The ready position stance
Between shots, your default stance should be low and balanced: knees bent, feet roughly shoulder-width apart, weight forward on the balls of your feet, paddle held up in front of your chest. This position lets you split step and react in any direction without wasted movement.
The continental grip
Most pickleball players use a continental grip, similar to holding a hammer, with the paddle edge roughly perpendicular to the ground when relaxed. This grip is a compromise that works reasonably well for both forehand and backhand shots without needing to switch mid-point — important given how fast exchanges happen at the net.
Grip pressure
Hold the paddle firmly enough to control it, but not in a tight, white-knuckle grip. A relaxed grip improves feel and touch on soft shots like dinks and drops, and reduces fatigue and strain in the forearm over a long session or match.
Returning to ready position
After every shot, the habit to build is returning immediately to the ready position — paddle up, knees bent — rather than standing tall or letting the paddle drop. This single habit underlies almost everything else in the game, from kitchen positioning to blocking hard-hit balls.
