What is the Best Grip for Dinking in Pickleball?

So what’s the best grip for dinking? Most players and coaches agree that the Continental grip—also called the “hammer grip”—is the most versatile and effective choice. This grip allows you to maintain a neutral paddle face, switch easily between forehand and backhand dinks, and apply just the right amount of pressure for soft, controlled shots. While some players experiment with variations like the V-grip or even a modified Eastern grip, the Continental remains the go-to grip for dinking at every level of play, from club nights in the UK to international tournaments.

Finding the best grip for dinking in Pickleball is one of the most important elements—particularly in doubles where control, finesse, and patience win matches. While players spend hours working on dink technique, footwork, and positioning, one detail that’s often overlooked is grip choice. The grip you use can make or break your dinking game, because it directly affects paddle angle, control, and touch sensitivity.

Understanding the Continental Grip and Why It Works

The Continental grip involves placing your index knuckle on the second bevel of the paddle, as if you were holding a hammer. This alignment keeps the paddle face neutral and allows for smooth, low-effort strokes that are perfect for dinks. Unlike other grips that favour either forehand or backhand, the Continental grip works for both, which is critical during fast-paced Kitchen exchanges.

Why it’s ideal for dinking:

✔ Paddle neutrality – Helps keep the paddle angle consistent for low-bounce shots.
✔ Efficient wrist action – Allows gentle wrist movement without forcing the shot.
✔ Quick transitions – Switch between sides with minimal grip adjustment.
✔ Consistency and control – Encourages soft hands and stable contact at the net.

Dinking is all about touch and timing, not power—and the Continental grip gives you that touch by encouraging a light, balanced hold. It reduces tension in your arm and wrist, which is especially important in UK indoor venues where long dink battles are common and court speed can be unpredictable.

🔥 Key takeaway: The Continental grip provides balance, neutrality, and touch control—making it the best option for dinking consistently.

How Beginners Can Use the Continental Grip for Dinking

For new players, dinking can feel awkward and unnatural at first. The temptation to poke, flick, or swat the ball is strong—especially when tension builds during Kitchen rallies. Using the Continental grip early in your learning journey helps prevent these habits and builds better long-term control.

Beginner benefits of the Continental grip:

✅ Keeps your paddle angle consistent for both sides—no need to flip between grips.
✅ Encourages a relaxed hand, helping you feel the shot rather than force it.
✅ Makes it easier to follow proper form, with wrist stability and minimal movement.
✅ Reduces grip tension—leading to fewer mishits and more confidence in soft play.

In UK beginner sessions, coaches often emphasise grip awareness by getting players to hold the paddle as they would a hammer. This familiar motion simplifies the learning curve. Dink drills like crosscourt rallies, triangle patterns, or “four-in-a-row” are much easier to manage when the paddle face stays square to the net—and that’s what the Continental grip supports best.

🔥 Key takeaway: For beginners, the Continental grip helps develop proper dinking mechanics, reducing errors and boosting control from day one.

Intermediate Players: Refining Dink Technique with Grip Awareness

At the intermediate level, dinking becomes more tactical. Players aim for sharper angles, apply spin, and work to move their opponents out of position. The Continental grip remains the best choice here, but it can also be modified subtly to add variation and personal comfort without compromising control.

Grip refinements for intermediate play:

✔ Slightly rotate your grip to favour a forehand or backhand if it feels more comfortable.
✔ Use light finger pressure instead of a tight grip to enhance feel.
✔ Keep your wrist loose and elbow tucked, letting the paddle do the work.
✔ Focus on touch rather than force—don’t muscle the shot, even under pressure.

Many UK players at this level start experimenting with dinking under pressure, such as during fast-paced doubles points or tournaments. When things speed up, your grip needs to be second nature. A Continental grip not only gives you that default position—it allows for quick resets, low volleys, and angle shots with no extra hand adjustment.

🔥 Key takeaway: Intermediate players can refine their dinking by keeping a loose, precise Continental grip, allowing for finesse under pressure.

Advanced Players and Competitive Dinking Strategy

For advanced players, dinking isn’t just a soft shot—it’s a weapon. Top players use dinks to apply pressure, manipulate tempo, and open up the court for putaways. The Continental grip continues to serve as the foundation, but elite players often adjust pressure, spin, and finger placement for maximum shot variety.

How the grip supports advanced dinking:

✔ Enables quick switches between standard dinks and topspin dinks.
✔ Maintains wrist freedom for disguised shot direction.
✔ Supports quick resets and counter-dinks without repositioning the paddle.
✔ Allows for subtle angle creation, even in tight spaces at the Kitchen line.

In UK league matches and national tournaments, advanced players don’t just dink to survive—they dink to dominate. Their grip gives them the control to push their opponents wider, draw weak pop-ups, and bait errors. Some incorporate aspects of the V-grip or shift slightly toward the Eastern backhand for extra spin—but the base remains Continental.

🔥 Key takeaway: Advanced players rely on a finely tuned Continental grip to execute complex, aggressive dinks with consistency and disguise.

Final Thoughts: Choosing the Best Grip for Dinking in UK Pickleball

If you want to improve your dink game, start with your grip. It’s the one thing that connects you to every shot—and for dinking, that connection needs to be soft, stable, and smart. The Continental grip, with its neutral positioning and natural feel, gives you the tools to develop finesse, respond quickly, and hold your own in any Kitchen battle.

Key Takeaways:

✔ The Continental grip is the most effective and widely used grip for dinking.
✔ It provides neutral paddle control, perfect for both forehand and backhand dinks.
✔ Beginners benefit from consistency, while intermediates use it to finesse angle and placement.
✔ Advanced players build shot variety and disguise—all anchored by this grip.
✔ Grip pressure, paddle angle, and wrist control all work better with a Continental foundation.

👀 Enjoyed this read? Fancy levelling up your game even more? Keep reading Dink Quest for the best pickleball tips, drills, and news in the UK!

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