Basic forehand
This is the most simple, natural and reliable grip and the one most beginners should adopt.
It is known as the eastern grip or shake-hands grip because as you take hold of the racket it should feel as if you are shaking hands with another person.
Curl your fingers around the grip near the base so your thumb and forefinger form a V along the top right edge of the handle.
This grip places the palm of the hand directly behind the handle. As you stroke the racket through on the forehand side, it should feel almost as if your hand is hitting the ball.
Advanced forehand
More experienced players adopt a more advanced forehand grip known as the semi-western.
It is the grip adopted by most of the professionals on the tennis tour because it is the best way to add top spin. Andre Agassi, Jennifer Capriati and Martina Hingis, who have three of the best forehands in the business, all use it. Whereas in the eastern grip the palm sits behind the handle, with this grip it lies underneath.
This time your thumb and forefinger should form a V pointing into the side of the handle. An easy way to find this grip is to simply put your racket on the floor and to pick it up by the grip, this will be pretty much a semi western grip. It will feel awkward at first but once mastered, will allow you to return high bouncing balls with more power and aggression than a normal grip. However, it is not so suitable for grass courts, where the ball often keeps very low.
One-handed backhand
Place the palm of your hand on top of the handle then move the racket inwards a quarter turn.
The thumb should fall diagonally across the back of the grip, though some players wrap it all the way round. The direction does not matter but it is important that the inside of the thumb is touching the flat part of the handle. An easy way to find this grip is to put the racket under your left arm with the handle sticking out forwards. Grab hold of the grip and pull the racket out, you should then have the correct grip for a one handed topspin backhand.
Two-handed backhand
Beginners are encouraged to learn to play shots on the backhand side with two hands.
This grip gives extra strength and control than a one-handed grip, especially for junior players. It is also easier to hit top spin.
On the downside, it gives you less reach and you need more time to prepare than with a single-handed shot. So it's important if you use a two-handed backhand that you also develop a one-handed slice as another option.
The simplest way to form the doubled-handed grip is to hold the racket with your dominant hand in the shake-hands forehand grip, then add the other hand with another forehand grip. Once you have mastered that, start to nudge your right hand grip more onto the top of the grip. This will allow you to hit with more power and spin.
Either way, your hands should be bunched up against each other, but not overlapping.
Chopper grip
This is the way to hold the racquet for the serve, volley, sliced backhand and smash.
It is known as the chopper grip, because it is the way you would hold an axe. It allows you to swing the racket head faster when serving, which is how to generate power and create spin. To find the grip, hold the racket as if you were using the edge of the racket frame as an axe, that should be the correct grip. The V of your thumb and forefinger should be just to the left of the top of the grip.