A Guide to Mastering the Pickleball Handshake

Handshakes 🤝. A practice that's been happening since humans began exchanging pleasantries.

And, in all of those years, not much has really changed. Extend hand, grip firmly, and move your arm up and down. It really can't get much easier than that.

So, why fix what's not broken, right? Well, I'll tell you why ...

You can't offer a handshake when you have a pickleball paddle in your hand. And, quite frankly, who wants to go through the hassle of placing their paddle on the ground to shake a hand? Not pickleball players. That's who.

Enter the Pickleball Handshake

The pickleball handshake is the perfect solution to greet fellow players and congratulate opponents on a game well played while keeping your paddle where it was born to be—in your hands.

But before you start clapping paddles with reckless abandon, there are some established practices in place that you need to be aware of. Consider these steps your guide for your next exchange at center court and across the net.

The Official Pickleball Handshake Etiquette

Poster

Grab the official pickleball handshake etiquette poster to adorn the wall of your office, mancave, game room, or quite frankly anywhere you want.

The three types of pickleball handshakes

1. Head-to-Head

This is, by far, the most popular (and only method in my book) of the pickleball handshakes. It entails both players tapping the faces of their paddles together like civilized humans.

Proper Etiquette:

• Extend your arm and paddle to initiate the exchange with another player. If ignored, they may not have noticed. Or, it’s possible they just don’t like you. Either way, it’s your opportunity to play the role of the bigger person.

• Grip your paddle handle firmly. We're not choking a chicken here, so you just want to make sure you don’t go limp fish or death grip. Somewhere in between.

• Hold the face of your paddle vertically and at an even height with the other player. Remember, this isn’t a game of “up high, down low, too slow”, but that might be fun if you want to mix things up.

• Slightly overlap the face of your paddles. Going in too far is just weird, so don’t be that guy.

• When the moment finally arrives, gently tap the opposing paddle while making eye contact. You’re not trying to slap away their paddle, so resist the urge no matter how much of a tool the other player might be.

• Optional, but recommended. Compliment the player upon tapping. You know, things like, “good game”, “good shot”, “good God you’re lucky” … those kinds of things.

2. Handle-to-Handle

If you’re the pretentious type, or concerned about getting a scratch on your precious paddle, you may prefer this method which entails tapping the handles of the paddles together (gross).

Proper Etiquette:

• Don’t do this. But, if you must …

• Grab the paddle by the top of the face and extend your arm and handle to initiate the exchange.

• Grip your paddle however you want because you’re already dead in my book.

• Position the handle of your paddle to meet the handle of the opposing paddle. Yeah, it’s as nasty as it sounds.

• Make eye contact and gently tap the handles together. Even nastier.

• Slap yourself in the face and reassess your priorities.

3. Handle-to-Head

If you’re at all confused about my stance on any handle involvement in a pickleball handshake exchange, let me be clear. This method should only occur when all human civility has been lost. This is the equivalent of a fist bump meeting a handshake. It’s uncomfortable for both parties and you walk away hoping you never run into the person again.

Proper Etiquette:

• The handle-facing player should apologize immediately and hope for forgiveness.

Parting thoughts on the pickleball handshake

Despite my strong opinion, I’m all bark and no bite when it comes time to exchange pleasantries on the court. Pickleball players are some of the most fun and courteous people you’ll encounter, so whatever end of the paddle you choose to offer, you’ll have a gracious player on the other end — even this curmudgeon.

Here are some final tips for both heads and handles:

1. Be First
   Be the initiator more often than not. If nothing else, it rules you out as the a-hole on the court.

2. Be Confident
   Act like you know what you’re doing even if you don’t.

3. Be Courteous
   Don’t make everyone wait at the net while you take your sweet ole’ time getting to the group.

4. Be Human
   Just don’t make things weird. Ok?

It’s now up to you to decide. Are you going head or handle?