3 Pickleball Grips Explained

Try some small pickleball grip changes to alter the direction of the pickleball. For instance, consider a small pickleball grip change to a Western pickleball grip on a forehand drive from the baseline, or a small pickleball grip change to a Continental pickleball grip on a backhand drive from the baseline. However, make sure that you quickly revert to the neutral Eastern pickleball grip (maybe with a smidge toward the Continental pickleball grip) to get ready and prepare for the next shot!

Pickleball Grip Pressure – The Importance of Loose, Relaxed Grip Pressure

Many pickleball players grip their pickleball paddles way too tightly and in the palm of their hand – think a 10 out of 10 pickleball grip pressure, where the pickleball player is “white knuckling” the pickleball paddle. Too much pickleball grip pressure, and too much palm on the pickleball paddle, are negatives on the pickleball courts because too much pickleball grip pressure and/or too much palm on the pickleball paddle will likely result in loss of control of the pickleball and loss of feel of the pickleball off of the paddle. In other words, too much pickleball grip pressure on the paddle, and/or too much palm on the pickleball paddle, will likely cause the pickleball to ricochet and rebound off of the paddle too aggressively and too high (and, high balls generally mean easy put away shots for your opponents).

As a result, it is important to have a loose, relaxed pickleball grip on the pickleball court – think a 4 out of 10 pickleball grip pressure. It is also important to hold the pickleball paddle more in your fingers and less in the palm of your hand. If you loosen your pickleball grip pressure and use more of your fingers to hold the pickleball paddle, you will have a softer touch with your pickleball paddle, and vice versa. A loose, relaxed pickleball grip will help you reset fastballs on the pickleball court, as well as give you more control of your shots (such as your dinks and drop shots).

Pickleball Grip Size – What Pickleball Grip Size Is Best for You?

The rules of pickleball do not regulate the thickness of a pickleball paddle. This includes the pickleball paddle grip size – a pickleball paddle grip can be as thin or thick as desired. With that said, most pickleball paddle grips are between 4 inches and 4.5 inches in circumference. The pickleball grip size that you prefer comes down to your preference (including your preference on the weight, bulk, and comfort of the pickleball grip).

If you are unsure on your preferred pickleball grip size, there are a few tests that you can do to determine what is the best pickleball grip size for you. Determining the best pickleball grip size for you can also be helpful in getting rid of tennis elbow, as the wrong pickleball grip size may be a factor to tennis elbow pain.

Height Test for Pickleball Grip Size

The best pickleball grip size could depend on your height.

Finger Length Test for Pickleball Grip Size

The best pickleball grip size could be the length from the tip of your paddle-hand ring finger to the middle crease of your paddle-hand palm. Whatever the resulting measurement is – between the tip of your paddle-hand ring finger to the middle crease of your paddle-hand palm – is the best pickleball grip size for you. To note, if you are in between two sizes, consider choosing the smaller pickleball grip size.

Index Finger Test for Pickleball Grip Size

The last method to test what pickleball grip size is correct for you requires a pickleball paddle. Grab the pickleball paddle using the Eastern pickleball paddle grip. As a reminder, to find this Eastern pickleball grip, hold your pickleball paddle directly out in front of you with your opposite hand, such that the paddle face is looking evenly to the left of your body and to the right of your body. Take your hand that you are holding the pickleball paddle with and place it on the face of the pickleball paddle.

Slide your hand down the paddle face and shake hands with the pickleball paddle grip.

Now, place the index finger of your free hand in the gap between your finger tips and thumb of your hand holding the pickleball paddle. If your index finger fits snug in the gap, then you likely have the best pickleball grip size for you. If your index finger cannot fit in the space, then the pickleball grip size may be too small. If your index finder fits in the space with plenty of room on either side, then the pickleball grip may be too large.

Please note, however, that this index finger test for grip size is more common in tennis, as tennis generally features larger grip sizes for larger racquets. As a result, this test may not produce the most accurate results for pickleball grip size. We suggest using this index finger test in conjunction with the height test and finger length test for pickleball grip size.

