Why 90% of Pickleball Players Hold Their Paddle Wrong

[@EnhancePickleball]

If you don't agree with my tips in this video, argue with me in the comments👇I'll respond to everyone

[@Schnitzone]

You haven’t responded!

[@kennethanderson2522]

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!

[@voyagerprobe]

Your color coding the handle and drawing the X and line on your hand is priceless. This is the ABSOLUTE best video I've ever seen to teach us the various grips, when to use them, etc, which can even be used in other racquet sports like badminton, racquetball, etc. Thank you sir !!

[@EnhancePickleball]

Glad to help out! Hope it helps your game take off.

[@keanwong8381]

probably the best video on grips! clarified a lot for me. thanks! learnt much!

[@JP-ki6ni]

Great video with the grips. I play tennis and kind of used my tennis grips and they seem to work but seeing the detail is great.

[@commprof]

I agree with almost everything. Changing grips is impossible for fast exchanges at the kitchen. Continental is the best overall for those fast exchanges at the net and for the forehand groundstroke/drive, but an eastern grip is better for backhand drives to have any power. While you covered the forehand overhead smash, I think you omitted one important shot and maybe the most difficult shot in the game -- the backhand overhead. That will require a continental grip. However, to keep the shot from going wide cross court one needs to turn their body 90 degrees away from the net. A good wrist snap helps too. Also, what you called a western grip many actual refer to as a semi-western. A full western goes another bevel further, but it's really severe and useless for pickleball. I see lots players start with the wrong grip and it's hard to change later. The grip should be the first thing taught to beginners. Overall, the best pickleball content is yours! Nice work.

[@kenweber2619]

Probably one of the best grip instructional vids i have ever seen. Great job

[@joiedevivre541]

Agreed!

[@BruceFowler-bv1gf]

Due to a deformed left hand, I find it hard to switch grips.Therefore, i use a continental grip for every shot. with pretty good success. Switching grips without the left hand as you demonstrated might work

[@HardDriver3950]

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.

[@joemarshall4226]

I'm 70 and have used a ping pong grip for everything. It gives an advantage in generating spin, and in the touch game. It's a very consistent grip, but you sacrifice power on overheads. I can hit a good forehand drive with it. Lately, I use a two handed BH once in a while. And I have experimented with a continental grip as well.

[@Schnitzone]

At 5:04 into your video, where the black line on your hand meets the handle, right on that 45 degree corner is where you should always keep your the pad of your thumb (the part of your thumb underneath your thumbnail) something like where your thumb is positioned at 15:41 in the video. This allows you to rotate the handle with one hand by rolling it in your fingertips and allows you to instantly initiate any grip from eastern to western and everywhere in between. This opens the door to shots that you cannot do with your thumb wrapped around the backside of the handle. From this grip you can easily protect your right shoulder, do tomahawks, scorpions, topspins, underspins, etc., etc... It's the universal grip, developed right here!

[@nchambers007]

Absolutely! Underrated comment. That thumb position along with keeping some airspace - aka holding it mainly with your fingers (NOT having the handle lay tight in the palm of your hand, even though the butt is aainst your heel- pocket still) is a rally great way to allow quick minor changes by spinning the paddle one or two bezels instantly.

[@michellerosenthal1644]

Hi, I never played pickleball yet. I am a 63-year-old woman who has not played tennis, ping pong, or racket ball for about 40 years. I was invited to play in a park with a pickleball group. I have been watching your very informative videos to prepare. Thanks for the info!

[@ianmcnally8501]

@michellerosenthal1644 I hope you just get out there and play, beginners catch up quick! You will learn by playing and a few lessons help too. Don’t be afraid to, I learned to play at 59 and I am now pretty good! For me it’s about the fun and exercise.😊

[@honlam6681]

very extensive and thank you for labeling things on your fingers and on the paddle

[@EnhancePickleball]

My pleasure!

[@reddymi]

Awesome, clear and perfect level of detail. Lots of other videos get into grip, but this was perfect.

[@edoberlin1]

I'm a 70 yo 4.8 who has always used a continental for everything (pball, tennis, table tennis, racquetball, badminton). I like the forefinger on the paddle because it gives me great control and a soft game. Since I never use a 2 handed bh, to get power, my hand is at the very end of the paddle and I have an extremely short handle (hard to find). But for beginners and anyone wanting more topspin, the eastern is clearly better for drives.

