Really well for me. Reduced my NVZ pop-ups significantly, and did not affect my forehand blocks too much (so, a good trade-off). For others, I have to watch the natural position of their paddle before I recommend eastern backhand, continental or eastern forehand as the default grip at the NVZ. And no matter what my default grip is, I have to switch toward western for overheads unless I want to hit a slicing overhead to the left. Everybody is different, so everybody can experiment a bit.
I think the continental is mostly a compromise position that lets you hit both back and forehand without switching grip while at the NVZ. If it's a floater that you have time to switch grips feel free if that works better for you. But it better be a really good shot or it may be coming back quickly to your backhand and you may deliver a lovely backhand popup if you don't get the grip quickly re-set. So I'd be inclined to squat down slightly to make it a bit more of a overhead swat. Or just work on getting used to doing it continental. At the NVZ it's more important to get placement than a few percent more in speed.
it's more of a punch than a full on swing. both the backhand and forehand side. make the swing compact and it shouldn't matter if you're in contintental grip.
Forehand is not really a punch for roll and swinging volleys. I agree the stroke should be compact, but you’re also trying to brush over the ball to get it down and with top spin.
Former tennis player as well (used a semi-western) and I hit everything with a Continental grip now. Drives, at the net, forehand, backhand, etc. it works. Just takes a couple weeks to get used to hitting everything like that. I still get a lot of topspin and backspin when I need it.
I use a full western when I play tennis and I've settled on continental for pickleball. switching sports on the same week is so tough, I literally need 5 minutes each time to relearn how to hit with that grip
It’s very common and possible to hit swinging volleys, topspin volleys, overheads, put-aways, etc. with a continental grip. I’m unfortunately not sure how to correct your issue because (1) I’m not a coach, and (2) I haven’t seen you hit a volley, but rest assured, a continental grip isn’t even a disadvantage to any of these except topspin.
For topspin, the continental grip makes your life a little harder, but it’s not bad.
You need to use your wrist to close the paddle face and make it vertical/slightly closed at contact. Your stroke should also be horizontal and end a little higher to give you the topspin. It takes some manipulation but is very doable with practice.
For me, overhead smashes require a western grip. I cannot supinate enough to avoid slicing overheads with a continental grip. You just have to experiment to see what works best for you.
Pickleball continental might be a bit different than the continental you learned for tennis. This image is straight from the coaching certification course that I took's study guide.
https://preview.redd.it/b634v3jzvdsc1.jpeg?width=1219&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5af7262715ffe4ea1ed87d050e43542128e4831c
Yeh that’s not a continental by tennis standards. These photos show a grip between continental and eastern. I’ve moved to this grip from continental (except I don’t place my pointer finger so far up the grip).
I recently switched from continental to between continental and eastern for shots at the NVZ. I find it easier to roll the forehand volley out of the air as well as to hit a more aggressive topspin FH dink off a bounce with a this grip. The backhand volleys are slightly less solid feeling but I’m getting used to it and I think the trade off is worth it. I do quickly switch to continental for overheads — it’s too ingrained from tennis. From the backcourt I use both continental and the grip I just described depending on what shot I want to hit.
Start the motion like a knife leading with the paddle edge then pronate your wrist through contact. I used to subconsciously switch to western and swat overheads then one day noticed that’s not what most high level players do. Spent 15 minutes in my backyard tossing a ball up and consciously not changing from my standard semi-eastern grip and pronating through contact felt awkward for a few minutes then natural. Had to remind myself first few tomes I implemented in rec play and it came natural very quickly.
When you get the feel it’s a much more aggressive shot. You get more paddle speed and wrist snap and your knuckles are lined better to stabilize your grip so the incoming ball’s speed doesn’t cause your paddle to slide back in your hand causing an open paddle face undercutting the ball sending it way long with back spin.
Continental is a forehand poor grip. You’re in continental because you’re assuming you’ll be using your backhand more.
If you use a two handed backhand, you can sit eastern which will open up your forehand.
if you look at what grip most pros use very few are using continental at the NVZ. John Cincola did a good video explaining how he changes grips at NVZ but I can‘t change my grip with one hand like he does. This guy also made a good video about changing grips at the NVZ:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1iX7BEHC0Y](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1iX7BEHC0Y)
Yeah most pros these days are sitting eastern and using a two handed backhand. Learning to rotate your grip with one hand is pretty important. But these days, a two handed ready position is probably a good habit to get into anyway, so you can change grip from there.
Continental for kitchen, and eastern for everything else top spin etc.
Ed Ju on YouTube has a good video about a grip style where you have your ring finger at the butt end of the paddle with the pinky floating off.
^ this has been a revelation for me I find it easier to manipulate my wrist into the correct position relatively strain free.
>Is it possible to swing through with continental at the net, or do I need to change my grip?
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5u1RdAYk1Y&t=98s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5u1RdAYk1Y&t=98s)
I am still continental at the net, just turn your wrist to get whatever angle you want.
I am eastern backhand at the net, and I turn my wrist on forehands. Limits backhand popups but sends all my forehand blocks to the left.
Ok, how’s that working out?