When in Doubt as to Pickleball Grip Size…

When you have doubts as to what pickleball grip size is best for you, it is, generally speaking, better to go with the smaller pickleball grip size. This is because a small pickleball grip size will provide for more wrist action on your shots, which may lead to more power on your shots, as well as more spin and control of the pickleball. Further, if your pickleball grip size is too big, your pickleball paddle may slip in your hand.

Lastly, if you decide that you are not happy with your pickleball grip size, you can always change it. You can do this by re-gripping your pickleball paddle or adding additional pickleball grips or overgrips. More on this below!

Pickleball Grips and Pickleball Overgrips

A pickleball grip is the leather-like wrap on the handle of the pickleball paddle. A pickleball grip has a sticky backing and quite a bit of cushioning to cover the wood or composite material that makes up the pickleball handle. This provides for a more comfortable feel in your hand.

A pickleball overgrip is a thinner, spongey wrap that goes on top of your pickleball grip. Pickleball overgrips generally provide a tacky surface to grip the pickleball paddle with, as well as better sweat absorption and additional comfort.

Both pickleball grips and pickleball overgrips can get worn out and need to be replaced over time, especially if you are playing pickleball regularly. To note, pickleball overgrips are generally less expensive than pickleball grips. So, oftentimes, pickleball players will use an overgrip to avoid having to replace their pickleball grips quite so often.

How to Replace a Pickleball Grip

To replace your pickleball grip:

1. Take off your old pickleball grip by removing the tape at the top of your pickleball handle and unwrapping the old pickleball grip until it is entirely separate from your pickleball paddle.
2. Take the angled piece of the new pickleball grip and align with the bottom of your pickleball paddle near the butt cap of your pickleball paddle. The pickleball grip should be even with the bottom of your paddle handle and the pickleball grip should start to taper wider as you move up the paddle handle.
3. Wrap the new pickleball grip around the pickleball paddle handle. As you wrap the pickleball grip around the paddle handle, be sure to pull the pickleball grip taut so that there are no wrinkles in the material. Consider adjusting your pickleball grip size when you replace your pickleball grip. To make your pickleball grip size smaller, wrap the new pickleball grip more loosely. To make your pickleball grip size larger, wrap the new pickleball grip more tightly, so that the pickleball grip has more overlap with each time around the paddle handle.
4. Confirm that the new pickleball grip has an angle when you reach the top of the paddle handle. If not, you may need to cut the new pickleball grip so that it has an angle at the top (similar to the angle at the beginning of the new pickleball grip). The pickleball grip should be even with the top of the paddle handle and the pickleball grip should start to taper wider as your move down the paddle handle.
5. Place a piece of thin finishing tape (for instance, electrical tape) over the top of the pickleball grip at the top of the paddle handle. Wrap the finishing tape on top of itself so that it seals the pickleball grip in place.

How to Add an Overgrip to a Pickleball Paddle

To add a pickleball overgrip:

1. Take the new pickleball overgrip and align with the bottom of your pickleball paddle near the butt cap of your pickleball paddle. The pickleball overgrip should be even with the bottom of your paddle handle.
2. Wrap the new pickleball overgrip around the pickleball paddle handle. As you wrap the pickleball overgrip around the paddle handle, be sure to pull the pickleball overgrip taut so that there are no wrinkles in the material. Consider adjusting your pickleball grip size when you replace your pickleball overgrip. To make your pickleball grip size smaller, wrap the new pickleball overgrip more loosely. To make your pickleball grip size larger, wrap the new pickleball overgrip more tightly, so that the pickleball overgrip has more overlap with each time around the paddle handle.
3. Cut the new pickleball overgrip at an angle when you reach the top of the paddle handle. The pickleball overgrip should be even with the top of the paddle handle and the pickleball overgrip should start to taper wider as your move down the paddle handle.
4. Place a piece of thin finishing tape (for instance, electrical tape) over the top of the pickleball overgrip at the top of the paddle handle. Wrap the finishing tape on top of itself so that it seals the pickleball overgrip in place.