[@cindydarling6315]

I am a high 3.5. Agree 100%.

[@Leonardokite]

I was looking for a good video on grip styles. This is it. Saved for further review. Thanks so much.

[@knivessportsandadventures9523]

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.

[@nchambers007]

Are you a short person? If not, isn't it hard to catch up when the firefights go low to your body? Or do you just try to slide into a backhand or forehand and just keep the grip the same?

[@knivessportsandadventures9523]

@@nchambers007 I am 5'11". I do find myself bending my knees to stay in front of low shots sometimes, but it usually isn't a problem for me.

[@Leapops]

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!

[@MindfulMya]

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.

[@EnhancePickleball]

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.

[@sbinsdca]

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.

[@braddaddis371]

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

[@EnhancePickleball]

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.

[@jeffreybartlett4899]

Great video and congrats on your subscriber growth. I switch to semi-wester [you call western] for all forehand except overheads where I want to pronate. At the kitchen, no more body-shots ... just staying low when vulnerable. This is what Riley Newman does.

[@naderattar1938]

Thank you so much for explaining the grip so well. I am arguably a 4.5; solely having used the continental grip for the past two and half years. I have a Luxx CA, with good amount of lead on it. My take has been to change my grip when I am back with great outcome. Resulting in more spin, accuracy, but more importantly, reduction of tape shots. Thank you.

[@douglasmurdoch7247]

No one shakes hands like a continental grip. If you do, you have a dainty, limp fish handshake. Continental is like your holding a hammer. Part of the pressure is on top. It’s eastern that’s like shaking hand, grabbing it from the side.

[@suzannecook4789]

ITHINK YOU CAN SHAKE WITH BOTH GRIPS JUST AS YOU CAN HOLD A HAMMER BOTH WAYS BUT I HAVE FOUND THAT SAYING SHAKE HANDs WITH PADDLE HAS PRODUCED A GOOD CONTINENTAL GRIP FOR MOST PEOPLE I HAVE WOKED WITH

[@lymedog3176]

I know the ping pong one or two fingers on a paddle is considered a no-no but I know a player who is an incredible player and he uses that grip almost exclusively. His control on dinks ,drives and blocks is phenomenal! I’ve seen him against bangers and excellent drinkers and he has no problem.

[@patriciaseeley2260]

Yes, he explained early in the vid that there are exceptions:)

[@douglasmurdoch7247]

But he’s succeeding despite his grip, not because of it. He’s succeeding because of his talent. If he switched to a literally superior grip, he’d be even better.

[@marykennedy5372]

Until his fingers get smashed by opponents delaminated core crushed Mod speed up Dura ball or his partners paddle both going for mid court kitchen line floater!

[@lymedog3176]

@ Mary this guy has sen his share of partners and speed ups…it’s a no problem on his end, plus his control is phenomenal.

[@douglasmurdoch7247]

@ it may be “no problem”, but it’s certainly no benefit. He’d do better with a proper grip. It’s a testament to his talent that he’s still succeeding with a handicap though.

[@princetonnguyen9984]

Super informative video. The sharpie X and lines help a lot.

[@EnhancePickleball]

Great to hear!

[@genemercer4304]

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.

[@RobertSack-u6c]

Great tip on moving your hand to the bottom of the grip. Made a big difference.

[@stilllifeproductions5017]

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...

[@ccbowers]

There was at least another comment pointing this out but he just denied that fact

[@mightymoose832]

Great video... could be half as long , but definitely a great comprehensive video

[@robyngoldman-grunseich2912]

This was extremely helpful! I will be practicing when to use the grips as well as switching back and forth. Thanks!!!

[@chrisf8645]

Fueling the algorithm great video

[@knowitall4734]

You didn't comment on how the continental grip is by far the best grip for defending the entire body (playing arm shoulder aside).

[@barefootwayfarer6294]

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.

[@YesSir-hk9ys]

Western for drives, drops and swinging volleys Continental for NVZ, over heads and backhand slice

[@EnhancePickleball]

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.

[@YesSir-hk9ys]

@@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

[@daupenngshilin1264]

It is the best hand grip video I’ve ever seen. But I think it is missing the instructions about two hands backhand grip.

