FINALLY a video on gripping the paddle that is very clear, i.e. included position of index knuckle and the base of the palm. Also describing times when best to use each grip was very helpful, first time I have seen that comprehensively. Excellent video!
Best grip video I have seen. Thanks! Also for anyone curious, the names of the different grip styles come from tennis, where players from different regions ("Eastern" US, "Western" US, and "Continental" Europe) used different grips to accommodate for the varying bounce of the ball on surface types used predominantly in each region.
Nice vid. I’d argue that a western grip is great for those over heads you want to angle to the right. Just a quick micro adjustment in grip momentarily to create a better angle. This shot seems to work so well against 5.0’s and below who don’t expect you to achieve such an extreme angle to the right on an overhead
For players skilled in making quick grip adjustments, a momentary switch to Western might work well for that specific shot. However, it requires a lot of precision and control, which can be risky under pressure.
i've been playing western/semi-western forehands this whole time and tried to compensated through my form to add more spin but it results in hitting my head more often than i'd like to admit.
I am a tennis player familiar with all the grips you mention and I just started playing pickleball a few weeks ago with a cheap bat. The grip is so small it is impossible to change to grips so I use continental for all shots. Seems to work fine - especially as most the game is at the net - although forehand is slightly awkward. Looks like I need to invest in a better bat!
You might want a paddle that has a tennis handle then it’s not short. Weight of paddle matters too and less swing will change everything alongside the grips.
Upgrading to a paddle with a longer and more comfortable grip could definitely help you optimize your shot execution and make those grip changes more feasible. Check out the SweetSpot pro. The grip is more similar to a tennis racket than other paddles.
If you can hit all shots with a continental grip, that's probably the best as most high level pickle is played at the kitchen. It's the best grip for dinks, drops, volleys, resets, counters and smashes. I only use SW for serves (high topspin) and returns/drives then it's strictly continental for everything else. I've had to practice my mid-court and kitchen continental FH/dinks to make them decent. My THBH is SW left, continental right. My goal was never switching from right hand continental when at the kitchen.
This is a great video! It makes my grips make a lot more sense. One thing I would add is that I use the Western grip a lot when playing against bangers. If I have that grip by default when I am at the net, it lets me counter REALLY fast without having to switch sides of the paddle. If they do start to dink, I can make Western work, or take the time to switch to Continental. However, being in Western/scorpion is a lot faster against bangers. I actually get a lot of experienced players asking me how i move so fast at the net. It's usually by being in Western grip and holding my paddle vertically in front of my face, which allows me to reach right or left to the full length of my arm without switching the paddle back and forth. It's a great poaching grip.
I love your videos! Keep it up... At around 6:04 we're actually in Semi-Western forehand grip, a grip that some accomplished (modern) tennis players may use to replicate their tennis stroke on the pickleball court. The difference is in where the heel of the hand is positioned (both have knuckles on 4-- in SW heel is on 3, in W heel is on 5). IMO, there is no place for Western grip in P-ball...
I recently noticed Deckel Bar’s grip where he holds his index finger on the back of the paddle but he also holds his pinky at the base of the grip. I’m trying this as a way to wean off ping pong grip. Works great.
Thanks for this I have been playing for a year and am close to a 3.5 but no one has discussed grip and it seems I have been using western the whole time so my paddle face is always facing slightly down on my forhand. That explains a lot of my misses that I make by over compensate for by returning the ball higher then I would like.
I would love to see another view of the grips. For example, the view that I see when looking down at my grip is different from the view you show with the camera looking at your knuckle view if that makes sense? Thank you!
I would love to see a grip explanation where the focus is the face of the paddle and in relation to net. If you start standing/facing the right sideline with a continental hand shake, when you extend your arm and keep wrist in line with forearm (neutral) will the paddle face be perfectly parallel to the net? Once that is answered, how does the face of the paddle change in the different grips, is the face slightly closed in Eastern? And then what is it for western? I tried the knuckles but I have super long and thin fingers, and I’m not positive it’s lining up the way it “should” be. I tend to really focus on the face of the paddle, kind of like squaring the face of a golf club. Hoping you might be able to help! Thanks for all your videos you are really helpful and informative!
