Quick answer: The correct padel grip for almost every shot is the continental grip – hold the racket like a hammer, with the V between thumb and index finger sitting on the top-left bevel (right-handers). For the equipment side, keep the factory base grip and add a thin overgrip on top: tacky for feel, dry if your hands sweat. Change it every 8–10 hours of play, or as soon as it feels slippery.
"Padel grip" means two different things, and most guides only cover one. There's the way you hold the racket, and there's the tape wrapped around the handle. Get both right and your volleys feel solid, your bandeja stops flying long, and your forearm thanks you. Get either wrong and no £200 racket will save you. This guide covers both, from the team at Central Tennis.
How to hold a padel racket: the continental grip
Padel is a game of fast volleys, low balls off the glass and overheads – there's rarely time to change grip between shots. That's why coaches teach one grip for nearly everything: the continental.
How to find it in 10 seconds
- Hold the racket out with the face edge-on to the floor, as if you were about to hammer a nail with the frame.
- Shake hands with the handle. The V between your thumb and index finger should sit on the top-left bevel if you're right-handed (top-right for left-handers).
- Spread your index finger slightly up the handle like a trigger – it gives you control on volleys.
- Hold it at around 4/10 pressure. Squeezing hard kills feel and is a fast route to tennis-elbow-style pain.
Do you ever switch grips?
Some advanced players shade towards an eastern backhand grip for a heavier backhand volley or a flat smash (the "por tres"). If you're coming from tennis, the habit to break is the semi-western forehand grip – it closes the face and makes low balls off the back glass almost impossible. Stick with continental until it's automatic. If you're making the switch, our padel vs tennis guide for tennis players covers the other habits worth unlearning.
Replacement grip vs overgrip: what's on your handle?
Every padel racket leaves the factory with a replacement (base) grip – a thicker, cushioned wrap glued to the handle. An overgrip is a thin (around 0.5–0.6mm) tape you wrap on top of it.
- Replacement grip: sets the cushioning and basic shape. Replace it every few months of regular play, or when it's flattened, torn or stays slippery even under a fresh overgrip. Cushioned options like the Wilson Shock Shield Hybrid also take some sting out of off-centre hits.
- Overgrip: sets the feel and protects the base grip from sweat. Cheap, quick to change, and the single best-value upgrade in padel.
Our advice: never play straight on the base grip. A £4 overgrip protects a grip that costs more and is fiddlier to change.
Tacky or dry overgrip: which should you choose?
This is the question we get most at the counter, and the answer depends on your hands, not your level.
- Tacky overgrips feel slightly sticky, giving a secure hold with less squeeze. Best for most players, especially indoors. Example: Aixo Lightning Tacky Overgrip.
- Dry overgrips have a matte, absorbent surface that soaks up sweat. Best if your palms sweat heavily or you play summer evenings outdoors. Example: Aixo Tag Dry Overgrip.
Still slipping with a dry grip? A pinch of grip powder or chalk between games helps – we stock it in our grip powder range.
Padel grip size: how to get the handle thickness right
Unlike tennis, padel rackets don't come in numbered grip sizes – most models ship with one standard handle. You adjust thickness with grips:
- Handle feels too thin (racket twists on off-centre volleys, you're squeezing hard): add a second overgrip, or swap to a thicker cushioned base grip.
- Handle feels too thick (hard to change angle, forearm tires): remove extra overgrips or fit a thinner base grip such as the Babolat Syntec Uptake.
A quick test: in a continental grip there should be roughly a finger's width between your fingertips and the base of your thumb. Players with small hands and juniors usually need fewer layers. Your racket's balance matters too – a head-heavy diamond shape feels better with a slightly fuller grip. Our padel racket shapes guide explains why.
When to change your padel grip (and how)
Change your overgrip when it looks shiny, feels slippery, or starts to unravel at the top. As a rule of thumb:
- Once a week socially: roughly every 3–4 weeks.
- Three or more times a week: weekly.
- Competing: before every match.
How to fit an overgrip in under two minutes
- Peel off the old overgrip (leave the base grip on).
- Remove the backing film and start at the butt cap, tapered end first, overlapping each wrap by about a third.
- Keep gentle, even tension as you wind up towards the throat.
- Cut off the excess at an angle and seal with the finishing tape.
Right-handers usually wrap clockwise when looking down at the butt; left-handers anticlockwise, so the overlap edges don't catch your palm. The wrist cord stays outside the grip – it's compulsory in padel, so don't wrap over it. For the rest of your racket's upkeep, see our padel racket care guide.
Our picks at Central Tennis
- Aixo Lightning Tacky Overgrip – £4 – our default recommendation: tacky, thin, and sweat-absorbing.
- Aixo Tag Dry Overgrip – £4 – for sweaty hands and warm outdoor sessions.
- Adidas Padel Replacement Grip – £5.75 – a durable, padel-specific base grip when the factory one is worn out.
- Wilson Shock Shield Hybrid Grip – £8.40 – extra cushioning if your arm is sensitive.
- Babolat Syntec Uptake Replacement Grip – £3.56 – a thinner base grip for smaller hands.
Browse the full range of Aixo tacky overgrips (20+ colours) and replacement grips, or pair a fresh grip with a new racket from our padel racket collection.
Padel grip FAQs
What is the best grip for padel?
The continental grip. It works for forehands, backhands, volleys, bandejas and smashes without changing, which matters in a game as fast as padel.
How do you hold a padel racket?
Hold it like a hammer, with the V between thumb and index finger on the top-left bevel (right-handers), index finger slightly spread, and relaxed pressure – about 4 out of 10.
How often should I change my padel overgrip?
Every 8–10 hours of play is a good guide – weekly for regular players, monthly for once-a-week players. Change it sooner if it feels slippery.
Can I use a tennis overgrip on a padel racket?
Yes. Overgrips are interchangeable between tennis, padel and squash rackets; padel-branded ones are simply the same tape. What matters is tacky versus dry and thickness.
Where can I buy a replacement padel grip?
Central Tennis stocks padel-specific base grips from Adidas, Wilson and Babolat, plus a large range of overgrips, all available online.
Get a grip – literally
A good padel grip costs less than a court booking but changes every shot you hit. Learn the continental grip, keep a fresh overgrip on a healthy base grip, and adjust thickness to your hand. Start with a pack of Aixo tacky overgrips – and if you're still choosing your first racket, read our best padel rackets for beginners guide.
