How To Hold Pickleball Paddle

You might ask, isn’t holding a pickleball paddle very simple? Seems pretty simple, doesn’t it? How hard is it to hold a pickleball paddle? Well, it’s not about how hard it is to hold the paddle.

It’s about how to hold pickleball paddle correctly, which can give you a much better start in pickleball. It’s important to get these fundamentals of pickleball right from the start because bad habits will be much harder to correct later on.

In this article, I’ll show you the proper way to hold a pickleball paddle and where to grip it. I’ll also show you how to adjust your grip in certain situations.

Before we begin, grab a paddle and a ball. While I’m talking about the different ways to hold your paddle, try them out for yourself and see what you think. Also, if you’re a lefty, just flip everything over and it will work just the same.

So, without wasting any more time, let’s jump right in!

There’s a lot to grasp and refine in the game of pickleball. While it’s true that the basics of pickleball can be learned quickly, there’s more to it than meets the eye.

I have to admit, when I first started playing, I thought, “No problem. This is easy, very easy. However, I soon realized that hitting the ball consistently over the net and within the boundaries of the court was a bit more challenging.

In fact, I quickly came to understand that mastering how to hold a pickleball paddle is the most important skill to learn, second only to understanding the rules of pickleball. Without a proper grip, your shots tend to be erratic, often resulting in shots that go out of bounds.

When learning the proper way to hold a paddle, you should focus on the following:

1.Grip style and pressure on the paddle

2.The position of the paddle in relation to your body (where to hold it)

3.Proper paddle holding techniques when positioned at the kitchen line (close to the net)

There are several different grips including the western grip, the eastern grip, and the continental grip.

Although not as common, you may still see players using the western pickleball grip on the court. The western grip is similar to holding a frying pan when flipping a pancake. This grip favors forehand shots and provides a lot of spin potential, but it can be difficult to execute backhand shots.

For this reason, some players with a western grip tend to hit both their forehand and backhand on the same side of the club.

To adopt the Western grip:

1.Start with the eastern grip.

2.Place your playing hand on the face of the club and slide it down while gripping the handle.

3.Rotate the paddle about 60-90 degrees toward the ground (to the left side of the paddle face for right-handers, to the right side for left-handers).

4.Your grip should feel similar to that of a frying pan.

Let’s talk about the Eastern Grip, because it is the most common grip in pickleball and the one we would most recommend to a new pickleball player.

The Eastern Grip is a neutral grip that can be used for both forehands and backhands without having to change your grip from forehand to backhand like in tennis or racquetball.

To find the eastern grip:

1.Place your playing hand on the face of the club.

2.Pull your hand down until you can grip the handle.

3.Your grip should be similar to how you would shake someone’s hand.

The continental grip is the opposite of the western grip. While the eastern grip favors the backhand more than the forehand due to the angle of the bat in the hand.

This grip is relatively common, as many players use a backhand grip to block volleys back to their opponent at the kitchen line. However, it can make it difficult to hit a forehand without changing your grip.

Here’s how to find the continental grip:

1. To understand the technique of this grip, imagine that you’re about to shake hands with the paddle.
2. Reach out toward the handle as if you’re offering a handshake. Wrap your fingers around the blade.
3. Make sure the “V” formed by your thumb and index finger is facing you.

However, this is not the only use of this grip. There are specific “variations” of this grip that are highly beneficial.

There are three slightly different variations of this pickleball paddle grip that can be used for different shots.

These grip variations include：

• Neutral grip
• Strong grip
• Weak grip

The pictures below illustrate these three slight variations of the continental grip.

Remember, you’re not completely changing your grip, but rather making small adjustments to its size, which is often instinctive and natural.

When you are in the continental neutral grip:

• Hitting a forehand shot
• Hitting a backhand shot
• Dinking
• Near the net, either forehand or backhand
• Adding spin to the ball
• Hitting a slicing shot

When you are in the continental strong grip:

• Overhead shots
• Aggressive forehand shots

The continental strong grip provides significantly more power than the neutral grip due to the alignment of the club, wrist and arm. This alignment allows me to generate more power with my entire arm in my swing, and I can also use wrist movement to increase control.

When you are in the continental week grip:

The only advantage I’ve found to using a weak grip is that it makes it easier to open the paddle face. If you’re interested in using spin shots and cuts, then this grip may work for you, although it’s not very common.

