Photo Tour of the One-Handed Backhand Grips

The Western backhand grip centers your palm on the left edge of the top plane, counterclockwise from the Full Eastern, with which it is sometimes confused. Designed for hitting heavy topspin, it's awkward for flat shots and even more awkward for slice. The Western backhand also requires a point of contact several inches farther forward than the Full Eastern. All of these limitations account for its rarity.