If you’ve ever heard terms like Western, Semi-Western, Eastern, or Continental thrown around in pickleball and wondered what they mean, you’re in the right place. What do these grips look like? Which ones do the pros use? And most importantly, which grip should you use? In this post, I’ll break down each grip, its strengths and weaknesses, and help you figure out where to start. Let’s dive into the world of paddle grips!

Western Grip: Forehand Powerhouse

How to Find It:

• Set your paddle down flat (I’m using my ProXR Zane Navratil Signature paddle here).
• Pick it up naturally with your fingers wrapped around the outside of the handle. Your hand sits fully behind the grip—that’s Western.

Pros:

• Strong Forehand: With your hand positioned this way, you can close the paddle face for massive topspin and power on forehands.
• Scorpion Ready: You’re already in a scorpion grip (think Riley Newman’s lightning-fast hands), perfect for swatting high balls away from your shoulder and dodging that pesky chicken wing.
• Avoids Weak Spots: It’s easier to punch balls aimed at your body compared to a Continental grip.

Cons:

• Weak Backhand: The wrist is in an awkward, “broken” position for one-handed backhands, so most Western grip players—like Riley Newman or legend Jeff Warnick—rely on a two-handed backhand.
• Rare at Pro Level: Only a few pros, like Newman and Warnick (with his nasty Tomahawk), use it consistently.

Who Uses It?

• Riley Newman and Jeff Warnick are standout examples, leveraging it for forehand dominance and quick defensive moves.

Semi-Western Grip: Forehand Focus with Flexibility

How to Find It:

• Start in Western, then slide your hand slightly inward so it’s not as extreme.

Pros:

• Forehand Strength: Still great for rolling forehands with topspin, though less intense than Western.
• Situational Use: Pros like Anna Bright switch to it for baseline groundstrokes or rolling forehands to close the paddle face.
• Adaptable: I use it for groundstrokes before shifting to Continental at the kitchen.

Cons:

• Backhand Challenge: Like Western, it’s tough on one-handed backhands—two-handers are the norm here.
• Not a Kitchen Staple: Rarely used full-time at the net due to its forehand bias.

Who Uses It?

• Not a primary grip for most pros, but players like Anna Bright and I dip into it for specific shots.

Eastern Grip: The Versatile Middle Ground

How to Find It:

• Start with a “shake hands” grip (Continental), then turn the paddle face about 45 degrees toward your forehand side.

Pros:

• Balanced Forehand: Slightly favors the forehand with natural topspin, but not as extreme as Western or Semi-Western.
• Backhand Snap: Unlike the previous grips, you can still hit a decent one-handed backhand, though many opt for two-handers on the wings.
• Chicken Wing Defense: Protects your weak side better than Continental—great for high scorpion moves or low shots with a forward contact point.
• Hard to Jam: Easier to slide out of tight spots compared to Continental.

Cons:

• Less Extreme: Doesn’t offer the raw forehand power of Western or the neutrality of Continental.

Who Uses It?

• Common among pros like Ben Johns, Anna Leigh Waters, Anna Bright, JW Johnson, and me (sometimes!). It’s a go-to for its versatility.

Continental Grip: The All-Purpose Classic

How to Find It:

• Hold the paddle with your opposite hand, place the “V” of your hand (between thumb and index finger) on top, slide down, and shake hands with it. The paddle stays straight up and down.

Pros:

• Neutral Power: Doesn’t favor forehand or backhand—perfect for quick transitions at the kitchen.
• Widely Used: I rely on it almost exclusively at the net, and it’s a staple for most players in close-quarters play.
• Adaptable: Works for serves, dinks, and volleys without adjustment.

Cons:

• Chicken Wing Risk: Harder to defend high balls at the shoulder compared to forehand-favored grips.
• Less Spin: Not ideal for heavy topspin unless you tweak it.

Who Uses It?

• Nearly every pro uses it at some point, especially at the kitchen. It’s the most common grip alongside Eastern.

Bonus: Eastern Backhand Grip

How to Find It:

• From Continental, shift further so your hand favors the backhand side (opposite of Eastern forehand).

Pros:

• Powerful Backhand: Your hand sits fully behind the grip for a wickedly strong backhand.
• Funky Shots: Think AJ Koller’s unique spins and angles.

Cons:

• Weak Forehand: The paddle face opens up, making forehands trickier.
• Niche Use: Rarely seen outside specific players like AJ Koller and Travis Rettenmaier.

Who Uses It?

• AJ Koller and Travis Rettenmaier stand out for their backhand-heavy styles.

How Pros Mix It Up

Most pros aren’t locked into one grip—they switch based on the situation:

• Me: Western for serves, Eastern or Semi-Western for forehands (depending on the shot), Continental at the net—unless I’m scorpion-swatting with Western or tomahawking with Semi-Western.
• Others: Anna Bright tweaks to Semi-Western for rolling forehands, while Ben Johns leans on Eastern’s balance.

Which Grip Should You Use?

Here’s my advice:

• Start Simple: Stick to Eastern or Continental. They’re the most versatile and forgiving, steering clear of the extremes (Western or Eastern Backhand).
• Master One First: Get rock-solid with a single grip before experimenting. Eastern gives you forehand edge with backhand options; Continental is your kitchen MVP.
• Evolve Later: Once you’re comfortable, play with situational grips—Western for forehand bombs, Semi-Western for spin, or even Eastern Backhand for a quirky backhand twist.

Pickleball coaches used to preach Continental-only, but today’s top players prove variety wins. Grab your paddle, pick a grip, and start swinging!

 

Watch on YouTube: Breaking Down PRO PICKLEBALL Grips