My bat slipping
Table Tennis Strokes and Technique
Last updated 7 years ago
Thomas Novák Asked 7 years ago
Hello,
I have a problem with my bat slipping. My coach says that I should hold my bat with my thumb and index finger as firmly as possible and the other 3 fingers just loosely. The problem is that since we do a lot of running at the start of training I get really sweaty and my hands too. So when i play like topspin or forehand my bat starts slipping and then i hold it really uncomfortably and I have to adjust it or I will play the stroke badly. But when i am in a really fast rally and I try to adjust it I most likely don't make it in time and my coach is really angry with me. What should I do to avoid this? I am holding my bat with my thumb and index finger really firmly so I don't know what to do. Thank you for your answer.
Alois Rosario Answered 7 years ago
Hi Thomas,
The first issue is to cool your hand down or wipe it regularly so that the bat isn't slipping.
Then I recommend you hold the bat lightly with all of your fingers. If you tighten your forefinger and thumb your wrist will also tighten up which restricts your ability to play strokes effectively.
Thoughts on this question
Become a free member to post a comment about this question.
Thomas Kunzfeld Posted 7 years ago
I addition to what Alois says you could try grip tape.
I also get a sweaty hand while playing and it helps me.
(The first time I applied grip tape it felt so strange that I pulled it off, but recently I tried it again and now I am happy with it. It absorbs sweat and prevents slipping by the rubber-like material.)
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 7 years ago
Good idea Thomas. A cheap solution is to cut a piece of an old bicycle tyre tube and roll that onto the handle.
Thomas Kunzfeld Posted 7 years ago
Thank you Alois.
By the way, the first grip tape I had was from Butterfly, the second one for tennis rackets. Interestingly they are exactly identical (same width, same material). The only difference is that the one for tennis rackets is longer, which could be helpful for people who would like their handle to be thicker or shape it a bit.
Jean Balthazar Posted 7 years ago
I use the Babolat Pro Team SP. It's a tennis bat overgrip. What I like most about it is that it is not tacky at all. It's also thin, so if you apply it well you don't feel any gaps, hips or dips on the surface. Finally, it can be applied and stays in place without putting any sticker on the wood, so the blade remains pristine. It costs me €7.50 for a set of three grips, and I can equip two bats using just one grip, since the handle of a table tennis bat is much shorter, i.e. that's €1.25 per bat, and it's well worth it.