THANK YOU FOR A VERY HELPFUL VIDEO. I AM A MAN WITH FAIRLY LARGE HANDS. WHAT CIRCUMFERENCE OF GRIP IN INCHES DO YOU ADVISE? EG. 4 1/4'' or 4 1/2'' or 4 3/4'' WHEN I PLAY TENNIS I USE A THICK GRIP 4 3/4'' .
This is interesting, and I agree with almost all of it. Only difference for me, coming from a tennis background and having a heavy topspin groundstroke - I have a deep eastern grip for a lot. It's not full western, but also from the baseline, I don't flip my paddle the other way. I'm hitting a topspin backhand with the same side as I would hit a forehand. It's how I always played with the one-handed backhand, in tennis. The continental is great for digging out shots at your feet, and definitely what you want to use at the kitchen. But also playing doubles in tennis, I would sometime have more of a windshield wiper motion, as opposed to flipping my racket back and forth because I don't like how you often end up breaking your wrist on backhand volleys. It's completely different when you're having to reach, but from playing tennis so long, I'm very comfortable shifting my grip.
Great video Connor! When I started a year ago, I started out going continental for everything but serves but lately I've been going eastern for my Roll volleys, dinks, drops and drives. Switching back to continental for punch volleys, overheads, BH slice, fast hands exchanges and sometimes taking balls out of the air. I feel the Eastern grip lets me generate more aggressive shots w topspin. While it's tricky to switch grips so often I kinda think it might be worth it for the more aggressive shot. Brionnes had a video where he discussed which grip they used for baseline and at the net, they were mostly eastern or slightly eastern. I think sticking w continental can work and is definitely simpler but if you want to add more layers to your game maybe consider eastern? I wanna try to pancake shot tho lol
I think sticking with the Continental for stability and quick exchanges while adopting the Eastern for forehand drives and serves is the best strategy. Keep experimenting with those adjustments, and good luck with trying out the pancake shot!
Thanks for the video. Can I disagree with you on something... and I'll admit I come from a tennis background and was a tennis coach for many years. For one-handed backhand groundstrokes (suggestion for another video, the two-handed backhand pros and cons and grip for each hand) we call that the eastern background grip. I've never heard of "high continental". And usually our index finger knuckle is right on the top bevel, more extreme than you showed. Ideal for waist-height heavy topspin on the BH side. And I think it is fair to say that a very good player can use continental for all strokes in pickleball as well. I use it and can get tons of topspin. John McEnroe was a good example of that in tennis and he managed to hit with decent spin on his forehand. And it is ideal for a one-handed backhand ground stroke when you want a heavy slice, okay for flat, no good for top spin on the BH side. Just my two cents worth... Best wishes for your continued success.
Agreed. I've always heard it called the "Eastern Backhand" grip as well. "High continental" is not a term I had heard before this video. It is good information about the grip and stroke either way, just a name I had not heard.
The Western grip, known for its extreme angle, positions the paddle face very closed. While this can be beneficial for generating topspin in sports like tennis, it doesn't translate as well in pickleball. Not to mention it could hurt your wrist over time. I think you should give the eastern a shot on your forehand and see how it feels (it will feel bad a first no matter what). but over time you'll gain a lot of power and control.
In tennis, you can move into a position to get the grips you describe. In pickleball, sometimes, you don't have the option to move into the perfect position and have to adapt standard grips and Isaac Newton comes in to play. Basically, you need to get the paddle moving in the direction you want the ball to go. That suggests an infinite number of grips. It's what has to happen in other racquet sports. If you disagree, watch the infinite number of grips the top players actually use. Happy pickling!
What about a semi western? I've moved to something in between eastern and semi western, I love the topspin i generate with my ground game, I use it without changing for everything, the caveat, you HAVE to use two handed backhands, so that has been my main focus lately. Two handed drops are so much easier for me (think Riley Newman)...I have noticed my forehand dinks aren't as consistent, so I am working on that too... love this video, in just not quick enough to change grips... mentally more than physically lol
The challenge with using semi-western for everything, including forehand dinks, is that it may compromise some control and finesse required at the kitchen line. Since you've noticed some inconsistency there, it might be worth practicing minor adjustments just for those shots. Even small tweaks can help balance power with the precision needed for softer shots without needing a full grip change. Keep experimenting and refining-it’s all part of the journey
I’ve seen excellent players, some of whom are 5.0s, use a grip that would make you lose sleep. I’ve been changing my grip for 16 years. Some days one feels better than others. The beauty of this sport is that it’s not tennis where you have to use this or that grip. If it feels comfortable, use it. Try different things it’s not one Dixie fits all.
