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Background: Inappropriately sized tennis racket grip is often cited in the popular media as a risk factor for overuse injuries about the forearm and elbow. Currently, a hand measurement technique developed by Nirschl is commonly used by tennis racket manufacturing companies as the method for determining a player's ‘recommended’ grip size. Hypothesis: Quarter-inch changes from that recommended by Nirschl in tennis racket grip size will have no significant effect on forearm muscle firing patterns. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Sixteen asymptomatic Division I and II collegiate tennis players performed single-handed backhand ground strokes with rackets of 3 different grip sizes (recommended measurement, undersized 1A in, and oversized ¼ in). Fine-wire electromyography was used to measure muscle activity in extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis, extensor digitorum communis, flexor carpi radialis, and pronator teres. Repeated-measure analysis of variance was used for within-group comparisons, comparing different grips in specified phases for backhand ground strokes (P≤.05). Results: There were no significant differences in muscle activity between small, recommended, or big grips in any muscle tested. Conclusion: Based on these findings, tennis racket grip size ¼ in above or below Nirschl's recommended measurement does not significantly affect forearm muscle firing patterns. Clinical Relevance: Alterations in tennis racket grip size within ¼ in of Nirschl's recommended sizing do not have a significant effect on forearm muscle activity and therefore may not represent a significant risk factor for upper extremity cumulative trauma, such as lateral epicondylitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that focuses on the comparison between the isometric grip strength and precision with the use of rackets of increasing grip size in prolonged simulated match. It indicates the measurement of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) before and after the match. The study shows that the loss of handgrip MVIC depends on the grip size of the racket.