Different Types Of Ping Pong (Table Tennis) Grips

Different Types of Ping Pong Grips (Table Tennis Grips)

Last Updated on August 6, 2024

A player should practice different types of ping pong grips so the comfortable grip regarding hand moment can be chosen and rehearsed for perfect strokes. Pro gamers use various types of ping pong grips. Here we discuss each ping pong grip in detail.

Different Types of Ping Pong Grips

Shake hand grip

Ping Pong Grips

This grip technique has evolved from Western players and has become popular among Asian and European players.

As the name suggests, the technique to grip the paddle is like shaking hands. The sub-categories of these techniques include deep ping pong grip and shallow grip.

Ping Pong Deep Shake Hand Grip

The thumb’s position in this technique is on the paddle’s rubber. This does not allow much wrist flexibility to the player and gives a tight grip to the paddle.

This grip style is popular as it gives a more accurate attack with plenty of force.

When the ball needs to strike from the table edge, this grip helps a lot.

This grip is also meant to be ideal for both the backhand and the forehand. It can easily be switched from side to side technique.

Ping Pong Shallow Shake Hand Grip

This ping pong grip is popular among beginners as it provides outstanding wrist flexibility, which helps improve the skill of spinning the ball while serving or in loop execution.

This helps return the ball towards the opponent more conveniently than other grips. To attack the opponent with the same energy from any position.

The shallow grip exerts more force on the strike, making it perfect for backhand and forehand strokes.

It gives a lot of space on the table, which helps attack the ball with the same strength and swing.

Penhold grip

Ping Pong Grips

This is another popular ping pong grip or holding posture, which includes three styles: reverse backhand, Korean or Japanese grip, and Chinese grip.

The penhold grip, as the name suggests, is like holding a pen. The index finger touches the thumb on the front of the paddle, and the rest of the hand folds at the back.

Reverse Back Hand Grip

It is the same as the Penhold grip in which both sides of the paddle are used for backhand and forehand strokes, but the reverse backhand grips allow the backside of the paddle as well.

This posture is very helpful in attacking the short balls in critical situations in the game.

Korean or Japanese Penhold Grip

In this technique, the fingers on the backside of the paddle are placed straight.

This allows executing the forehand stroke with a lot more force and power, which helps attack the ball from a spot far away from the table.

The blade movement became limited as the fingers at the back needed to be straight for the force. It became challenging as the angle varied according to the direction of the ball coming.

This is a complex technique for beginners and must be mastered with much practice.

Chinese Penhold Grip

This technique is more prevalent among Asian players. In this ping pong grip, the player holds the paddle so that the blade of the paddle faces the ground.

Using one of these ping pong grips is helpful for the players who like to play close to the table.

Compared to the shakehand grip, the Chinese penhold grip offers a more flexible posture to the player, who eventually gives the privilege to spin the ball like a pro on the attacking side. It is also helpful in serving the ball.

It is easy for a player to push and block the ball on the backhand side as it gives freedom to bend the wrist from the backhand and forehand strokes. It is also helpful in locking away the crossover point.

Seemiller grip

Ping Pong Grips

This technique is a variant form of the shakehand ping pong grips.

The forefinger tip of your hand is positioned close to the edge or around the edge, and the index and thumb are held on either side at the angle of 90-degree turns.

V-Grip Technique

Ping Pong Grips

This technique holds the blade between the middle and index finger, forming a V-shaped posture.

The ping pong grip is formed when the two fingers curl down through the blade, and the thumb is placed anywhere comfortable.

The V-shape grip helps spin with more power in attack, making it ideal for taking wide-angle shots and acquiring more stable control.

Conclusion

Table tennis, or ping pong, is a racket sport where players serve the ball with a paddle.

To learn and master it, the player must know the technique, skill, footwork, ping pong grips, and body momentum during sports. These are the essential things to learn to wield the weapon at hand.

The combination of strokes and how they are executed are the primary strategy behind winning the game.

For the perfection of strokes, one needs to learn how to hold the paddle first and master it.

Practice makes perfect and constant practice is necessary, but the point is whether a player is comfortable with it.

author avatar
Ashton Brown
Ashton Brown spent a lot of time in after school programs as a child. In a local community-run recreation center in Boston, they had a ping pong table, and since then he has always played. He had a ping pong table in his college dorm, and a mini one in his office for giggles. After playing for years, Ashton wants to show you how to get started with ping pong, learn the tricks of the trade, and equip yourself with everything you need to be better at the game.

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