While comfort and personal preference are important, adopting certain standard grips like the continental can help players avoid common pitfalls and improve their control and response time at the kitchen line. Experimenting is fantastic, but understanding why certain grips are recommended can really elevate your game, especially in high-pressure scenarios.
Per your request I'm going to argue with you. I recommend using continental for EVERY shot including dinks, volleys, lobs, midcourt blocks, overheads and even ground strokes from the baseline. With the continental you can stand the paddle face vertically at the kitchen to hit TOP SPIN on the forehand and on the backhand provided you have an inclined swing path. You can even use the continental for base line drives because you make contact with the ball so low to the ground so opening up the paddle face a little from vertical is beneficial in order to send that ball on a steeper trajectory to get it over the net. If you come from tennis don't switch from Eastern on the forehand to backhand Eastern on the backhand for baseline drives. You don't ever need to switch your grip. That being said, I switch my grip. lol. I don't really want to but here's what I do. I leave the big knuckle of the index finger on the slanted bevel of the paddle grip always, but shift the lower portion of the paddle grip in my hand from one side of the heal of my palm for forehands and to the other side of the heal of my palm for backhands. I kind of hint toward Eastern for forehands and toward extreme continental for backhands, but I recommend using continental
My bad, I watched 6 minutes of your video and then made the above comment. I see we are in agreement. One shot you might add is a backhand overhead with a Western grip if you didn't mention it. I think of semi-Western as the slanted bevel and Western as the bottom bevel but I don't use Western so I'm not going to dig into it. Also extreme or high continental sounds equally valid
Most people aren't doing that notch thing. Maybe that's a tennis thing. Most people just go a little open and a little closed or continental. For most people when you're getting overly talking about the notches the conversation is a no-go.
Invites Arguments. lmao People will argue over anything! Heading out to do drills this morning and Im going to try the Eastern on my serve. See how that pans out.
@@EnhancePickleball Wow. I focused on the Continental Grip in my game. I thought I was was using it - obviously not! Now to work on the Eastern for my serve - which sucked. lol
You're right that many players place a finger on the back of the paddle during two-handed backhands, especially with shorter handles-it’s practically a necessity for that grip and shot type. However, for other shots, keeping your finger on the back of the paddle is generally a bad idea. When you place a finger on the back, it can significantly reduce your leverage and control. Scientifically, holding the paddle by the handle without choking up maximizes the torque you can generate during a swing. When you grip the handle, it allows for a longer rotational axis, which in turn, increases the power and control of your swing. Choking up shortens this axis, reducing your swing's effectiveness and potentially leading to less precise and powerful shots over time.
@@EnhancePickleball Connor, I have a college tennis and table tennis background, and use the index finger on my paddle face (no two-ey backhand though) as I have observed Staksrud, Tyler Loong, and others employing. My main impetus for doing so is for knowing subconsciously exactly where my paddle face is pointed, which is 90 degrees to the plane of my index finger on the paddle. And I never have a problem with power due to holding the paddle closer up toward the paddle face. Just my two cents. Thanks much for the vid.
I pretty much agree with the content of this video (apart from casually calling the beloved sport of table tennis, "ping pong") 😉 ... but I do have a question/point: When I first started playing pickleball and investigated paddle handling (let's call it the grip) I found that most coaches with a TH-cam presence touted the continental. I tried both the continental and eastern and found that my eastern grip is close to what most people have as a continental. I have large palms and long slender fingers and if I use the instructions provided by most coaches to get a continental grip, the paddle face is naturally closed (faced downwards). This is not desireable. So, a slight eastern (for me - based on the placement of my index knuckle) equates to a continental for many. Continuing, a "deep eastern" for me, gives me what most people would call their "normal" eastern. My point is, since we all are not anatomically the same, coaches should try to take the care to present their advice as "best practice" and urge folks to try things out to see what works for them. Bottom line: because of the size and shape of my hands, my default grip is eastern. I've learnt to accept it, adapt to it.
