Pickleball Glove: Do You Wear One?

I’ve noticed a lot of players using pickleball gloves recently.  I realize many players start using a glove in hopes of maintaining a better grip on the paddle.

pickleball glove

Sweaty Hands

If you have ever watched me at some of the Florida tournaments, where we tend to sweat more, I have a towel and a spare paddle with me. I am constantly wiping my hands between points and will switch to a new paddle if I feel the grip has gotten too wet. However, I don’t use a pickleball glove because I believe I lose some feel for the paddle and have the tendency to hold on too tightly.
When you hold your paddle too tightly the tendency is to swing more from your wrist or elbow leading with the butt of the paddle. Often players want to control the paddle so much they hold tight which shortens their range of motion and their contact on the ball.

Your Pickleball Grip

Instead of gripping your paddle too tightly, allow it to move in your hands while leading with the tip of the paddle. A common tip is to hold the paddle as if it were a bird – tight enough that it won’t fly away but not so tight that it hurts the bird. A light grip encourages paddle head speed, which improves your gameplay.

Hold your paddle at the lower end for better control. You might even let your pinky drop off the handle occasionally, just like how Rafa Nadal holds his racket with only three fingers. Loosening your grip allows the paddle head to accelerate through the ball. Remember to maintain a small space between your palm and the handle, as you should grip the paddle with your fingers, not your palm.

Instead of a Pickleball Glove

I find that many players experiment with different size handles in hopes of getting a better grip.  If you are experimenting, consider trying a hexagonal grip.  I find many players find this more comfortable and easier to control.  You might also want to consider:
  1. Overgrips:  You can find a wide variety of these online.  I would recommend you look at the Head Pro Overgrip or Tournagrip.
  2. Powder: There are other options for sweaty hands such as powders.  Much like a weightlifter chalk used in the gym, a powder will dry your hands without adding bulk to your grip.
  3. Hand Towel:  Get in the habit of wiping your hands and your handle regularly during play.
I most often use the towel option….but experiment to find what works best for you.  Remember a pickleball glove is not your only option for sweaty hands.
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