Shakehand vs Penhold

Fahad hasan Asked 15 years ago

What is the difference between shakehand and penhold?

Jeff Plumb Answered 15 years ago

They are different ways to hold the bat.

Some advantages of the penhold are there is no real switch over point between backhand and forehand. It is a bit more natural to be able to generate more spin on the serve. A disadvantage in the past has been the backhand attack but now players are using the reverse penhold backhand (RPB) with great effect. Though in a way this kind of introduces a switch over point for the penholder.

The advantages of the shakehand grip are a more versatile backhand. The serve can be made effective to with a small change in grip. And the crossover weakness can be minimised by closely tracking the ball and good footwork.

You can watch our video called Get a Grip to see these two styles.