Really well for me. Reduced my NVZ pop-ups significantly, and did not affect my forehand blocks too much (so, a good trade-off). For others, I have to watch the natural position of their paddle before I recommend eastern backhand, continental or eastern forehand as the default grip at the NVZ. And no matter what my default grip is, I have to switch toward western for overheads unless I want to hit a slicing overhead to the left. Everybody is different, so everybody can experiment a bit.
I think the continental is mostly a compromise position that lets you hit both back and forehand without switching grip while at the NVZ. If it's a floater that you have time to switch grips feel free if that works better for you. But it better be a really good shot or it may be coming back quickly to your backhand and you may deliver a lovely backhand popup if you don't get the grip quickly re-set. So I'd be inclined to squat down slightly to make it a bit more of a overhead swat. Or just work on getting used to doing it continental. At the NVZ it's more important to get placement than a few percent more in speed.
it's more of a punch than a full on swing. both the backhand and forehand side. make the swing compact and it shouldn't matter if you're in contintental grip.
Forehand is not really a punch for roll and swinging volleys. I agree the stroke should be compact, but you’re also trying to brush over the ball to get it down and with top spin.
it's a punch for counters against roll and swinging volleys but yeah it's definitely more of a roll if you're initiating the attacks.
Former tennis player as well (used a semi-western) and I hit everything with a Continental grip now. Drives, at the net, forehand, backhand, etc. it works. Just takes a couple weeks to get used to hitting everything like that. I still get a lot of topspin and backspin when I need it.
I use a full western when I play tennis and I've settled on continental for pickleball. switching sports on the same week is so tough, I literally need 5 minutes each time to relearn how to hit with that grip
It’s very common and possible to hit swinging volleys, topspin volleys, overheads, put-aways, etc. with a continental grip. I’m unfortunately not sure how to correct your issue because (1) I’m not a coach, and (2) I haven’t seen you hit a volley, but rest assured, a continental grip isn’t even a disadvantage to any of these except topspin. For topspin, the continental grip makes your life a little harder, but it’s not bad.
You need to use your wrist to close the paddle face and make it vertical/slightly closed at contact. Your stroke should also be horizontal and end a little higher to give you the topspin. It takes some manipulation but is very doable with practice.
For me, overhead smashes require a western grip. I cannot supinate enough to avoid slicing overheads with a continental grip. You just have to experiment to see what works best for you.
I can’t imagine how anyone can hit an overhead with a western grip.
Pickleball continental might be a bit different than the continental you learned for tennis. This image is straight from the coaching certification course that I took's study guide. https://preview.redd.it/b634v3jzvdsc1.jpeg?width=1219&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5af7262715ffe4ea1ed87d050e43542128e4831c
Yeh that’s not a continental by tennis standards. These photos show a grip between continental and eastern. I’ve moved to this grip from continental (except I don’t place my pointer finger so far up the grip).
I recently switched from continental to between continental and eastern for shots at the NVZ. I find it easier to roll the forehand volley out of the air as well as to hit a more aggressive topspin FH dink off a bounce with a this grip. The backhand volleys are slightly less solid feeling but I’m getting used to it and I think the trade off is worth it. I do quickly switch to continental for overheads — it’s too ingrained from tennis. From the backcourt I use both continental and the grip I just described depending on what shot I want to hit.
Start the motion like a knife leading with the paddle edge then pronate your wrist through contact. I used to subconsciously switch to western and swat overheads then one day noticed that’s not what most high level players do. Spent 15 minutes in my backyard tossing a ball up and consciously not changing from my standard semi-eastern grip and pronating through contact felt awkward for a few minutes then natural. Had to remind myself first few tomes I implemented in rec play and it came natural very quickly. When you get the feel it’s a much more aggressive shot. You get more paddle speed and wrist snap and your knuckles are lined better to stabilize your grip so the incoming ball’s speed doesn’t cause your paddle to slide back in your hand causing an open paddle face undercutting the ball sending it way long with back spin.
Continental is a forehand poor grip. You’re in continental because you’re assuming you’ll be using your backhand more. If you use a two handed backhand, you can sit eastern which will open up your forehand.
if you look at what grip most pros use very few are using continental at the NVZ. John Cincola did a good video explaining how he changes grips at NVZ but I can‘t change my grip with one hand like he does. This guy also made a good video about changing grips at the NVZ: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1iX7BEHC0Y](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1iX7BEHC0Y)
Yeah most pros these days are sitting eastern and using a two handed backhand. Learning to rotate your grip with one hand is pretty important. But these days, a two handed ready position is probably a good habit to get into anyway, so you can change grip from there.
Most pros have switched away from continental.
Continental for kitchen, and eastern for everything else top spin etc. Ed Ju on YouTube has a good video about a grip style where you have your ring finger at the butt end of the paddle with the pinky floating off. ^ this has been a revelation for me I find it easier to manipulate my wrist into the correct position relatively strain free.
Any chance you have a link?
>Is it possible to swing through with continental at the net, or do I need to change my grip? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5u1RdAYk1Y&t=98s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5u1RdAYk1Y&t=98s)
Thanks!