grip
Bernard Unknown
Submitted on 28-Mar-2010 12:39:39 AM
Last updated on 17-May-2010 08:48:56 PM
You Asked
in the shakehand grip can you slightly curve your index finger?
and Alois Rosario said...
Hi Bernard,
Yes you can slightly curve your finger. Just do what feels comfortable in this situation. Just make sure the curve of thefinger doesn't mean that you are taking up too much of the backhand side of the bat.
Comments on this question
Greg Unknown commented...
on the 17-May-2010 06:28:55 PM
Hello there. First of all, thank you for a lot of useful material I was able to find on your website here.
I have a follow-up question about the index finger placement: I have since I remeber always held the bat as if I was holding a tennis racket, i.e. my index finger curled around the handle with the other fingers as opposed to the traditional "shakehand" grip with it extended over a side of the bat. Recently I have taken up table tennis again and started wandering whether my seemingly unorthodox grip places me at a disadvantage somehow. The way I see it, my grip gives me some extra freedom of movement, especially for backhand strokes, though it does appear that sometimes my forehand strokes are imprecise.
I have been using this grip since I started and I don't think I could easily switch to a traditional shakehand grip.
Would you have any comments or suggestions regarding this matter - am I losing anything by holding the racket the way I am? If I am, is it possible to adjust without switching my racket-holding style?
Jeff Plumb from PingSkills said...
on the 17-May-2010 08:48:56 PM
Hi Greg,
I would strongly recommend that you change your grip. No top player in the world uses a tennis style grip. One excellent reason for having your finger on the back of the bat is that is provides you with extra feedback as to the angle of your racket. This is especially important when returning serves and when playing against a short ball. It does give you extra control when playing other strokes too!
Although it does seem unnatural at first, you will be surprised at how quickly you can adapt to the new grip. You can even try walking around home with the bat in your hand at first just to get used to the feel of it. Then try some shadow play where you practice your strokes without a ball. Just go through the motions as if you were actually playing your strokes. Then just keep practicing. You'll get the hang of it quicker than you expect.
Serving the pendulum serve is one stroke where you should consider altering your grip significantly but even here I would keep the finger on the bat but more down the back of the bat. We cover this in Serving Secrets Revealed.