Watch this video by 5.0 pro Glen Peterson for a more detailed explanation of the three different grips used in pickleball:

Now that we’ve learned about each of the three grip styles, let’s examine the advantages and disadvantages of each.

PROS: This grip is versatile and can be used for both forehand and backhand shots. It’s easy to transition between shots without changing your grip. It’s the most common grip and is recommended for beginners.

CONS: It may lack the extreme power and spin potential of other grips, especially for advanced players looking for specialized shots.

PROS: Offers a lot of spin potential, especially on forehand shots. Can be effective for adding variety to your shots and creating spin that can be difficult for opponents to handle.

CONS: Can make backhand shots difficult due to the angle of the grip. May not be as versatile as the eastern grip.

PROS: Effective for blocking volleys and handling backhand shots, especially near the kitchen line.  Allows players to maintain a consistent grip for quick blocking.

CONS: It can be difficult to generate power and spin on forehand shots. Transitioning to a forehand shot may require a change in grip.

Each grip has its own strengths and weaknesses, and your choice of grip will depend on your playing style, skill level, and personal preference.

If you’re new to the game and looking for advice on how to grip a pickleball paddle, starting with the Eastern grip may be your best bet. Grip habits can be difficult to change, so adopting the correct grip early on can contribute to your overall success on the court.

Let’s make things clear and simple.

There has been a recent trend among professional pickleball players to lower their paddle height to about navel height, as opposed to the “traditional” chest height.

When you’re holding your paddle at chest height, shots above your paddle head are likely to go out of bounds.

This means you don’t have to raise your paddle from this position to deal with out-of-bounds shots.

However, you would have to lower your paddle to cover your opponents’ shots, which can take more time.

Starting from this lower position may make it a little slower to react to shots below your chest level. This may be less advantageous since you usually need to move your paddle down, not up, to react to shots.

Pickleball shots can come at you from several directions on the court, including both your forehand and backhand sides. It’s important to hold the paddle at an angle that allows you to attack and defend shots from both sides of your body.

To effectively cover both sides of your body, position your club face at about 10 or 11 o’clock (or 2 or 1 o’clock for left-handers) as if you were standing on a clock face.

Your opponent should be able to see your club face, which indicates a semi-backhand position.  This position is important because as you get closer to the net and your opponent, your reaction time decreases.

The semi-backhand stance gives you a quicker reaction on shots and still allows you to switch to a forehand shot.

Don’t rotate too far to the 9 o’clock position (or 3 o’clock for lefties) as this will force you to play primarily backhand shots.

Keeping your club face at the 10 or 11 o’clock position (or 2 or 1 o’clock for lefties) provides the right balance for both forehand and backhand options.

It’s fascinating that I recently came across a video of Simone Jardim discussing the ready position and her preferred approach for herself and her clients.

In the video, she shares that the 10 o’clock ready position is what she finds most effective.

Absolutely, maintaining a fixed stance with the pickleball paddle is not always appropriate in every situation. Adjusting your grip and positioning based on the changing dynamics of the game is critical to effective play.

Your opponent’s playing style, your own strengths and weaknesses, court position and shot type all influence the ideal stance. Flexibility in your approach is essential.

If your opponents are targeting specific areas, such as your shoulders or “chicken wing”, it is important to adjust your paddle height and angle.

For high attacks, a higher paddle position might be more effective, while a scorpion shot might require you to raise your paddle.

Remember, while general guidelines are valuable, your ability to adjust your pickleball paddle stance as the game unfolds will contribute significantly to your overall performance and success on the court.

To handle this situation effectively, remember to stand your ground and not step back or try to swing.

Keep your bat upright in front of you, at a height that’s optimal for countering your opponent’s overhead smash. Let the ball bounce off your steady paddle.

Although it may sound unconventional, this technique is quite effective and serves as a solid defensive move. It often surprises opponents, especially when they underestimate your skills.

The ball will quickly bounce to your opponent’s side of the net, potentially catching them off guard and creating an advantageous situation for you.

I hope the information was clear and helpful. Mastering your paddle grip is a first step in understanding the game. If it feels unfamiliar at first, don’t worry – with practice it will become natural. Have you experimented with other grips? I’m eager to learn more, so feel free to share your thoughts below! Be sure to have a look at how to overgrip a pickleball paddle, I’m sure you’ll need it.