Traditional v Reverse Penhold Backhand
Strokes
Remi Wojtowicz Asked 2 weeks ago
Hi Alois, First of all, thank you for your video about penhold techniques. I've actually watched it several times already, and I always pick up something new each time. I'm a beginner and I've been playing with the penhold grip for about two months. One thing I've noticed is that it's surprisingly difficult to find high-quality penhold resources in English, so I really appreciate the content you make. I have a question about TPB vs. RPB. Do you think it still makes sense to keep the traditional penhold backhand (TPB) for blocks and counterhits, or would you recommend focusing almost 100% on the RPB for the main backhand strokes (counterhit, topspin and block)? When I watch modern professional penholders, it seems that most of them hardly use TPB anymore and rely almost exclusively on RPB. During matches, I also feel that switching between TPB and RPB, or between TPB and the forehand grip, requires quite a lot of finger adjustments. I imagine that with enough practice this becomes automatic, but as a beginner it sometimes feels like an extra layer of complexity. For developing my RPB, can I simply follow your shakehand backhand tutorials on the Pingskills website, or are there important differences that I should keep in mind? What do you think? For an amateur player, would it make sense to commit almost entirely to RPB and leave TPB aside, or do you still think TPB offers important advantages that are worth developing? Thank you again for all the great content. I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Rémi
Alois Rosario Answered 1 week ago
Hi Rémi, Thanks for your kind words. I'm glad you're enjoying the penhold videos. For a modern penhold player, I'd recommend making the RPB your primary backhand. It gives you more attacking options, better topspin potential, and makes it easier to deal with a wider variety of balls. Most top penholders now rely mainly on the RPB for exactly these reasons. That said, don't abandon the TPB completely. It's still a very useful shot for quick blocks, touch play, and certain returns, especially close to the table. Think of it as a complementary shot rather than your main backhand. For learning the RPB, our shakehand backhand tutorials are a great place to start. The fundamentals are very similar: good timing, a compact stroke, and brushing the ball. The main difference is the grip and finger pressure, so expect it to take a little time to feel natural. My advice is to spend about 80 to 90% of your backhand practice on the RPB and keep the TPB as a useful option rather than trying to develop both equally. That will give you the best long-term progress while keeping your game versatile.
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