Penhold grip

Table Tennis Strokes and Technique

Last updated 6 years ago

Nehemiah Stephenson

Nehemiah Stephenson Asked 6 years ago

I have probably had a ping pong table to play on for more than 5 years. 5 years ago someone introduced me to the actual game of ping pong. probably around 1 to 2 years I started getting serious about the game. and I think for less than a year I have been actually using the shakehand grip. Earlier it might just have been a all hand on the handle no fingers on the bat. and I am wondering about the penhold grip. I feel that the penhold (with more control with fingers out) is uncomfortable because it makes it to where the bat  digs into my pointer finger. so the shakehand and the curled fingers penhold are the comfortable for me. but I have been wondering about the penhold because it has more spin because of wrist movement (in my mind, if spin is the main factor and difference in ping pong so why not have more spin to deal with.) so wondering if I could switch to penhold since my body probably hasn't gotten too used to the shakehand yet. and also I am wondering about the backspin for the penhold. I feel I cant get a good comfortable way to put backspin on the ball with the penhold. so wondering how to get that.  I do have a bat that doesn't have sponge but has good grippy rubber so I can generate enough spin to know what kind of spin I'm getting. good to learn with. sorry for another long read. and thank you.


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 6 years ago

Hi Nehemiah,

It is OK to change to the Penhold grip if you think it will be more comfortable for you.  Give it a try for a few weeks and see how it feels.

To get backspin with the penhold the principles are the same as with shakehand.  Focus on brushing under the ball with both forehand and backhand.  Take a look at the tutorials on the Backhand Push and Forehand Push.  Also look at the tutorial we have on Penhold Techniques for Table Tennis.

 

 


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Thoughts on this question

Benzene Chiral

Benzene Chiral Posted 6 years ago

According to experience, penhold grip with curled fingers at the back has relatively weaker forehand...

What's the rationale of having no sponge? I have not tried that, but wouldn't you need the bounce?


Nehemiah Stephenson

Nehemiah Stephenson Posted 6 years ago

thx again Alois. and for Benzene, sponge is supposed to give more spin I think? a good thick sponge is good to have as explained in pingskills choosing the right bat video. not sure exactly what the sponge is for tho lol. but what do you mean by the bounce?

 


Benzene Chiral

Benzene Chiral Posted 6 years ago

Coach Alois, correct me if I misunderstood...

Bounce as in the "spring" effect. Imagine the ball hitting a spring compressing it, later when the spring decompresses, it will "shoot" out the ball instead of without sponge, without that spring and merely hitting a hard grippy surface.

Too thick sponge can compromise control.


Nehemiah Stephenson

Nehemiah Stephenson Posted 6 years ago

from the choosing the right bat video. it looks like the sponge is good for making sure the ball hits the rubber and not so much the wood for a premade bat. for the custom racket I'm not even sure if it has sponge. it looks like it just has a thick piece of rubber. I'm not sure if you are supposed to get the sponge for that separate.

 

 


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 6 years ago

Nearly all custom bats will have sponge as well.  The sponge and rubber come already attached to each other.  The rubber is either red or black and the spine another color.


Benzene Chiral

Benzene Chiral Posted 6 years ago

Usually, no sponge on custom made rackets are long pips, but I'm not sure of what rationale. Inverted rubbers should have sponge.


Nehemiah Stephenson

Nehemiah Stephenson Posted 6 years ago

based on a new bat I got. I guess the sponge is for power and control while the rubber is mostly for spin. I think

 



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