Millions of people all over the world play this sport. No matter who you are and whether you play with your mates, at your school, or competitively, you always need to be strong with your basics. The most basic of the basics, however, is your grip.
Your grip is the foundation on which everything else in your game is built upon. This includes your technique, skill, balance, and movement. Everything is based on your grip. Let’s go over some of the grip styles that are out there in the table tennis world, and let’s also try and pick one that you feel is most suited to your needs!
Penhold Grip
This grip has quite a few variations of itself existing nowadays. The most popular is the traditional Chinese Penhold grip that emulates holding a pen in your hand.
Your thumb and forefinger are supposed to hold the handle of the racket just like you’d hold a pen. The rest of your hand wraps around the back of the handle.
The reverse penhold grip involves the index finger lying on the same side as the thumb in order to retain the backhand side as the dominant side. Both these variations are very subjective, and it all depends on the preference of the player.
Therefore it is not possible to point to a variation and say if its “right” or “wrong.” Again, it depends on you and the kind of game you want to be playing, and if the grip supports that.
Shakehand Grip
Shakehand grip is another extremely popular grip amongst players of all levels. The idea behind this grip is that it looks like you’re shaking hands with the handle of the racket.
This grip involves you placing your index finger and putting it on the back of the racket, with your thumb on the front of the racket. The rest of your hand wraps around the handle.
V Grip
This grip may not be as popular as the two mentioned above but for obvious reasons. It needs the individual to possess a lot of strength and flexibility in his first two fingers. It inhibits the rest of the hand almost completely and puts a lot of responsibility on just these two fingers. Simply make an inverted “V” with your two fingers and place the handle in between them.
Next, with the handle against your palm, rotate the rubber, so it’s perpendicular to your palm and situated in between your inverted “V.”
Make sure you bend these two fingers to grip the racket properly. Maybe the graphic below will help you understand the technique behind this grip!
Remember, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what grip you choose. As long as you’re comfortable with it and it gives you results, there is nothing wrong with it. Make sure you perfect the technique behind the grip, though. That’s what makes the difference.
So there you go. The above three variations are the most reliable and technically sound grips you can go for as a beginner. They give you the optimum amount of control over your racket and help you gain leverage over the sport. We hope this was beneficial in helping you pick the right grip for yourself!
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