Are you new to table tennis? If so, the first thing to consider before starting to hit your first ping pong ball is how you're going to hold the paddle. Table tennis may seem like a simple game, however, due to the many minute movements causing spin to the ball, it's actually a very difficult sport to master. Before getting ahead of ourselves, let's go over exactly how to correctly hold a table tennis paddle (some people call them blades).
In general, there are two standard ways of holding a ping pong paddle. The most common in the US and Western countries is the Shakehand Grip. While the Shakehand Grip is gaining in popularity offers a balanced all-round game, the Penhold Grip is the more popular in Asian countries such as China, Japan, and Korea. I personally prefer the Penhold Grip but play using the Shakehand when practicing with friends and relative. I will go over how these grips are held and its major advantages and disadvantages later in this article.
I think I would be safe in saying that there are no wrong ways of holding a table tennis paddle. In fact, new methods are being discovered all the time by professional and leisure players alike. Some less frequent, but popular grips include the Seemiller Grip (named after Danny Seemiller), the V-Grip, and the Pistol Grip. While this article will over cover the standard grip types, I'll be sure to write about these less popular grip methods in another article, so stay tuned!
The Shakehand Grip Tutorial
I guess you can say that the Shakehand Grip is self explanatory. You hold the ping pong paddle like you're shaking someone's hand. It's probably one of the most natural grips and one of the easiest to get accustomed to. Players using the Shakehand Grip are generally all-around players as the grip allows for fluid forehands, backhands, and serves without much adjustment. Combined with correct footwork, stamina, and practice, you'll be well on your way to becoming a great player.
The Shakehand does have its disadvantages. Using this grip, you'll notice an area in front of your body where it's ambiguous of whether to use your forehand or backhand. As table tennis is an extremely fast paced game, even a split second in deciding will cause you the game. When using the the Shakehand Grip, make sure you're aware of the situation and force your body to naturally react the same way every time the ball comes into your "cross over" point.
The Penhold Grip Tutorial
I use the Penhold Grip mainly because I was taught to. My father was a table tennis coach and to him, this was the best and only way of correctly hitting the ball. I eventually got accustomed to this and prefer it over the Shakehand even though I'm a frequent tennis player.
I love the names the professionals gave to the grip types. While they're totally unimaginative names, they're extremely self-explanatory. Just hold the paddle like you're holding a pen. I've provided a picture for you above. Behind the paddle, you can either open up your fingers and fan them across the back or simple keep the rest of your fingers curled while using your rounded middle finger to press against the back. Again, no correct way of this and what ever feels comfortable for you will be the best method.
The best part of the Penhold is that it allows for a dominating forehand. It took a little time for me to figure out how to maximize power with the Penhold, however, once you combine the correct footwork, wrist movement, and body, you'll have the most powerful forehand slam to rip through any table tennis table. This grip also allows for great spin shots and serves as it allows for more wrist movement over the Shakehand.
Unfortunately, the Penhold has a major fault and is probably the reason less and less players, including players in Asia which are switching to the Shakehand Grip. While you have a massive forehand and no cross-over point, you'll find Penholders to have inconsistent backhand strokes. This is because the way backhands are performed, your wrist and arm must be twisted in an unnatural way. Besides being inconsistent, I sometimes find my backhands to be quite weak in power.
General Grip Holding Advice
Relax. That's the best tip I can give you. Yes, just relax. Even when you're hitting a hard slam, keep your wrist and hand relaxed. Before starting a game, I like to hold my arm with one hand, and allow my wrist to just dangle with the paddle in hand. If you can master this, you'll find your shots to not only have more power, it'll also contain top-spin.
My name is Andrew Cheng and I've been playing since the age of 7. With more than 20 years of ping pong under my belly, I'm sure I've played on most brands and make of table tennis tables. If you're new to the game and looking for a table for use at home, I recommend checking out the Stiga Expert Roller Table Tennis Table or the Butterfly Premium Rollaway Table Tennis Table. These are two of my all time favorites tables to practice on and are truly superior tables in the market today!