Coaches definitely should emphasize that their tips are starting points and encourage players to tweak things to find what feels best for them. Kudos for adapting and finding your optimal grip!
That's a good point. In tennis the hand is not supposed to reach all the way around the grip. In pickleball my hand wraps around the grip twice. Not really but kind of. So when it comes to calling a grip what it is, I'm in multiple positions
Question. In a doubles game, if one player stays inside the kitchen the whole time, lets say in an 8 shot rally. And only his teammate is returning the ball outside the kitchen, is there a fault on the person in the kitchen? Or is it completely legal that he is inside the kitchen the whole time?
The hardest part for most people is if they start hitting the ball out. They will revert back to their bad grip and habits. Don't worry about that. Just worry about getting that grip and technique correct.
Hahaha I went from continental to eastern to semi western. I use the same side of the paddle for forehand and backhand and have a twoey for groundstrokes and low backhand shots and dinks.
Sticking to the same side of the paddle for both forehand and backhand might mess with your control and reaction time. It also doesn’t make the most of your paddle’s design, which is built to be used on both sides.
@@EnhancePickleballI actually do the same as this guy, well not exactly the same but similar. It’s actually better for your reaction time. Because for me to switch from my backhand to my forehand is just a rotation of my wrist, which is actually a smaller range of motion if I was to flip my paddle over naturally. This is known as the tomahawk, and Jeff warnick a pro player plays like this as well. Also, while I think a lot of what you’re saying has merit to it. I think you’re forgetting everything has pros and cons. For example, choking up on your paddle, yes it does reduce your maximum potential power, but it makes your hands quicker, and gives you better control. There are pro players who always this grip as well. It’s just a matter of preference and your play style.
Absolutely, while choking up on the paddle can work well for some advanced players who have adapted it to their specific style, it's not something I'd generally recommend, especially for beginners or the vast majority of players. My tips are designed to help a broad audience build a solid foundation with maximum potential. As players develop and refine their skills, they might explore variations like choking up to see what best suits their play style. There are pros who choke up, but 90% of them don't for a reason.
I aree with NOT using the ping pong grip, you will stress your tendons and ligaments and hurt your wrist. I made this mistake and still in pain for several months.
When you were changing grips without the assistance of the other hand, it would've been helpful to see what you were doing with your fingers, rather than just showing the back of your hand.
If you lay the paddle flat on the ground and pick it up without rotating it, that's SW. I've not seen any pickleball player hitting with a full western grip.
The reason I emphasize certain points and repeat them is to make sure they're fully understood, especially when it comes to the importance of grip. It might seem repetitive, but proper technique is crucial, and most players don't realize how much a small change in grip can impact their game. Skipping over these details could cause players to miss out on improving those fundamentals.
If you don't agree with my tips in this video, argue with me in the comments👇I'll respond to everyone
FINALLY a video on gripping the paddle that is very clear, i.e. included position of index knuckle and the base of the palm. Also describing times when best to use each grip was very helpful, first time I have seen that comprehensively. Excellent video!
Best grip video I have seen. Thanks! Also for anyone curious, the names of the different grip styles come from tennis, where players from different regions ("Eastern" US, "Western" US, and "Continental" Europe) used different grips to accommodate for the varying bounce of the ball on surface types used predominantly in each region.
Probably one of the best grip instructional vids i have ever seen. Great job
Agreed!
very extensive and thank you for labeling things on your fingers and on the paddle
My pleasure!
Nice vid. I’d argue that a western grip is great for those over heads you want to angle to the right. Just a quick micro adjustment in grip momentarily to create a better angle. This shot seems to work so well against 5.0’s and below who don’t expect you to achieve such an extreme angle to the right on an overhead
For players skilled in making quick grip adjustments, a momentary switch to Western might work well for that specific shot. However, it requires a lot of precision and control, which can be risky under pressure.
I was looking for a good video on grip styles. This is it. Saved for further review. Thanks so much.
i've been playing western/semi-western forehands this whole time and tried to compensated through my form to add more spin but it results in hitting my head more often than i'd like to admit.
I am a tennis player familiar with all the grips you mention and I just started playing pickleball a few weeks ago with a cheap bat. The grip is so small it is impossible to change to grips so I use continental for all shots. Seems to work fine - especially as most the game is at the net - although forehand is slightly awkward. Looks like I need to invest in a better bat!
