The Complete Guide to Pickleball Grips: The Right Way for Tennis Players to Hold the Paddle

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2026年6月24日

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The Complete Guide to Pickleball Grips: The Right Way for Tennis Players to Hold the Paddle

"You can just use your racket grip as is, right?" — When tennis players start pickleball (PB), the most common thing they overlook is the grip.

I've been a tennis coach for 15 years, and I encountered pickleball in 2026. Initially, I stood on the court with "my tennis grip," and during fast exchanges at the net, I couldn't react at all and got pretty beaten. Looking back, just slightly changing my grip for PB made a huge difference.

Today, I'll break down how to utilize the feel of various tennis grips in PB and what to discard, explaining the reasons why. To put it simply, the most important point is that the basic PB grip is close to a Continental grip (like holding a knife), and you don't switch grips for forehands or backhands.

Diagram comparing major tennis grips (Eastern/Semi-Western/Western/Continental) with the basic pickleball grip

First, a review of common tennis grips

Before diving into PB, let's briefly review the familiar tennis grips. Grips are generally classified by which side (bevel) of the handle's octagonal cross-section the base of the index finger's knuckle rests on.

Continental: A grip like holding a knife, swinging a hammer, or shaking hands. It's a "neutral" grip where the racket face is almost perpendicular to the ground. Used for serves and volleys.
Eastern: Rotated slightly from the Continental, like shaking hands for a forehand. It's easy to hit flat and is often said to be beginner-friendly.
Semi-Western: Rotated even further, covering the face more. It balances topspin and power well and is considered the most common forehand grip in modern tennis.
Western: The most extreme grip, covering the face the most. It allows for powerful topspin but can make handling low shots and grip changes difficult.

In tennis, it was common to switch grips for each shot, such as Continental for serves, volleys, and smashes, and Semi-Western or Western for forehand strokes. This is where PB significantly differs.

The PB basic: "Continental-like, no grip change"

The basic grip recommended by many PB coaches is a neutral grip close to Continental. Think of it as almost the same as the "knife grip" or "handshake grip" in tennis.

Why is this considered the basic? Based on explanations from specialized media, there are two main reasons:

Reason 1: Can handle both forehand and backhand with the same grip

The Continental grip is "neutral," not biased to either side, so its biggest advantage is that you can hit both forehand and backhand with the same grip, without changing it (PickleballMAX / Pickleball.com). Many top players base their grip on this for its "quick transition" capability (the PPA Tour also states that "most pros use the Continental grip" [PPA Tour]). The same article also mentions that even pros sometimes switch to a more Western-like grip for certain shots, so it's best to consider the Continental as a "default grip" rather than "never change grips."

Reason 2: Fast exchanges at the net can be handled

PB courts are small, and fast exchanges of dinks and volleys near the kitchen line (non-volley zone line) often determine the outcome of a match. If you switch grips for forehands and backhands every time, you simply won't be fast enough. Being able to hold one grip ready allows for quicker reactions to the ball – this is the practical reason why the Continental-like grip is considered fundamental.

💡 If you've been taught in tennis that "volleys are with Continental," you should be able to transfer that feeling as something close to the PB basic. It's like making your net play grip the default for the entire court.

A drawback of the Continental grip is that it's "harder to generate as much topspin as with a Western grip." However, PB balls are light, and it's not a sport that relies as much on overpowering opponents with extreme spin as tennis, so the benefits of reaction speed and stability generally outweigh this disadvantage.

3 key points for tennis players to be aware of

From here, I'll list points where tennis players often stumble, along with countermeasures.

Point 1: Western grip habits can get in the way

The Semi-Western and Western grips, common for forehands in modern tennis, involve covering the paddle face quite a bit. If you bring this feeling directly into PB, you tend to point the face too far down, hitting the ball into the net, or not being able to switch to a backhand in time. In fact, specialized media warn against directly applying Western-style grips, stating that "what works in tennis might not be optimal in PB" (Pickleball.com).

The solution is simple: first, switch to a Continental grip (knife grip). If you still feel a strong sense of discomfort with your forehand, trying a slightly more forehand-oriented Eastern-like grip could be an option. The Eastern grip is often introduced as a grip that makes it easy to switch to a forehand, so it might be a good intermediate step.

Point 2: Gripping too tightly (grip pressure)

Many people, accustomed to hitting hard in tennis, tend to grip the paddle tightly with all their might in PB. However, PB is a sport where "soft touch" is crucial for dinks and drops near the kitchen line. If you grip too tightly, the ball will bounce off the paddle face too hard, making control difficult.

One expert explanation recommends gripping with a lightness of about 3 out of 10 to achieve a soft shot feel, and states that gripping too tightly will cause the "ball to bounce wildly off the paddle face" (Pickleball.com). Of course, this doesn't mean always gripping loosely; you'll grip firmly in situations requiring power, such as drives and smashes. Normally grip softly, and only grip as much as needed at the moment of impact — thisメリハリ (contrast/balance) is a particularly effective mindset for tennis players. The basics of volleys are covered in Pickleball Volley Basics, and the feel of dinking in 5 Basics of Dinking Mastery.

Point 3: Incorrect grip size

What is surprisingly often overlooked is the grip thickness (size). Pickleball paddles tend to have thinner, shorter grips than tennis rackets. If the size doesn't fit, you might unconsciously grip too tightly or the paddle face might not be stable.

To achieve a "soft" grip, a size that fits your hand is fundamental. We delve into this topic, including the idea of choosing a slightly thinner grip and fine-tuning with an overgrip, in Pickleball Grip Size & Overgrip Selection Guide. Please review it in conjunction with your grip style.

⚠️ The grip classifications and numerical values (e.g., 3/10) mentioned above are general guidelines. Ultimately, the correct grip and pressure are what give you the most control. Try a few options and find what feels right for you.

Summary

Different tennis grips were previously assumed to be switched for each shot. In contrast, PB tends to emphasize using one consistent grip as its basic approach.
The basic PB grip is a neutral grip similar to Continental (knife grip, handshake grip). The advantage is that you can handle both forehand and backhand without changing grips.
The reasons are (1) no need to change grips and (2) it helps in fast exchanges at the net. Many top players are also said to base their game on this grip.
Tennis players should be wary of (1) Western grip habits, (2) gripping too tightly, and (3) grip size. Be especially careful about over-covering the face with a Western grip and gripping too hard.
The foundation for a "soft" grip is the correct grip size. It's recommended to review this in conjunction with the grip size article.

The feel in your hands and the ability to read the ball that you've cultivated in tennis will undoubtedly be assets in PB. That's why simply adjusting your grip, your starting point, for PB can significantly accelerate your progress.

If you're wondering, "Is my grip correct?", feel free to ask me on LINE. I've been through all the common stumbling blocks for tennis players, so let's work it out together.