How to Hold a Pickleball Paddle: Grips Explained
How to Hold a Pickleball Paddle: Grips Explained
To hold a pickleball paddle correctly, “shake hands” with the handle so your palm sits flat against the face and your index knuckle rests on the top-right bevel. This continental (or eastern) grip lets you hit forehands and backhands without changing your hand position. Keep a relaxed grip pressure around 4 or 5 out of 10.
A good grip is the quiet foundation of every shot in pickleball. Get it right and your dinks, drives, and volleys feel natural; get it wrong and you will fight your paddle on every exchange. This guide breaks down the main grips, when to use two hands, how hard to squeeze, and the mistakes that hold most beginners back. If you are brand new to the sport, start with our beginner’s guide to pickleball first, then come back here to dial in your grip.
What Is the Best Pickleball Grip for Beginners?
The continental grip is the best grip for most beginners because it works for nearly every shot without forcing you to switch hand positions mid-rally. Pickleball is fast, especially at the kitchen line, so you rarely have time to re-grip between a forehand and a backhand. One versatile, neutral hold keeps you ready for whatever comes back.
To find the continental grip, hold the paddle in your non-dominant hand with the face perpendicular to the ground, like an axe ready to chop. Now grab the handle with your dominant hand as if you were shaking hands with it. The V formed by your thumb and index finger should sit roughly along the top edge of the handle. This is your home base.
Continental vs Eastern Grip: What’s the Difference?
These two grips are close cousins, and many players blend them. The difference comes down to where your base knuckle sits on the eight-sided handle.
| Grip | Index knuckle position | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continental | Top bevel (12 o’clock area) | Dinks, volleys, blocks, all-court play | Slightly less forehand power |
| Eastern | Right bevel (toward 1-2 o’clock) | Forehand drives and topspin | Backhand needs more wrist work |
The continental grip keeps the paddle face neutral, which is ideal for soft control shots and quick hands at the net. The eastern grip rotates your hand slightly clockwise (for right-handers), opening up a more natural, powerful forehand. Most recreational players settle somewhere between the two. Start continental, and if your forehand drive feels weak, nudge toward eastern.
Should You Use a Two-Handed Backhand?
A two-handed backhand is a strong option if you want more stability and power on the backhand side, especially if you have a tennis background. Your dominant hand stays in its continental or eastern grip, and your non-dominant hand sits just above it on the handle, much like a baseball bat.
The second hand adds support, helps you generate topspin, and steadies the paddle against hard-driven balls. The trade-off is reach: with both hands on the handle you cannot stretch as far for wide balls, and you give up some of the quick-hands advantage at the kitchen. Many players use a two-handed backhand for drives from the baseline and switch to one hand for soft dinks and volleys at the net.
If you are unsure, try both in a casual rally. Singapore’s growing indoor courts, including the pickleball courts at Super Arena in Clementi, are a comfortable, weather-proof place to experiment without the afternoon heat or sudden rain shaping your session.
How Tight Should You Grip a Pickleball Paddle?
Hold the paddle with relaxed pressure, around a 4 or 5 on a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 is a white-knuckle squeeze. A loose grip lets the paddle absorb pace on soft shots and gives your wrist the freedom to add touch and spin.
Squeezing too hard is one of the most common beginner habits. A tense grip travels up your arm into your shoulder, kills your feel on dinks, and tires you out over a long session. The cue most coaches use: hold the paddle like you would hold a small bird, firmly enough that it cannot fly away, gently enough that you do not hurt it.
You can briefly firm up your grip at the moment of contact on a hard drive or a put-away volley, then relax again immediately. This is called grip pressure variation, and it is a skill that develops naturally as you play more.
Common Pickleball Grip Errors to Avoid
Most grip problems trace back to a handful of repeatable mistakes. Run through this checklist:
- Gripping too tightly. The number one error. Tension destroys touch and control. Stay around 4 or 5 out of 10.
- Choking up too high. Sliding your hand far up the handle reduces leverage and power. Keep the base of your hand near the bottom of the handle, with a small gap to the butt cap.
- Using a “frying pan” grip. Holding the paddle flat-faced like a pan feels intuitive but locks you into weak forehands and awkward backhands. Use the handshake grip instead.
- Re-gripping mid-rally. Switching grips between every shot leaves you caught out at fast net exchanges. One neutral grip keeps you ready.
- Wrong paddle size. A handle that is too large prevents a relaxed hold. If two fingers do not fit comfortably between your fingertips and palm, the grip may be too big.
Fix these one at a time. Trying to correct everything at once usually makes your stroke feel worse before it feels better.
Putting It All Together
Start with a relaxed continental grip, drift toward eastern if your forehand needs more punch, and add a two-handed backhand if you want stability on that side. Keep your grip pressure soft, fix one error at a time, and let the rest develop through reps. The grip should feel boring and automatic, that is exactly the point. Once it disappears from your attention, you can focus on shot selection, court position, and out-playing your opponent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions
What grip should a complete beginner start with?
Start with the continental grip, found by 'shaking hands' with the handle. It works for forehands, backhands, dinks, and volleys without changing your hand position, which suits the fast pace of pickleball rallies.
Is the continental or eastern grip better for power?
The eastern grip gives a slightly more powerful and natural forehand because your hand rotates to sit behind the paddle. The continental grip favours control and quick hands at the net. Many players use a hybrid between the two.
How tight should I hold my pickleball paddle?
Use relaxed pressure, around 4 or 5 out of 10. Holding too tightly kills your touch on soft shots, tires your arm, and is the most common beginner mistake. Firm up briefly only at contact on hard drives.
Do I need a two-handed backhand in pickleball?
No, it is optional. A two-handed backhand adds power and stability, especially for tennis players, but reduces your reach. Many players use two hands for backhand drives and one hand for dinks and volleys at the kitchen line.
Why does my forehand feel weak even with the right grip?
You may be gripping too tightly, choking too high up the handle, or sitting too far toward continental. Loosen your grip, lower your hand toward the butt cap, and nudge slightly toward an eastern grip for more forehand power.
Can I change my grip during a rally?
It is best not to. Switching grips between shots leaves you unprepared for fast net exchanges. A single neutral continental grip keeps you ready for both forehands and backhands without re-gripping.