You might want a paddle that has a tennis handle then it’s not short. Weight of paddle matters too and less swing will change everything alongside the grips.
Upgrading to a paddle with a longer and more comfortable grip could definitely help you optimize your shot execution and make those grip changes more feasible. Check out the SweetSpot pro. The grip is more similar to a tennis racket than other paddles.
If you can hit all shots with a continental grip, that's probably the best as most high level pickle is played at the kitchen. It's the best grip for dinks, drops, volleys, resets, counters and smashes. I only use SW for serves (high topspin) and returns/drives then it's strictly continental for everything else. I've had to practice my mid-court and kitchen continental FH/dinks to make them decent. My THBH is SW left, continental right. My goal was never switching from right hand continental when at the kitchen.
This is a great video! It makes my grips make a lot more sense. One thing I would add is that I use the Western grip a lot when playing against bangers. If I have that grip by default when I am at the net, it lets me counter REALLY fast without having to switch sides of the paddle. If they do start to dink, I can make Western work, or take the time to switch to Continental. However, being in Western/scorpion is a lot faster against bangers. I actually get a lot of experienced players asking me how i move so fast at the net. It's usually by being in Western grip and holding my paddle vertically in front of my face, which allows me to reach right or left to the full length of my arm without switching the paddle back and forth. It's a great poaching grip.
I love your videos! Keep it up... At around 6:04 we're actually in Semi-Western forehand grip, a grip that some accomplished (modern) tennis players may use to replicate their tennis stroke on the pickleball court. The difference is in where the heel of the hand is positioned (both have knuckles on 4-- in SW heel is on 3, in W heel is on 5). IMO, there is no place for Western grip in P-ball...
I recently noticed Deckel Bar’s grip where he holds his index finger on the back of the paddle but he also holds his pinky at the base of the grip. I’m trying this as a way to wean off ping pong grip. Works great.
Thanks for this I have been playing for a year and am close to a 3.5 but no one has discussed grip and it seems I have been using western the whole time so my paddle face is always facing slightly down on my forhand. That explains a lot of my misses that I make by over compensate for by returning the ball higher then I would like.
I would love to see another view of the grips. For example, the view that I see when looking down at my grip is different from the view you show with the camera looking at your knuckle view if that makes sense? Thank you!
Being able to see the V in the hand between the index finger and thumb..
In general, the paddle face perpendicular to the ground is continental. Face parallel to the ground is SW. Eastern is between those two.
I would love to see a grip explanation where the focus is the face of the paddle and in relation to net. If you start standing/facing the right sideline with a continental hand shake, when you extend your arm and keep wrist in line with forearm (neutral) will the paddle face be perfectly parallel to the net? Once that is answered, how does the face of the paddle change in the different grips, is the face slightly closed in Eastern? And then what is it for western? I tried the knuckles but I have super long and thin fingers, and I’m not positive it’s lining up the way it “should” be. I tend to really focus on the face of the paddle, kind of like squaring the face of a golf club. Hoping you might be able to help! Thanks for all your videos you are really helpful and informative!
THANK YOU FOR A VERY HELPFUL VIDEO.
I AM A MAN WITH FAIRLY LARGE HANDS.
WHAT CIRCUMFERENCE OF GRIP IN INCHES DO YOU ADVISE?
EG. 4 1/4'' or 4 1/2'' or 4 3/4''
WHEN I PLAY TENNIS I USE A THICK GRIP 4 3/4'' .
This is interesting, and I agree with almost all of it. Only difference for me, coming from a tennis background and having a heavy topspin groundstroke - I have a deep eastern grip for a lot. It's not full western, but also from the baseline, I don't flip my paddle the other way. I'm hitting a topspin backhand with the same side as I would hit a forehand. It's how I always played with the one-handed backhand, in tennis. The continental is great for digging out shots at your feet, and definitely what you want to use at the kitchen. But also playing doubles in tennis, I would sometime have more of a windshield wiper motion, as opposed to flipping my racket back and forth because I don't like how you often end up breaking your wrist on backhand volleys. It's completely different when you're having to reach, but from playing tennis so long, I'm very comfortable shifting my grip.
