Grip for 2H Backhand?

[GreenClay]

Sure, I guess the longer the better, but is it necessary for the grip to be so long that you don’t need to overlap hands at all? I’m not sure I could get both hands on a 6 inch grip, let alone one that’s 5.5.
Do the pros overlap their hands?

 

[WNB93]

Sure, I guess the longer the better, but is it necessary for the grip to be so long that you don’t need to overlap hands at all? I’m not sure I could get both hands on a 6 inch grip, let alone one that’s 5.5.
Do the pros overlap their hands?

X

 

[I Dink Too Much]

Do the pros overlap their hands?

Yes ... mostly.

Most extend the index finger of the non-dominant hand out along the face of the paddle. The heal of the non-dominant hand covers the thumb of the strong hand.

If you're thinking "tennis 2HB," you're making a mistake. The pickleball stroke is far more compact, with less amplitude all the way through the follow through.

- Dink

 

[ByeByePoly]

Sure, I guess the longer the better, but is it necessary for the grip to be so long that you don’t need to overlap hands at all? I’m not sure I could get both hands on a 6 inch grip, let alone one that’s 5.5.
Do the pros overlap their hands?

Generally ... no overlap, but index finger of top hand behind paddle face. I was very surprised the index finger behind paddle face didn’t bother me coming from tennis, but it did not. There also is some stability/control upside to finger behind paddle … we hit different control shots in pickleball we don’t hit in tennis (2hbh roll volleys, 2hbh 3rd shot drops maybe with topspin, 2hbh speedups, etc). We are swinging lighter shorter paddles/lever (compared to 27” tennis racquets) often without the full body rotation assist of tennis, so the finger behind the paddle works.

In general … most find 5.3” grips good enough for 2hbh, and there are tradeoffs between paddle face size and length of handle (lose more paddle face with longer handle). I am fine with 5.3” Vatic Pro grips, but have to admit I like the 6” grip on my new Hurache X better. I doubt I go back to 5.3”. The other thing to watch out for is swingweight if you are trying to keep it down for fast hands/reaction at the kitchen. Most paddles with longer handles will be elongated (16.5+”), and many come with higher swingweight.

5.5” for 2hbh just ain’t right for a tennis player

We just measured our 2hbh grip on the tennis racquet. Wife just short of 7” … I am right at 7”. So … that means 2hbh off hand will be up in the throat area on a Pickleball paddle. I of course already knew this … because I am in charge of the house tennis racquet tournagrip xl wrapping. 8-B...

tt.tennis-warehouse.com