Padel grip guide — the only grip you need to learn first
Most padel mistakes start at the grip. The wrong grip makes every shot harder. The right grip makes every shot easier. There's basically one grip to learn for the first six months: the continental grip. This guide covers how to find it, why it works for every shot, and the grip mistakes that quietly cap most players at intermediate forever.
Table of contents
The continental grip — what it is
The continental grip — also called the 'hammer grip' or 'V grip' — is the foundational padel grip. The 'V' formed between your thumb and index finger sits along the top edge of the racket handle when the racket face is perpendicular to the ground. Imagine holding a hammer and tapping a nail in front of you — that's almost exactly the continental grip. The racket face stays neutral, ready to angle in any direction with small wrist adjustments.
How to find it (the shake-hands method)
Hold the racket out in front of you with the face perpendicular to the ground (like a sword, not a frying pan). Now grab the handle as if you're shaking hands with the racket. The 'V' between your thumb and index finger should be on the top edge — index-finger side. That's continental. Check by looking down at your hand: if you can see the second knuckle of your index finger on top of the handle, you're close.
Why this one grip works for every shot
Padel rallies move fast — a defensive shot becomes a volley becomes a smash becomes a glass-wall reset, all in three seconds. There isn't time to switch grips between shots. The continental grip works for forehand, backhand, volley, serve, smash, bandeja, and víbora. Small wrist adjustments handle the angle changes the shot needs. One grip, every shot, no transition delay.
Why eastern forehand grip is wrong for padel
Eastern forehand grip — the one tennis players default to — sits the racket face slightly more open. It's great for tennis forehand topspin, terrible for everything else. Eastern grip kills your backhand (you have to switch grips mid-rally, which is too slow), wrecks your volleys (the open face floats balls long), and makes overheads harder. Tennis players who don't switch to continental hit a hard plateau within a few months.
When (rarely) to switch grips
Advanced players sometimes use slight grip variations for specific shots — a slightly stronger grip for heavy topspin forehands, or a slightly more open face for soft chops. These are micro-adjustments, not full grip changes. For your first one to two years of padel, the answer is: don't switch. One grip. All shots. Master that first.
Common grip mistakes
Holding too tightly: a death grip kills wrist mobility and tires your forearm fast. Hold the racket like you're holding a bird — firm enough not to drop it, loose enough not to crush it. Choking up: holding too high on the handle reduces leverage. Your hand should sit at the base, with the bottom of your palm at the bottom of the handle. Letting the grip rotate during play: as your hand sweats, the racket rotates — your continental grip becomes a frying-pan grip without you noticing. Reset between points.
How grip affects every shot type
Forehand: continental gives a slight slice naturally, which is exactly what padel forehands need. Backhand: continental supports both one-handed and two-handed backhands without changing. Volley: continental keeps the racket face stable, which is what volleys need. Serve: continental gives the underhand serve a clean strike. Smash and bandeja: continental allows the wrist snap that creates spin. Glass plays: continental lets you adjust the racket angle on the fly as the ball comes off the wall at unpredictable angles.
Drills to lock the grip in
Wall drill: stand 3 metres from a wall, hit forehand-backhand-forehand-backhand against it without changing grip. Do 50 reps. If you have to switch grips, you're not on continental yet. Shadow swings: between matches, stand in front of a mirror, swing through forehand and backhand in continental grip. Catch yourself if your hand drifts. Match application: every time you walk to your serve position, check your grip. Eventually it becomes automatic.
Key takeaways
- Continental grip ('hammer grip', 'V grip') is the only grip to learn first
- Find it by shaking hands with the racket while the face is perpendicular to the ground
- Works for every shot in padel — forehand, backhand, volley, serve, smash, bandeja
- Eastern forehand grip (tennis default) is wrong for padel — switch to continental
- Hold firmly but not tightly — death grip kills wrist mobility
- Reset your grip every point — sweat causes the racket to rotate without noticing
Questions
Is there really only one grip in padel?
For your first one to two years, yes. Continental grip works for every shot. Advanced players make tiny adjustments for specific shots, but those are micro-tweaks, not separate grips. Mastering continental first is non-negotiable.
I'm a tennis player — can I keep using my eastern forehand grip?
You can, but you'll plateau within months. Tennis players who refuse to switch to continental end up with a broken backhand and weak volleys. Make the switch in your first few sessions — it'll cost you two weeks of feeling weird and save you years of bad habits.
How tight should I hold the racket?
Firm enough that the racket won't fly out of your hand during a hard shot, loose enough that your forearm doesn't tire after 10 minutes. The 'holding a bird' image works: don't let it escape, don't crush it.
Why does my grip keep changing during matches?
Sweat. As your hand gets damp, the racket rotates between shots without you noticing. Solutions: change your overgrip every month, use a towel between points, or use a Hesacore-style hex grip that resists rotation.
Get your grip scored from frame-by-frame video
Try PadelUp free for 3 days. Cancel anytime from the App Store.
More guides
- Padel rules, explained simply
- Padel vs tennis — which is harder, which is easier to start
- Bandeja technique — the shot that defines padel
- What is AI padel coaching — and how does it work
- How padel video analysis improves your game faster than practice alone
- How to find your padel technique weaknesses — and actually fix them
- Padel backhand technique — grip, stance, swing path, and consistency
- Padel court positioning — where to stand and why it determines who wins
- Why you've stopped improving at padel — and what to actually do about it
- Padel forehand technique for beginners — the essentials that build a clean shot
- Essential padel footwork drills that actually improve court coverage
- The víbora in padel — how to hit it, when to use it, and what separates it from the bandeja
- Basic padel doubles strategy — positioning, patterns, and how to win more points
- Common padel rules mistakes — and the correct calls that end arguments on court
- The future of AI in sports coaching — what's already here and what's coming
- How to prepare for a padel tournament — the week-by-week guide
- How to read opponents in padel — the cues that tell you where the ball is going
- Master padel technique with AI — the complete guide to improving every shot
- Advanced padel strategy — the patterns, decisions, and positioning that win matches
- AI padel coaching — how data-driven analysis translates into better performance
- Is there a Strava of padel coaching?
- The 2026 padel rules — every change explained
- What is padel? A complete guide to the world's fastest-growing sport
- Padel vs pickleball — the full 2026 comparison
- Common padel mistakes — fix these to break out of the beginner level
- How to play padel — the absolute beginner's guide
- Padel racket buying guide — how to choose your first (or fifth)
- Padel scoring explained — points, games, sets, tiebreaks
- Padel for tennis players — what transfers, what doesn't, and how to adapt fast
- Padel partner communication — what to say, when to say it
- Padel shoes guide — what to look for and which to avoid
- Best padel rackets 2026 — by level, style, and budget
- Padel court dimensions — exact measurements and what they mean