It is the best hand grip video I’ve ever seen. But I think it is missing the instructions about two hands backhand grip.
we have a full video about that here: th-cam.com/video/JtRMb6sPa6I/w-d-xo.html
Great video Connor! When I started a year ago, I started out going continental for everything but serves but lately I've been going eastern for my Roll volleys, dinks, drops and drives. Switching back to continental for punch volleys, overheads, BH slice, fast hands exchanges and sometimes taking balls out of the air. I feel the Eastern grip lets me generate more aggressive shots w topspin. While it's tricky to switch grips so often I kinda think it might be worth it for the more aggressive shot. Brionnes had a video where he discussed which grip they used for baseline and at the net, they were mostly eastern or slightly eastern. I think sticking w continental can work and is definitely simpler but if you want to add more layers to your game maybe consider eastern? I wanna try to pancake shot tho lol
I think sticking with the Continental for stability and quick exchanges while adopting the Eastern for forehand drives and serves is the best strategy. Keep experimenting with those adjustments, and good luck with trying out the pancake shot!
Thanks for this!
Super informative video. The sharpie X and lines help a lot.
Great to hear!
Great video, thank you!
Thanks for the video. Can I disagree with you on something... and I'll admit I come from a tennis background and was a tennis coach for many years. For one-handed backhand groundstrokes (suggestion for another video, the two-handed backhand pros and cons and grip for each hand) we call that the eastern background grip. I've never heard of "high continental". And usually our index finger knuckle is right on the top bevel, more extreme than you showed. Ideal for waist-height heavy topspin on the BH side. And I think it is fair to say that a very good player can use continental for all strokes in pickleball as well. I use it and can get tons of topspin. John McEnroe was a good example of that in tennis and he managed to hit with decent spin on his forehand. And it is ideal for a one-handed backhand ground stroke when you want a heavy slice, okay for flat, no good for top spin on the BH side. Just my two cents worth... Best wishes for your continued success.
Agreed. I've always heard it called the "Eastern Backhand" grip as well. "High continental" is not a term I had heard before this video. It is good information about the grip and stroke either way, just a name I had not heard.
Western for drives, drops and swinging volleys
Continental for NVZ, over heads and backhand slice
The Western grip, known for its extreme angle, positions the paddle face very closed. While this can be beneficial for generating topspin in sports like tennis, it doesn't translate as well in pickleball. Not to mention it could hurt your wrist over time. I think you should give the eastern a shot on your forehand and see how it feels (it will feel bad a first no matter what). but over time you'll gain a lot of power and control.
@@EnhancePickleball been working good playing 4.0 level for now paired with the GB Pro Ultimate i get alot of spin/power. Will try the eastern tho
In tennis, you can move into a position to get the grips you describe.
In pickleball, sometimes, you don't have the option to move into the perfect position and have to adapt standard grips and Isaac Newton comes in to play.
Basically, you need to get the paddle moving in the direction you want the ball to go. That suggests an infinite number of grips.
It's what has to happen in other racquet sports.
If you disagree, watch the infinite number of grips the top players actually use.
Happy pickling!
What about a semi western? I've moved to something in between eastern and semi western, I love the topspin i generate with my ground game, I use it without changing for everything, the caveat, you HAVE to use two handed backhands, so that has been my main focus lately. Two handed drops are so much easier for me (think Riley Newman)...I have noticed my forehand dinks aren't as consistent, so I am working on that too... love this video, in just not quick enough to change grips... mentally more than physically lol
The challenge with using semi-western for everything, including forehand dinks, is that it may compromise some control and finesse required at the kitchen line. Since you've noticed some inconsistency there, it might be worth practicing minor adjustments just for those shots. Even small tweaks can help balance power with the precision needed for softer shots without needing a full grip change. Keep experimenting and refining-it’s all part of the journey
Bro I think your videos are sick.
I appreciate that
Great video . What shoes are those ? They look good
Good Stuff!
Great explanation, but the term "notch" was confusing. To me, a notch is a v-shaped depression. "Edge" would have made more sense to me.
Fair enough!
I’ve seen excellent players, some of whom are 5.0s, use a grip that would make you lose sleep. I’ve been changing my grip for 16 years. Some days one feels better than others. The beauty of this sport is that it’s not tennis where you have to use this or that grip. If it feels comfortable, use it. Try different things it’s not one Dixie fits all.
