Last Updated on November 26, 2025 by Drew Pierce
The Continental Grip (“Hammer Grip”) is the best all-purpose grip for beginners because it requires no hand adjustments at the net. To improve control, add an overgrip: use Tourna Grip for sweaty hands or Wilson Pro for comfort.
If you’ve been playing pickleball for a while, you’ve probably realized that how you hold your paddle matters—a lot. Your grip affects everything from power to precision, and choosing the right one can transform your game.
In this guide, we’ll break down the three main pickleball grips: Continental, Eastern, and Western…and dive into overgrips to help you maximize comfort and control on the court.
Why Your Grip Matters
Your grip is your connection to the paddle, directly influencing every shot. A proper grip helps you control paddle face angle, generate spin, and hit with power. A poor grip can lead to mishits, reduced control, and even injuries like tennis elbow. The right grip depends on your playing style and comfort level.
The Continental Grip: The Beginner’s Best Friend
The Continental grip is often the first grip taught to new players. It’s versatile, easy to learn, and allows you to hit both forehands and backhands without changing hand position.
How to Find It
Think of holding a hammer—that’s essentially the Continental grip. Place your hand on the paddle face and slide it down to the handle. The “V” between your thumb and index finger should rest on top of the handle, slightly favoring the backhand side.
Pros and Cons
This grip excels at the kitchen line where quick exchanges happen. You can switch from forehand to backhand instantly, providing excellent control for dinks, drops, and resets. Most advanced players use this grip because it allows for quick reactions.
The trade-off? You might sacrifice some forehand power compared to the Eastern grip. If you love driving the ball from the baseline, the Continental grip may feel limiting.
The Eastern Grip: The Neutral All-Rounder
The Eastern grip is often described as “shaking hands with your paddle.” It’s slightly rotated from the Continental grip, offering more balance between forehand and backhand shots.
How to Find It
Place your hand on the paddle face, then slide it down as if shaking hands with the paddle. Your palm should rest against the same bevel as the paddle face, with the V between your thumb and index finger more centered.
Pros and Cons
The Eastern grip gives you more power and leverage on forehands compared to the Continental. It’s comfortable and natural, making it popular with beginners. You get good control on both sides without grip changes.
However, generating topspin is more difficult, and some players find wide or low backhand shots less comfortable. While versatile, it doesn’t excel at any one thing like the Continental or Western grips do.
The Western Grip: The Power Player’s Choice
The Western grip is the least common but has its place in advanced play. It positions your hand behind the paddle, generating maximum power and topspin. Think of holding a frying pan when flipping a pancake.
How to Find It
Start from the Eastern grip and rotate your hand clockwise (right-handers) or counterclockwise (left-handers) about 60-90 degrees. Your palm should be more underneath the handle, with the paddle face naturally closed.
Pros and Cons
For serious power and topspin, the Western grip delivers. The closed paddle face helps you drive aggressively while keeping the ball in court.
The biggest weakness? The backhand. Many players hit “reverse forehands” on the backhand side—turning the paddle to use the forehand face. This grip also struggles with low balls and slice shots. If you spot an opponent using Western grip, attack them low on either side.
Best suited for intermediate to advanced players willing to work around its limitations.
Which Grip Should You Use?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The best grip depends on your playing style and skill level.
Choose Continental if: You’re a beginner or value versatility and quick net reactions. It’s what most pros use.
Choose Eastern if: You want a natural feel with more forehand power and balanced play.
Choose Western if: You’re advanced and want maximum forehand power, accepting backhand limitations.
The best approach? Try different grips during practice and see what feels right. For skill development with your new grip, check out our beginner pickleball drills.
Grip Pressure and Technique
It’s not just how you hold the paddle—tightness matters too. For powerful shots like serves and drives, use a firmer grip. At the net hitting dinks or blocking drives, loosen up to about 50% tightness for better touch and control.
Some new players use a two-handed backhand grip for stability. While legal, most experienced players transition to one-handed grips for greater reach and flexibility.
Types of Overgrips and Why They Matter
Once you’ve nailed down your grip style, consider an overgrip. These thin, padded wraps go over your paddle’s existing grip to improve comfort, control, and sweat absorption. They’re inexpensive, easy to replace, and can significantly impact how your paddle feels.
Benefits include better moisture management, improved control through tackiness, added comfort and vibration dampening, and the ability to adjust grip size slightly (about 1/16″ per layer).
Main Types of Overgrips
Tacky Overgrips: Provide a sticky surface preventing slippage even when sweating. Popular brands include Tourna Mega Tac, UDrippin Pro Tour, and Bodhi PROtack. Great for players with sweaty hands or humid conditions, though they can wear faster.
Dry Overgrips: Designed to absorb moisture and become grippier when wet. The Tourna Original Dry Feel Grip is the most popular option. According to Pickleheads, these transform when they absorb sweat, creating a secure hold that many players swear by.
Cushioned Overgrips: Prioritize comfort with softer, thicker padding that reduces vibration. Wilson Pro Overgrip and Yonex Super Grap are solid examples. Ideal for players without sweaty hands who want extra comfort, or those dealing with arm issues. Check our guide to paddles for tennis elbow for more arm-health tips.
All-Purpose Overgrips: Balance tackiness, cushioning, and durability. Gamma Supreme and Babolat Pro Response X3 work well for most players and conditions without specializing.
Choosing and Applying Your Overgrip
Quick decision guide:
- Sweaty hands: Tacky or dry overgrip (Tourna Mega Tac or Tourna Original)
- Want comfort: Cushioned overgrip (Wilson Pro or Yonex Super Grap)
- Various conditions: All-purpose grip (Gamma Supreme)
- Need larger grip: Add one or more overgrips (1/16″ each)
According to PPA Tour, about 78% of professional players use overgrips for enhanced control.
Application basics: Remove old overgrips (keep the base grip), start at the bottom with the tapered end, wrap upward overlapping a quarter inch, pull tight to avoid wrinkles, then secure at the top with finishing tape. Most overgrips include instructions.
Replacement frequency: Dry grips wear fastest and may need weekly replacement. Tacky and cushioned grips last weeks to a month. Replace when the grip smooths out, loses texture, frays, or feels slippery.
Don’t Forget Grip Size
Your paddle’s grip circumference matters too. Most adults use 4 to 4.5 inches. Too small causes twisting; too large limits wrist mobility and causes fatigue.
Measure from your palm’s middle crease to your ring finger tip for your ideal size. Between sizes? Go smaller and add an overgrip. For more on paddle selection, see our guide on choosing the perfect pickleball paddle.
Final Thoughts
Your grip is fundamental to your pickleball game. Whether you choose the versatile Continental, balanced Eastern, or powerful Western grip, what matters is finding what works for your style.
Experiment with different grips during practice. Pay attention to how each affects your power, control, and comfort. Don’t overlook overgrips—a simple change in texture or tackiness can boost your confidence significantly.
The beauty of pickleball is there’s no single “correct” way to play. As you develop your skills, your grip might evolve too. Stay open to adjustments, and you’ll find what works best.
Now get out there and test these grips on the court. Your perfect grip is waiting to be discovered!