Mastering Padel Grips: Continental, Eastern and When to Switch
The grip you use shapes every shot. Here is how to pick the right one and switch fluidly between them.
Most beginners hold the racquet the same way for every shot. The pros do not. Grip changes are subtle but they unlock control, spin and power across the full range of padel strokes.
The Continental Grip: Your Default
Hold the racquet as if you were shaking hands with it. The V between thumb and index finger sits on the top edge. This is the grip for volleys, the bandeja, the vibora, smashes and the serve. If you only learn one grip, learn this.
The Eastern Forehand: For Groundstrokes
Rotate the hand slightly clockwise (for right-handers) so the palm sits behind the handle. This gives more power on flat forehand drives and topspin off the back wall. It is comfortable but slow to switch from — which is why it is not the universal grip.
Why Most Coaches Push Continental
In fast exchanges at the net, there is no time to change grips between forehand and backhand volleys. Continental works for both. It also makes the bandeja and vibora possible — shots that simply do not exist with an Eastern grip.
Switching Without Looking
Practise switching grips with your eyes closed. Hold the racquet by the throat with your non-dominant hand and let the dominant hand rotate around the handle. Drill this for two minutes before every session until it becomes muscle memory.
Grip Pressure Matters Too
Hold the racquet too tight and you lose touch. Too loose and you lose control. Aim for a four on a scale of one to ten — firm enough to keep the face stable, loose enough to feel the ball.
When to Break the Rules
Some players use a slight Eastern shift on heavy topspin lobs or kick serves. That is fine — once your Continental is automatic, small adjustments are tools, not crutches. Start with the default, master it, then experiment.