Everything You Need to Know About the Continental Grip

The continental grip is a fundamental grip in tennis that every player should aim to master. It is highly versatile, used for a variety of shots, and allows for greater control and maneuverability on the court. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced player, understanding the continental grip is a journey that never truly ends. The problem we often face with the continental grip is that most players spend VERY LITTLE time actually utilizing it, because we spend most of our time on the court hitting groundstrokes with either eastern, semi-western or western grips. If you spend 10% of your time practicing one thing, and 90% practicing something else, what's going to be more comfortable? I think you can figure out the answer! The most important thing to understand about the continental grip is that it generally opens the racquet face. We'll explain why that's helpful (in some situations) below.

Part 1: How to Achieve the Continental Grip

To hold the continental grip, there's a couple of different tricks. Start by holding your racquet as if you’re shaking hands with it. Imagine the handle of the racquet as an octagonal shape with eight bevels. Place the pad of your index finger's knuckle and the heel pad of your hand on bevel number 2.

Here are the steps to perfect this grip:

• Hold the racquet in front of you and imagine you wanted to pound a nail into the ground with the frame. Now shake hands with the racquet!

• Check to see if your index knuckle is still on bevel 2 (the corner of the grip).

• If the strings are pointed toward the ground, then you've got the wrong grip. If the outside frame is pointed toward the ground, then you've got it!

• Slide your hand down until just a little bit of your hand is hanging off the bottom. The more you "choke up" on the racquet, the less maneuverability you will have.

• Ensure that your grip is firm, but very relaxed — tense hands reduce fluidity and control. In general, think about a 3 out of 10 in terms of grip strength.

  
  

Part 2: What Shots and Strokes Utilize the Continental Grip

One of the key advantages of the continental grip is its versatility across a wide range of shots. Here are the strokes where this grip is most commonly utilized:

• Volleys: Whether at the net or in the mid-court, the continental grip is perfect for volleys. Its neutral positioning allows you to quickly switch between forehand and backhand volleys without changing your grip in a significant way. This is where the open racquet face is so critical, as it allows you to naturally create net clearance.

• Overheads: The continental grip helps with hitting overhead smashes because it provides a firm, controlled connection with the ball while also allowing for flexibility in wrist movement. Most on wrist pronation below.

• Slices and Drop Shots: When hitting a slice or drop shot, the continental grip facilitates the necessary angle to create backspin (or slice) on the ball, which slows its pace and forces it to drop quickly, making it harder for opponents to return.

• Defensive Lobs: The continental grip allows for a smooth lift on the ball during a defensive lob, giving it both height and depth to keep your opponent off balance. Key note here is that continental grip allows for a short and compact motion on the lob, which is needed when you are on defense.

• Serve: The continental grip is ideal (and necessary) for serving because it triggers wrist pronation — a key motion for generating power and spin on the serve. It also makes it easier to change between flat, topspin, and slice serves. This is probably the most difficult shot in tennis, so don't get frustrated if you struggle at the beginning.

  
  

Part 3: Common Mistakes Players Make

While the continental grip offers many benefits, players often make mistakes that can limit their effectiveness. Here's a few examples.

• Gripping Too Tight: One of the most common errors is gripping the racquet too tightly. This tension leads to reduced flexibility and mobility, most often causing the ball to jump off the racquet with very little control. It can also cause wrist or arm injuries over time.

• Wrong Bevel Placement: Some players may mistakenly use bevel 3 or 4, which results in a more closed racquet face, especially on serves and volleys. Ensuring that your hand is on the correct bevel is crucial for the proper mechanics of the continental grip.

• Lack of Wrist Mobility: The continental grip allows for wrist action, but some players lock their wrists when hitting shots. This decreases the spin, power, and control you can generate on the ball. A relaxed wrist is key to hitting a variety of shots effectively.

• Improper Use on Groundstrokes: Although the continental grip is highly effective for volleys, serves, and slices, some players mistakenly try to use it for topspin groundstrokes. It’s best to switch to an Eastern or Semi-Western grip for forehand topspin strokes to avoid hitting flat, less accurate shots.