[@EnhancePickleball]

we have a full video about that here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKW1fpVsqLWUbKs

[@joiedevivre541]

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!

[@joiedevivre541]

Being able to see the V in the hand between the index finger and thumb..

[@sbinsdca]

In general, the paddle face perpendicular to the ground is continental. Face parallel to the ground is SW. Eastern is between those two.

[@lexus_offroad_adventures]

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.

[@daviddab6635]

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!

[@ttb1513]

Great descriptive video. Minor: 17:55 you are switching from eastern to continental, not to western, right?

[@pickleballchadd2601]

Great vid maybe add strike location as to why we change our grip🎉❤

[@Daimodess]

Great video, thank you!

[@c77od]

Amazing content. Thank you! Subscribed.

[@EnhancePickleball]

Awesome, thank you!

[@angelamonson210]

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!

[@travisf8796]

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

[@EnhancePickleball]

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

[@afterthesmash]

The problem for me at my size, close to 6'5", is that by the time I double wrap the handle for my hand size, or slide a Hesacore over the stock handle plus an overwrap, is that bevels are almost imperceptible. I've only had the Hesacore for a few weeks. Ultimately, I can problem experiment with the precise orientation of the Hesacore until the various grips all have obvious reference points. But since I'm using the Hesacore over top of an already large stock handle, it's almost fixed in concrete. I probably need to put a Hesacore on a smaller handle, experiment while it can actually be moved around, and then apply it on a permanent basis to a paddle with an even larger handle underneath.

[@bmori4585]

Great video . What shoes are those ? They look good

[@y2washere]

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

[@EnhancePickleball]

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!

[@WilliamBoike]

My grip: I have the "v" between my thumb and fore finger line up with the edge of the paddle. This seems to have worked for me for the 15 years I've been playing. I live in Minnesota and also used to play tennis and love back-hands. And what's with the two handed back-hands in pickleball? Perhaps easier on joints?

[@ljc9337]

Thanks for this!

[@AnnMitt]

🙌 very helpful 👏

[@kimleith1378]

Any oppinion on the HESACORE for maintaning solid grips when switching? Played using the "ping pong" grip for a few years, like Callan Dawson uses. I have wrecked my elbow twisting wrenches for 30+ yrs. Been using the High Continental primarily now that my elbow problem has calmed down. The edge guard looks very high??

[@joenenninger971]

Excellent video

[@EnhancePickleball]

Glad you liked it

[@jpc2358]

I've been in a pickleball clinic for 7 weeks and the instructor keeps picking on me for my grip, he wants me to stay in the Continental grip consistently, which is very uncomfortable when I'm serving. I feel much more comfortable with the Eastern grip when serving and returning a hard hit ball is this an advantageous way to play?

[@RetiredGlobalLife]

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.

[@threedaysmore]

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.

[@afterthesmash]

12:10 This is a narrative mistake. "By high continental, I mean a grip that is a little bit rotated away from Eastern." That's clear enough concerning the incremental aspect, but starting from where? Starting from Eastern and rotated part way to Continental? Or starting from Continental and rotating away from Eastern, slightly _beyond_ Continental? I'm pretty sure this is intended to mean the second thing, but I had to think about this longer than I should have.

[@YourUltimateGod]

this is mostly tennis grips. I’ve seen folk with missing fingers have their own style and ping pong players have their own grips, scorpion, etc…

[@nchambers007]

1 - you're right about 90% not knowing basic grips ... because 90& of them are playing 3.0 or worse. At 4.0 almost all have 2 or 3 good grips. 2 - tons of high level players use a loosely held "frying pan aka pancake aka eastern forehand" to either serve with or for overhead putaways. Tons of speed and snap in that grip. 3 - as far as hands battles for us older players (slower reflexes), maybe don't fall too in love with continental. Forehand continental can be jammed too easily. Cheat that grip backward so the paddle face is laying 22.5 degrees (half a 45 degrees bezel) more counter clockwise than pure continental. You'll get jammed less often. Obviously sliding your feet properly helps a ton too but that's a different topic.

