How To Hold A Ping Pong Paddle? – Correct Way In 2023

Any sport’s grip determines its quality, so it is with Ping Pong Paddles.

In ping pong, mastering the body mechanics of your grip can help you achieve greater accuracy, control, and spin generation.

Coaches and experts recommend several grips for different games and playing styles.

You must train your body to respond without thinking when Playing Ping Pong, which is a game of speed and split-second decisions.

You will become more adept at responding without thinking as you play more and more.

You should choose and practice the right grip from a young age.

It is difficult to retrain your body after developing bad habits and poor mechanics.

If you change grips or learn something new, it’s normal for you to have some bad games, which can discourage some players and lead to bad habits.

The right grip enables you to control and defend effectively, as well as to react in a split second.

Of course, there is no ideal grip for every player and play style.

Follow These Professional Techniques On: How To Hold A Ping Pong Paddle

The Shakehand Grip

Shakehand grip gets its name from its hand position, which resembles how you shake hands.

In western countries as well as Asia, this grip has gained popularity.

The player holds the blade with three fingers, tucks the edge between the thumb and index finger, and touches the rubber edge with their index finger.

The blade’s edge needs to be placed within the natural V of the hand for maximum wrist flexibility and control.

There Are Two Types Of Shakehand Grip:

The Shallow Shakehand

The shallow shake hand has the thumb resting lightly on the blade, and the hand is positioned like the one above.

The shallow shakehand is a great way for beginners to hold a ping pong paddle.

Pros

1. Natural and comfortable feel
2. Flexible wrists
3. Suitable for both forehands and backhands Smash

Cons

1. Not as powerful
2. It is often difficult for players to make decisions (when they are forced to use four-handed or backhand strokes) during crossover points.

The Deep Shakehand

A deep shake hand grip is similar to this, but the thumb rests on the rubber rather than raised.

For beginners, the deep shake hand grip is recommended.

Pros

1. The grip feels comfortable and natural
2. Suitable for both forehands and backhands
3. Powerful and precise

Cons

1. Compared to the shallow shakehand, the deep shakehand provides increased power due to a stabilized wrist
2. The crossover point is weak

The Penhold Grip

When using Penhold Grip, you hold the paddle.

if you were holding a pen, with the blade facing upwards and the paddle surface facing downwards.

This grip is popular among players in Asia, as well as in the West.

To make a penhold grip just place the index and middle fingers on the rubber and tuck the blade’s edge between them.

The Penhold Grip Comes In Three Variations.

1. The Chinese Penhold

In the Chinese Penhold, the finger and thumb are wrapped around the blade as described above, allowing the blade to be held downwards.

On the opposite side of the rubber, the three fingers of the opposite hand are curled gently.

Pros

1. The grip relies on lateral wrist rotation rather than switching from side to side to perform both forehand and backhand strokes. Shakehand grips are weak at their crossover points
2. The spin is imparted with great wrist flexibility
3. It can be used offensively or defensively

Cons

1. Having a hard time imparting backhand topspin
2. A player’s stamina decreases when playing with the elbow raised and rotating the wrist throughout a game

2. The Japanese Or Korean Penhold

The Koreans and Japanese hold their index finger and thumb in the penhold position.

They extend the paddle to expose their four fingers.

They are tucked against the second finger, lined up with the blade on the rubber.

Pros

1. The fingers of this variation provide more strength and stability to forehand strokes, thus adding more power
2. A stronger stroke allows you to stand closer to the table

Cons

1. This variation reduces blade movement, making returning the ball more difficult
2. Quite challenging

3. Reverse Backhand Penhold

Rather than using the front paddle surface, where the thumb and index finger rest, the player uses the back paddle surface, where the fingers rest.

Pros

1. Works great for close-quarter games
2. Improves the backhand
3. Improves arm movement

Cons

1. The ball can be difficult to reach over the net when this grip is used low and close to the table
2. The grip can be difficult to master

In addition to the shakehand and penhold grip styles, other Ping Pong Grips are popular today, including the pistol grip, the V grip, and the Seemiller grip.

Conclusion

A deep shakehand is generally recommended for beginners. Beginners have an easier time learning this grip due to its versatility and power.

An advanced player can experiment with different grips based on their style and weaknesses once the shakehand is mastered.

Various grips offer advantages and are best for different types of games, so you should experiment to find the grip that works best for you.

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