate topspin, easy slice and lobs, and natural under-spin volleys and drop shots are just a few of the benefits. Fast exchanges are handled easily when grip changes aren't needed. Lack of power is not an issue in most league or amateur doubles matches since guile and control carry equal weight.

Singles players used to playing against loopy forehands are often so befuddled by the flat and under-spin variations from continental grip players that it has an effect of wrecking their timing. It sometimes pays to be that lone dinosaur out there with a bag of tricks not regularly seen in the past two decades. Also, most players that have played continental can still work up the topspin when needed.

As a teacher, I can tell you that I generally use this grip on all shots to reduce spin and speed generation when working drills with students.

How to get a continental grip. If you know how to drive a nail, you know how to get a continental grip. Visualize using the edge of the racket as a hammer. This is also known as the serve grip.

To sum this up, if you have always used this grip, staying with it is not much of a handicap unless you are going on the tour. For the rest of us, it adds another dimension to what has become a one dimensional approach to tennis, the heavy topspin format.

If you want to become an all court player, learn to use the continental.