[@joeyshea7676]

IVE BEEN ASKING SO MANY KZbinRS FOR A DETAILED VIDEO ON THE GRIP. MANY TIMES THERE WILL BE TWO INFLUENCERS ON THE SAME CHANNEL DOING THE SAME VIDEO AND THEY ARE USING DIFFERENT GRIPS. AND THEN IF YOU GO TO THE COURT AS A BEGINNER WITH KNOWLEDGE FROM RAQUET SPORTS MANY GREAT PLAYERS DONT KNOW AND ARE HOLDING IT INCORRECTLY THANK YOU. THANK YOU. #continental

[@Beckett2424]

Please do not yell. All Caps is yelling in modern digital communication. Everyone knows this.

[@RegalOrb]

Good Stuff!

[@maryleatucker5232]

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.

[@EnhancePickleball]

Fair enough!

[@rattailpickleball]

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

[@rattailpickleball]

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

[@offthefront7537]

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.

[@EnhancePickleball]

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.

[@joiedevivre541]

Great content! Thank you! One question. Is high continental in between continental and eastern?

[@EnhancePickleball]

No it's further away from eastern. On the other side.

[@aljerones99]

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 KZbin 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.

[@EnhancePickleball]

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!

[@joiedevivre541]

Excellent comment!

[@rattailpickleball]

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

[@Smokeybuhda]

9:16 you spent 9 minutes talking about continental is the key grip for pickleball. I’m guess if you have continental for any shot. Beside 2hand BH you’ll be fine.

[@JOValentino]

Thank you

[@EnhancePickleball]

Welcome!

[@mxgzmxgz]

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?

[@EnhancePickleball]

It’s completely legal

[@mxgzmxgz]

@@EnhancePickleball thank you for answering my question and clearing it out. Been doing pickleball for 2 montgs now and its really fun. :)

[@afterthesmash]

11:40 My most powerful serve uses semi-western to apply topspin by contacting the top of the ball at the exact moment my wrist begins to whip through, rather than the back of the ball using the wiper technique. I love this serve, but it is a fragile beast. I really have to drill it every week to keep it in top form. Precise timing is super important. As an added bonus, it doesn't grind the grit off of your paddle face, either. If you strike it perfectly, the ball rolls down the length of your paddle, beginning with the tip, and not flying off again until around the sweet spot. It's a very long brushing motion before the catapult. At my level of play, it causes the opponents to return the serve very conservatively after pushing the first few into the net, because it is _way_ heavier than it initially looks, and the heaviness is not consistent. It substantially disguises just how much spin you are applying to the ball. I learned this serve basically the first month I took pickleball seriously. It was my way to train myself to have an exaggerated hip rotation, a flexible wrist, and huge mass transfer through the kinetic chain. This has all served me very well, but I still don't really have a proper volley roll, because applying spin to the back of the ball isn't how I began my journey. As a beginner, applying spin to the back of the ball solves one problem while creating a different problem. You will add pressure to the ball you strike. But you will also sacrifice your precise control of pace and depth. If you misapply the spin, the error of the misapplied spin adds onto any error you already have with pace and depth. Pace and depth are life and blood on the pickleball court for the touch game. So I basically said to myself: You've got one huge topspin option from back court, using the western (not too hard to do) or the semi-western (wicked, but much harder to do). Beyond this, excelling in pace and depth will take you all the way to 4.0, even without any other spin. Now I'm almost a 4.0, and my mostly empty spin toolbox is my biggest weakness. But I am now learning spin at the same time that I am learning the cognitive skill about whether to attack or not to attack, as well as how to best attack when I attack. I don't regret my non-standard path at all. The hardest part is suddenly looking like a 3.0 again whenever I try to use my fledgeling volley roll in game play. This is an ego problem, not a pickleball problem. I simply need to suck it up and suck big until it sinks in.

[@RandyGunner169]

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]

Hope it feels great!

[@RandyGunner169]

@@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

[@joiedevivre541]

Great point! I can't argue with that! lol!

[@Cacheola]

I use a backhand eastern to semi-western for backhand drive & hybrid slices. It's probably one of my better, most consistent shots lol :|

[@EnhancePickleball]

sticking with what brings out your best game is key.

[@douglasmurdoch7247]

That’s semi-western, not western.

