Continental Grip
Also known as: grip continental, hammer grip
The Continental Grip is the most versatile hold in padel. The recommended default. This means forehands, backhands, volleys and serves all come off it without the hand moving.
To find it, place the base knuckle of the index finger on bevel 2 of the racket handle (the upper right bevel when holding the racket flat). This "shake-hands" position produces a naturally open or neutral face for forehands, backhands, volleys, and serves. Because padel exchanges happen fast in the net zone and leave almost no time to move the hand, it is the practical choice at every level. Some players modify slightly for heavy topspin drives, but this remains the foundation everything else is taught from.
Set the hand once at the start of every session. This means index-finger base knuckle on the upper-right bevel. This means then leave it there for the whole session. This builds consistency through repetition before any tactical thinking.
Practice serving and volleying in a single rapid exchange without looking at your hand. This means if the volley face angle matches the serve, the hold is automatic and will not break down under pressure.
Example
Holding one position throughout a net exchange, the player transitions seamlessly from a forehand volley to a backhand block to a smash without adjusting the hand.
Why it matters
Moving the hand under pressure causes mishits and timing failures. SwingVantage analyses racket-face angle at contact to infer consistency across different shot types.
How it shows up on video
In video, look at the racket-face angle on volleys and serves. This means a consistent hold produces a slightly open or neutral face on both wings with no visible hand adjustment between shots. Changes show up as small pauses between shots, a re-seating motion visible at the base of the handle, or uneven face angles on the same shot type.
Common mistakes
- Shifting to a more closed forehand hold for drives and then struggling to reopen in time for the next volley.
- Gripping the racket too tightly, creating tension through the forearm that reduces feel on volleys and soft shots.
- Using it on all shots but placing the base knuckle on the wrong bevel, slightly closing or opening the face beyond the neutral range.
- Abandoning it under pressure in favour of a closed hold that feels more powerful but severely limits shot variety.
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
Motion Lab infers the hold from racket-face angle at contact across different shot categories. Consistent face angles of 5–15 degrees open across volleys, serves and overheads confirm it without a camera on the hand itself.
Frequently asked questions
Should the smash be hit differently?
No. The same hold works for padel smashes. A more closed hand can add power but limits variety, and most coaches recommend against it.
Related terms
- Backhand GripThe Backhand Grip in padel is a slight rotation of the Continental toward the Eastern Backhand position, used by some players to generate more topspin and racket-face stability on two-handed or single-handed backhand drives.
- Wrist SnapWrist Snap in padel is the rapid rotation of the forearm and wrist through impact used primarily in the vibora, bandeja, and aggressive topspin drives to generate additional pace and spin beyond what arm acceleration alone provides.
- Racket PreparationRacket Preparation is the early rotation of the shoulders and positioning of the racket head before the ball arrives. This means the first technical movement of any padel groundstroke and a prerequisite for consistent, balanced shot-making.
- Contact PointContact Point in padel is the position in space. This means relative to the body and racket face. This means where the ball and the racket face meet at impact, and is the single most important determinant of shot quality, direction, and consistency.
Related guides & benchmarks
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