The continental grip, simple but not magic
Most players start with a grip close to the continental grip, often called the hammer grip. It’s well suited to padel because it allows you to react quickly: volley, block, defend after the glass, serve, bandeja, vibora or low ball can all be played without constantly changing hand position.
Its benefits are obvious for beginners and intermediate players: it provides a stable base, limits preparation faults and allows you to string together defense and attack without losing the thread of the rally. At the net, where reaction time is very short, it’s often the safest solution.
But this single grip doesn’t solve everything. When the ball arrives higher, lower or slower, the orientation of the screen can become less natural. On a forehand to accelerate, a cut backhand, a low glass exits or a smash, a slight adjustment can help to place the pala better, produce more spin or avoid compensating with the wrist.
Some change, others don’t: why?
In practice, there are two main profiles. There are those who change little, because they prefer simplicity, tempo and regularity. They maintain a stable base and adapt their positioning, preparation height, arm speed and choice of zone.
Conversely, some players change more. For example, they use a more favorable forehand orientation to cover the ball, a more suitable backhand position to slice, or a slightly modified grip on high balls to better find the bandeja, vibora or smash. The idea is not to multiply gestures, but to make the racket face more coherent with the desired spin.
So the real question is simple: should you change your grip with every stroke? No. A change should only be made if it brings a concrete gain: better control, cleaner contact point, more natural spin or safer trajectory. If the change causes you to arrive late, it becomes a problem.
A useful guide: the faster the ball, the simpler the grip. The more time the player has, the more he can afford to make adjustments. This is particularly true on reflex returns, reaction volleys or defenses to the feet, where too much “work” can lead to a fault.
What do the pros do with padel?
Among the pros, the answer is nuanced. They don’t all keep a totally fixed grip, but neither do they make big, visible changes on every ball. Their base is generally very stable, with fine adjustments according to height, speed and tactical intent.
On fast volleys, blocks or reflex defenses, changes are minimal. Time is short, and wrist stability remains the priority. On a bandeja, a vibora, a smash or a prepared groundstroke, adjustments may be more pronounced, but they remain integrated into the gesture.
The non-dominant hand also plays a key role. In the waiting position, it helps to hold the pala in front of the body and quickly return the racket to the dominant hand. In good players, this micro-adjustment becomes automatic: it doesn’t slow down the gesture, it prepares it.
This is where amateurs can learn from the best: not by trying to change everything, but by learning two or three reliable adjustments. For example, a solid continental base, a slight change for certain groundstrokes, then a specific adaptation for over-the-shoulder strikes.
To remember:
- Keeping a stable grip is often the best way to progress in padel.
- Changing grips is useful if it improves control, spin or contact point.
- Some players change a lot, others almost never: both can work.
- The pros often make adjustments, but they do so finely, quickly and automatically.
The right reference point remains simple: if the change of grip makes the stroke more fluid without wasting time, it’s worth working on. Otherwise, it’s better to consolidate a reliable base before making the gesture more complex.