[@nchambers007]

4:53 is crazy. Anyone who actually uses a real hammer would say a hammer grip is a fraternal twin to the continental. Depending on the size and strength of your hands and fingers vs the size of the grip, actual hammer users might have a bit looser grip (same general locations) than a traditional continental grip ... hammers are often held mostly by your fingers and don't involve the palm very much at all (besides where the butt fits in your heel-pocket to act as a stopper). You would NEVER lay a hammer's handle 90 degrees across your palm. That's just nuts to call that a hammer grip. Must be a tennis player thing. In other words, to non-tennis players, one of the best ways to describe the continental is "pick it up loosely with your fingers, like you're going to swing a hammer".

[@tonyanoss8059]

Going to try the gripes

[@dragostego]

great video but not all paddles are octagonal on the bottom, some are two straight pieces and two curves

[@alangoudie2299]

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'' .

[@Beckett2424]

Please do not yell. All Caps is yelling in modern digital communication. Everyone knows this.

[@alangoudie2299]

Thank you. I did not know that. It is easier to read capital letters when you are over 80 years old.

[@profsacin]

I agree, coming from Tennis Coaching background. But I see park "experts" teaching the opposite to "keep it simple" and do lollypop easter on volleys and everywhere and use the same face for both forehand and backhand. 🤦‍♂

[@steveblack2728]

Bro I think your videos are sick.

[@EnhancePickleball]

I appreciate that

[@offthefront7537]

I’d like to see the video where you tell Riley Newman he’s using the wrong grip.

[@ilzephyrli]

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.

[@EnhancePickleball]

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.

[@adamheath4599]

@@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.

[@EnhancePickleball]

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.

[@Carlos27thFS]

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.

[@hk6474]

Video starts at 9:27

[@mrtonyubrown]

Go straight to 3:49

[@joycecleary3500]

Show us when and how to change your grip during play. It is easy when you’re standing there.

[@LatiNoble]

My first coach used the ping pong grip claiming that he had more control. But he also had a black fingernail.

[@t81629]

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.

[@EnhancePickleball]

It places a lot of stress on the wrist and doesn't provide the necessary leverage or stability, which can lead to injuries.

[@octhewatcher]

you mistook western with semi west ..

[@EnhancePickleball]

I don't think so. I used a semi western in tennis lol. semi western is closer to eastern

[@sbinsdca]

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.

[@ccbowers]

This has been pointed out several times and he keeps denying the fact

[@ccbowers]

Intuitive tennis has a great video on grips and corresponding bevels. He needs to watch that video.

[@ShawnTuber_home]

Coming from tennis 🎾 these concepts seem the easiest transition, IMO 👌

[@EnhancePickleball]

Most definitely!

[@squashdevicer]

Quang Dong would disagree!

[@brucepinkerton2716]

They are not notches but lands or flats

[@brianlane9534]

Perpendicular?

[@EnhancePickleball]

lol

[@ezvue]

😵‍💫= my brain when hearing there are three different grip types to use throughout the game, depending on the shot. 🤷‍♂️

[@sbinsdca]

Best for beginners to play using only continental. You can hit every shots using that grip. Coming from tennis, I use SW only for FH drives and occasionally aggressive topspin dinks. Continental for everything else at the kitchen or transitioning. Since 90% of PB is at the kitchen, continental is the best grip to use.

[@Paul-wc2mc]

They're called bevels, not notches. Also, that's semi-western, not western.

[@Connor_Dempsey]

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.

[@pattywagner9145]

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.

[@lowbatt777]

nah... ima make western work for all situations lmaoo

[@andrewmeigs2557]

Facets not notches.

[@purpleshirtednerd]

"Notches" = "Bevels"

[@8246st]

Too long man; repeating point, not getting to good stuff. Had to run.

[@EnhancePickleball]

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.

[@craigmarshallband]

90%?? Maybe 90% of beginners use the wrong grip, not 90% of all players. You're not going to be a 4.0 level or even 3.5 level player using beginner level grips. This video is fine for beginners but maybe put that in the video title? Otherwise, seems kind of misleading

[@lesterma1608]

Continental grip is good, Cadillac is better🚙

[@j7404]

Ok

[@aljerones99]

It's not "ping pong". It's table tennis. 😉 Thanks. 😊

[@Paul-kg3ub]

It's not soccer it's football

[@aljerones99]

@@Paul-kg3ub RIGHT ON, bro! 😁

[@ccbowers]

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.

[@aljerones99]

@@ccbowers it's table tennis ... Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else.

[@mauriceb9996]

Lol...whatever!