[caption id="attachment_12398" align="alignnone" width="750"] Types of grips[/caption] The way you grip your padel racket is based on a theory. There are different types of grips, and all of them play an important role in the player's performance and comfort. Additionally, we will discuss the importance of using a padel overgrip. And we will answer several questions: How should you hold the racket? How many types of grips are there and which one is the best? Is it advisable to use a padel overgrip for your racket? Find out all about it here, on the Street Padel blog.

Ways to grip a racket and benefits of an overgrip

When we talk about the grip in padel, we can refer to the handle area. But the word grip can also refer to the way of holding a racket. In this post, we will look at the different types of grips and those that are used most frequently.

The continental grip: the most well-known

The continental grip is certainly one of the most used in this sport. It is no coincidence that it is the most popular and universal way to grip a padel racket. This is especially true at a beginner level, padel instructors and coaches always recommend their apprentices to learn to play with the continental grip. But why is it the most used? The answer is simple: it is the most versatile grip of all. It allows you to execute the entire repertoire of shots without having to change your racket grip. Furthermore, it allows the wrist the most freedom of movement. With this grip, players can execute forehands, backhands, lobs, bandejas, and smashes, which are the essential shots in padel.

Eastern forehand grip

As the name suggests, this type of grip is chosen to execute forehand shots. The great advantage is that with this grip, these types of shots can have greater control and power. But the downside is that it will be more difficult to hit a backhand. To do so, the player would have to change their grip to have more confidence in the shot. With this grip, the hand rotates slightly until it aligns with the face of the racket.

Eastern backhand grip

The Eastern backhand grip is the opposite of the forehand grip, so it is used to facilitate backhand shots. It is usually recommended for players who do not have much forearm strength and who have difficulty hitting backhands with a continental grip. For this type of grip, the wrist rotates to the opposite side, mimicking the movement a motorcyclist makes to accelerate.

Is it important to know the different types of grips?

The quickest answer to this question is yes. Although knowing and learning the different types of grips does not affect the development of a player's skills, it is always advisable to learn at least the continental grip well, as it is the most versatile and offers the greatest advantages to the player. In any case, knowing other types of grips can be an advantage for the player, although it is advisable to use them only at very specific moments. Generally, players try different grips when they already have a lot of experience in padel and already know how to use the continental grip perfectly. Only in this case is it advisable to learn or try other types of grips.

The benefits of an overgrip in padel for gripping the racket

Today we also talk about an accessory that is usually not mentioned, but is actually very important. We are talking about the overgrip: a padel accessory that can help us grip the racket better. Overgrips are attached to the handle of a racket. They are generally strips of soft and absorbent material, of a certain thickness, and are placed along the entire handle of the racket. This accessory makes the grip of the racket thicker. In this way, it is much more comfortable to grip the racket, especially for players with larger hands, as it increases the thickness of the handle. In addition, the overgrip also improves grip firmness and prevents excessive sweating. This also helps during sports practice to learn how to use all types of grips.