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There are two main ways to hold the bat. The shakehand grip and the penhold grip. Almost every professional Table Tennis player will use one of these two grips. Starting out with the correct grip will make life a lot easier when you are learning your strokes. So watch the lesson and ensure you are using the correct technique to hold your bat.

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Shakehand Grip

You place your Pointer finger on one side of the bat and your thumb on the other. The other fingers are placed around the handle. Your grip should be loose enough to slide the bat out of your hand.

Table Tennis Shakehand Grip Table Tennis Shakehand Grip

Why can’t I keep my pointer finger off the bat like I am used to? I play a lot of Tennis.

Having the pointer finger on the bat helps you to know what angle your bat is on and gives you better control over the racket head.

Penhold Grip

You circle the handle of your bat with your thumb and pointer finger. A bit like holding a pen. Your other fingers can be placed on the back of the bat either straight or bent, whichever feels more comfortable for you.

Table Tennis Penhold Grip Table Tennis Penhold Grip Table Tennis Penhold Grip

Why is the grip so important?

Using the correct grip will enable you to progress your strokes especially later on when the strokes become more advanced.

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