
The pan handle grip, also known as the hammer grip, is one of the four basic grips in badminton. It is called so because the badminton racket is held as if it were a frying pan. The pan handle grip is useful for quick racket exchanges at the net, hitting short deep backhands, and playing close to the net. It is also good for hitting powerful shots with short movements. However, it is not suitable for generating power through forearm rotation or for stick smashes.
When to use the pan handle grip in badminton
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When to use | When the shuttle is far behind you |
| When playing close to the net | |
| When hitting the shuttle is a priority over generating power | |
| When playing net kills | |
| When playing drives | |
| When hitting short deep backhand | |
| When quick racket exchanges are required | |
| When playing soft net shots | |
| When playing late backhand rear-court shots | |
| When retrieving a net cord on the backhand side | |
| Advantages | Easy to hit overhead shots |
| Easy to hit the shuttle | |
| Disadvantages | Limits forearm rotation |
| Less power | |
| Less shot selection | |
| Less shot quality |
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What You'll Learn

When playing close to the net
The panhandle grip is an essential grip to master in badminton, especially when playing close to the net. It is one of the four basic grips in badminton and is a useful technique to add to your arsenal. The panhandle grip is employed for forehand net kills and is particularly effective when you are very close to the net. This grip allows you to negotiate the shuttle when it is slightly above and near the net.
To execute the panhandle grip, place your badminton racket flat on the ground. Pick it up without turning the handle and wrap your fingers around the racket. If you are right-handed, rotate the racket to the left to switch from a neutral grip to a panhandle grip. A "V" should be formed between your thumb and index finger, with a gap between the index and middle fingers. Your palm should be flat against the front of the racket.
The panhandle grip is a natural choice for beginners as it is easy to hit overhead shots with this grip. It is also useful for late backhand rear-court shots and retrieving a net cord on the backhand side. When the shuttle is far behind you, the panhandle grip is advantageous as it enables powerful and accurate shots.
However, it is important to note that the panhandle grip may limit your forearm rotation, making other grips more suitable when longer strokes with more force are required. Additionally, this grip is not recommended for stick smashes as it can increase the risk of wrist injury.
To improve your grip technique, it is beneficial to practice switching hand positions during training sessions. This will boost your overall performance on the court and help you achieve better shuttle placement during matches. Remember to hold your racket loosely and only tighten your grip when executing a shot.
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For quick racket exchanges
The pan handle grip is an important grip to master for quick racket exchanges, particularly when playing at the net. This grip is also known as the hammer grip and is a natural grip for beginners. It is executed by holding the badminton racket as if it were a frying pan, with the strings pointing upwards and downwards. The bottom three fingers are wrapped around the shaft, and the sides of the racket grip are pinched with the thumb and pointer fingers.
The pan handle grip is useful for quick exchanges as it makes it easier to hit the shuttle, particularly when playing close to the net. It is a good grip for net kills, playing soft net shots, and hitting the short deep backhand. It is also useful for retrieving a net cord on the backhand side.
However, it is important to note that the pan handle grip does limit forearm rotation, which reduces the power of shots. Therefore, it is important to learn to switch between grips during a game, so that you can use the pan handle grip for quick exchanges and other grips when more power is needed.
To improve your grip exchanges, it is recommended to practice switching grips after every shot in a conditioned routine. For example, you could practice a backhand defensive shot followed by a forehand defensive shot, or a backhand drive followed by a forehand drive. As you advance, you can introduce unpredictability by not knowing which side the shot is coming from, forcing you to make quicker grip changes and decisions.
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When hitting powerful shots with short movements
The panhandle grip is a useful technique in badminton, especially when playing close to the net. It is a natural grip for beginners, as it is easy to hit overhead shots with. However, it is important to note that the panhandle grip is not suitable for generating power in your shots as it limits forearm rotation.
When aiming for powerful shots with short movements, the panhandle grip can be advantageous. This grip allows you to hit the shuttle with speed and quick wrist movements. To execute this grip effectively, hold the badminton racket as if it were a frying pan. Position the racket with the face parallel to the floor, and hold the grip with your palm facing up. Wrap your bottom three fingers around the shaft and pinch the sides of the grip with your thumb and pointer finger.