While comfort and personal preference are important, adopting certain standard grips like the continental can help players avoid common pitfalls and improve their control and response time at the kitchen line. Experimenting is fantastic, but understanding why certain grips are recommended can really elevate your game, especially in high-pressure scenarios.
Per your request I'm going to argue with you. I recommend using continental for EVERY shot including dinks, volleys, lobs, midcourt blocks, overheads and even ground strokes from the baseline. With the continental you can stand the paddle face vertically at the kitchen to hit TOP SPIN on the forehand and on the backhand provided you have an inclined swing path. You can even use the continental for base line drives because you make contact with the ball so low to the ground so opening up the paddle face a little from vertical is beneficial in order to send that ball on a steeper trajectory to get it over the net. If you come from tennis don't switch from Eastern on the forehand to backhand Eastern on the backhand for baseline drives. You don't ever need to switch your grip. That being said, I switch my grip. lol. I don't really want to but here's what I do. I leave the big knuckle of the index finger on the slanted bevel of the paddle grip always, but shift the lower portion of the paddle grip in my hand from one side of the heal of my palm for forehands and to the other side of the heal of my palm for backhands. I kind of hint toward Eastern for forehands and toward extreme continental for backhands, but I recommend using continental
My bad, I watched 6 minutes of your video and then made the above comment. I see we are in agreement. One shot you might add is a backhand overhead with a Western grip if you didn't mention it. I think of semi-Western as the slanted bevel and Western as the bottom bevel but I don't use Western so I'm not going to dig into it. Also extreme or high continental sounds equally valid
Excellent video
Glad you liked it
Amazing content. Thank you! Subscribed.
Awesome, thank you!
Great content! Thank you! One question. Is high continental in between continental and eastern?
No it's further away from eastern. On the other side.
great video but not all paddles are octagonal on the bottom, some are two straight pieces and two curves
I use a backhand eastern to semi-western for backhand drive & hybrid slices. It's probably one of my better, most consistent shots lol :|
sticking with what brings out your best game is key.
Most people aren't doing that notch thing. Maybe that's a tennis thing. Most people just go a little open and a little closed or continental. For most people when you're getting overly talking about the notches the conversation is a no-go.
Invites Arguments. lmao
People will argue over anything!
Heading out to do drills this morning and Im going to try the Eastern on my serve. See how that pans out.
Hope it feels great!
@@EnhancePickleball Wow.
I focused on the Continental Grip in my game. I thought I was was using it - obviously not!
Now to work on the Eastern for my serve - which sucked. lol
Great point! I can't argue with that! lol!
This is great! But I feel I see a ton of pros having one finger on the back of the paddle especially in the kitchen and two hand backhands
You're right that many players place a finger on the back of the paddle during two-handed backhands, especially with shorter handles-it’s practically a necessity for that grip and shot type. However, for other shots, keeping your finger on the back of the paddle is generally a bad idea.
When you place a finger on the back, it can significantly reduce your leverage and control. Scientifically, holding the paddle by the handle without choking up maximizes the torque you can generate during a swing.
When you grip the handle, it allows for a longer rotational axis, which in turn, increases the power and control of your swing. Choking up shortens this axis, reducing your swing's effectiveness and potentially leading to less precise and powerful shots over time.
@@EnhancePickleball Connor, I have a college tennis and table tennis background, and use the index finger on my paddle face (no two-ey backhand though) as I have observed Staksrud, Tyler Loong, and others employing. My main impetus for doing so is for knowing subconsciously exactly where my paddle face is pointed, which is 90 degrees to the plane of my index finger on the paddle. And I never have a problem with power due to holding the paddle closer up toward the paddle face. Just my two cents. Thanks much for the vid.
I pretty much agree with the content of this video (apart from casually calling the beloved sport of table tennis, "ping pong") 😉 ... but I do have a question/point:
When I first started playing pickleball and investigated paddle handling (let's call it the grip) I found that most coaches with a TH-cam presence touted the continental. I tried both the continental and eastern and found that my eastern grip is close to what most people have as a continental.
I have large palms and long slender fingers and if I use the instructions provided by most coaches to get a continental grip, the paddle face is naturally closed (faced downwards). This is not desireable.
