What are the main advantages and disadvantages of a classic Eastern forehand?
An Eastern forehand grip places your palm on the same plane as your strings, providing a natural alignment for you to sense your racquet angle. The Eastern grip is the most versatile forehand grip, comfortable for topspin, slice, and flat strokes and a wide range of heights of contact. The classic swing with an Eastern forehand grip uses a square (sideways) stance and a largely linear, forward and upward, racquet path. This provides for a relatively long alignment between racquet and ball, reducing the risk of mis-hits. The linearity of the swing also makes direction easier to control. Compared to the more Western styles, the classic Eastern swing does not benefit from the rotational energy of the torso and legs nearly as much, and the Eastern grip is not as well suited to whipping up the back of the ball. Classic Eastern hitters therefore tend not to generate as much racquet head speed or as much topspin. The speed factor can be made up with a slightly heavier racquet, but few Eastern