While the panhandle grip is useful for certain situations, it is crucial to learn and practice different grips to improve your overall performance. The forehand grip, for example, is ideal for generating power through forearm rotation. It is executed by holding the racket loosely with your fingers, ensuring the grip does not touch your palm. This grip allows for more wrist mobility and is suitable for stick smashes.
To enhance your skills, practice switching between grips during training. This will enable you to instinctively choose the right grip for each shot during a match. Additionally, consider the grip size that suits your hand size to optimize your grip technique. Remember, the choice of grip depends on your style of play and the specific shot you intend to make.
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For late backhand rear-court shots
The panhandle grip is used for late backhand rear-court shots when the shuttlecock is very far behind you. This is because the backhand grip cannot be used to bend the wrist enough to successfully play the shuttlecock from behind with the right amount of accuracy and power. The panhandle grip is also the most common grip used by beginners as it is easy to hit overhead shots and gives power to your shots with only short movements.
The panhandle grip is similar to holding a frying pan. To achieve this grip, place the racket flat on the ground. Pick it up without turning the handle and wrap your fingers around the racket. If you are right-handed, rotate the racket to the left. There should be a 'V' shape between the thumb and index finger, with a gap between the index and middle finger. The palm should be flat on the front of the racket and the grip should be relaxed, only tightening on impact.
It is important to understand the different grips in badminton as it can improve your game and take your performance to the next level. For example, a poor grip can reduce power, minimise control and increase the risk of injury. Therefore, it is important to hold the racket loosely throughout the game and only tighten your grip when you hit the shuttlecock.
To practice switching hand positions, start from the forehand position and use your thumb, pointer, and middle finger to control the racket. Your ring and pinky fingers will lightly support the weight of the racket. Then, practice rotating the racket in your hand to the different hand positions.
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For net kills or drives
The panhandle grip is one of the four basic grips in badminton and is used for net kills, some net drives, and late backhand clears. It is also useful for certain cross-net shots. The grip is called a panhandle because it is similar to holding a frying pan. To execute it, place your racket flat on the ground and pick it up without turning the handle. Wrap your fingers around the racket, ensuring there is a 'V' between the thumb and index finger, and a gap between the index and middle fingers. The palm should be flat on the front of the racket.
The panhandle grip is a useful technique for beginners as it is easy to hit overhead shots with. However, it is not suitable for generating power, as it does not allow for forearm rotation. Therefore, for more advanced players, it is only useful for playing close to the net, either by killing the shuttle or playing some soft net shot.
When using the panhandle grip for net kills, the badminton racket should be directly parallel to the net, as the racket is typically higher than the net when hitting a kill shot. The power in this grip is generated from the wrist pushing down on the shuttle.
To improve your net kills and drives, it is important to practice grip changes. One method is to start with a conditioned routine where you switch grips after every shot, such as a backhand drive followed by a forehand drive. As you advance, you can introduce randomness so that you practice making quick grip changes without knowing which side the shot is coming from.
It is worth noting that the panhandle grip is not suitable for smashes, as it hinders power and can increase the risk of injury. To generate more power, the forearm rotation of a forehand grip is needed.
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Frequently asked questions
The pan handle grip, also known as the hammer grip, is when you hold the badminton racket as if it were a frying pan. The strings point upwards and downwards, unlike the forehand and backhand grip where the strings point to the side.
The pan handle grip is best used when playing close to the net, either by killing the shuttle or playing a soft net shot. It is also useful for quick racket exchanges at the net or for hitting a deep backhand.
With the face of your racket parallel to the floor, hold the racket grip with your palm facing up and your bottom three fingers wrapped around the shaft. Then, pinch the sides of the racket grip with your thumb and pointer fingers.
The pan handle grip is useful for hitting powerful shots with short movements and is a natural grip for beginners. However, it limits forearm rotation and makes it harder to generate power. It can also be harder to switch hand positions with this grip.
The pan handle grip is useful in certain situations, but it is important to learn and practice all the different grips so that you can use the right grip for each shot. The forehand grip, for example, is better for generating power with forearm rotation and is needed for stick smashes.











