So, a slight eastern (for me - based on the placement of my index knuckle) equates to a continental for many. Continuing, a "deep eastern" for me, gives me what most people would call their "normal" eastern.
My point is, since we all are not anatomically the same, coaches should try to take the care to present their advice as "best practice" and urge folks to try things out to see what works for them.
Bottom line: because of the size and shape of my hands, my default grip is eastern. I've learnt to accept it, adapt to it.
Coaches definitely should emphasize that their tips are starting points and encourage players to tweak things to find what feels best for them. Kudos for adapting and finding your optimal grip!
Excellent comment!
That's a good point. In tennis the hand is not supposed to reach all the way around the grip. In pickleball my hand wraps around the grip twice. Not really but kind of. So when it comes to calling a grip what it is, I'm in multiple positions
Thank you
Welcome!
Question. In a doubles game, if one player stays inside the kitchen the whole time, lets say in an 8 shot rally. And only his teammate is returning the ball outside the kitchen, is there a fault on the person in the kitchen? Or is it completely legal that he is inside the kitchen the whole time?
It’s completely legal
@@EnhancePickleball thank you for answering my question and clearing it out. Been doing pickleball for 2 montgs now and its really fun. :)
The hardest part for most people is if they start hitting the ball out. They will revert back to their bad grip and habits. Don't worry about that. Just worry about getting that grip and technique correct.
Hahaha I went from continental to eastern to semi western. I use the same side of the paddle for forehand and backhand and have a twoey for groundstrokes and low backhand shots and dinks.
Sticking to the same side of the paddle for both forehand and backhand might mess with your control and reaction time. It also doesn’t make the most of your paddle’s design, which is built to be used on both sides.
@@EnhancePickleballI actually do the same as this guy, well not exactly the same but similar. It’s actually better for your reaction time. Because for me to switch from my backhand to my forehand is just a rotation of my wrist, which is actually a smaller range of motion if I was to flip my paddle over naturally.
This is known as the tomahawk, and Jeff warnick a pro player plays like this as well.
Also, while I think a lot of what you’re saying has merit to it. I think you’re forgetting everything has pros and cons. For example, choking up on your paddle, yes it does reduce your maximum potential power, but it makes your hands quicker, and gives you better control. There are pro players who always this grip as well. It’s just a matter of preference and your play style.
Absolutely, while choking up on the paddle can work well for some advanced players who have adapted it to their specific style, it's not something I'd generally recommend, especially for beginners or the vast majority of players. My tips are designed to help a broad audience build a solid foundation with maximum potential. As players develop and refine their skills, they might explore variations like choking up to see what best suits their play style.
There are pros who choke up, but 90% of them don't for a reason.
I aree with NOT using the ping pong grip, you will stress your tendons and ligaments and hurt your wrist. I made this mistake and still in pain for several months.
It places a lot of stress on the wrist and doesn't provide the necessary leverage or stability, which can lead to injuries.
Coming from tennis 🎾 these concepts seem the easiest transition, IMO 👌
Most definitely!
When you were changing grips without the assistance of the other hand, it would've been helpful to see what you were doing with your fingers, rather than just showing the back of your hand.
They're called bevels, not notches. Also, that's semi-western, not western.
They are not notches but lands or flats
Perpendicular?
lol
you mistook western with semi west ..
I don't think so. I used a semi western in tennis lol. semi western is closer to eastern
If you lay the paddle flat on the ground and pick it up without rotating it, that's SW. I've not seen any pickleball player hitting with a full western grip.
Too long man; repeating point, not getting to good stuff. Had to run.
The reason I emphasize certain points and repeat them is to make sure they're fully understood, especially when it comes to the importance of grip. It might seem repetitive, but proper technique is crucial, and most players don't realize how much a small change in grip can impact their game. Skipping over these details could cause players to miss out on improving those fundamentals.
Talked way too much. This is a 90 second conversation
Continental grip is good, Cadillac is better🚙
Ok
It's not "ping pong". It's table tennis. 😉 Thanks. 😊
It's not soccer it's football
@@Paul-kg3ub RIGHT ON, bro! 😁
What is the purpose of this comment? What distinction are you trying to make here? Ping pong is an appropriate word for what he was referring to.
@@ccbowers it's table tennis ... Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else.
Lol...whatever!