When working with kids it is very important to educate them on how to handle the racket properly. The consequences can affect the players's health and performance. On this image, the western grip imposes a posture that makes it very difficult to transfer energy from the ground to the ball. The player needs lots of compensation movements to keep the body balanced. She does an over rotation to the out side on the forearm and on her elbow. The tension generated by this compensations on impact with the ball on a daily basis practice, specially with competitors, can cause serious injuries. Comparing to an ideal model, she is losing a lot of acting potential. The ball is to close to the body and almost aligned with her gravity center. That shortens her leverages. Kids should not be allowed to chose the grip they are going to use.
TEXT BY GABRIEL PIMENTEL AND PAULO CÉSAR PIMENTEL