PingPod #43 Grip Changes Between Backhand and Forehand

In this PingPod we discuss using subtle grip changes between backhand and forehand whilst using the shakehand grip. The conclusion we came to was that you should have a loose grip allowing subtle changes but it's not something you should focus on. When learning try to use a neutral grip and then the relaxed grip will allow you some movement without causing you problems switching between the backhand and forehand.

Leave a comment to let us know if and how you change your grip between backhand and forehand.

Transcript

Jeff: Welcome to the PingPod, the Ping Pong Podcast by PingSkills. I'm Jeff Plumb and with me is Alois Rosario.

Alois: Wow, PingPod again.

Jeff: PingPod again, it's been a little while but this is episode 43.

Alois:43!

Jeff: Indeed! Today we're talking about the grip Alois. In particular the shakehand grip and changing between backhand and forehand. Now generally we always say keep the grip neutral but we've just been doing a few experiments and we're getting a lot of questions about this. Is it OK to change the grip so we thought we'd talk a bit about it.

Alois: Yep. Good idea. So I think in general if you keep in mind, especially when you're learning, keep the grip the same. So when we talk about keeping it the same that's a nice neutral grip right in the middle where you can play backhand and forehand just as easily. So your backhand grip and your forehand grip are exactly the same. But as we start to progress and we start to want to generate a little more speed and a little bit more spin you can start to make subtle changes with your grip I think Jeff.

Jeff: OK yeah and we did a little bit of an experiment just before Alois where we were playing backhands and forehands and trying to topspin and for me I think I do slightly change it but hardly at all. I think on the backhand I just use my finger here just to push on the bat a little bit and angle it back towards what people would call a backhand grip but it's very subtle and then on the forehand I just angle it back again. And so it's almost a seamless change that happens just from switching from the backhand to the forehand. And it's more when I'm topspinning, if I'm blocking I think I pretty much keep the same grip. How did you find it?

Alois: I found it exactly the same so when I'm blocking it's basically the same on both sides but once I start to want to play a more attacking stroke especially with the backhand and forehand topspin then I start to change a little bit. So what happens is I've got some air or I've got some space in here and that space is where I use to start to change the angle of the grip. The way I'm doing it is I'm putting a little bit of pressure here to change it slightly that way, and that way. So you can see that I'm changing it very subtly and it's only a very small movement of my pointer finger or there and I'm also utilising my middle finger here a little bit just to push it around slightly as well. So you can see by doing that it changes the angle of my racket slightly. So it isn't much at all it's not like I'm turning the bat around in my hand here and then turning it around there it's just a very subtle little change used by just the end of my pointer finger there and the middle finger just changing it around there a little bit. So that's how I get the changes. Yeah what about you Jeff?

Jeff: Excuse me, I've got a bit of a cough in my throat there.

Alois: Are you OK Jeffrey?

Jeff: I'm OK thank you.

Alois: Alright.

Jeff: Yeah same thing. I think just a very subtle thing but we do get some questions about players altering it quite a lot and I think that can be detrimental because you are going to get caught out between grips.

Alois: Yeah and that's the real key. If you try and do something where you just haven't got the time to do it to change then it's just not going to work. If you're making big changes from here to here then. Jeff, are you alright?

Jeff: Ah boy, excuse me. Stuck right in the throat, really.

Alois: No good?

Jeff: No good.

Alois: Bugs?

Jeff: Who knows?

Alois: So I think just making those subtle changes is OK. Don't try and make big changes of your grip because you just don't have time. The game is just too fast.

Jeff: So is it something you ever focussed on?

Alois: No.

Jeff: So maybe, should people experiment a little bit just for fun?

Alois: I think the key is if you keep the hand and the fingers relaxed then you will have the ability to just make those subtle changes. As soon as you grip your bat too tight then any change becomes really difficult. To change, I mean it's hard to demonstrate here but if I've got my bat really hard in my hand there then to try and change the angle takes a lot of muscles but if it's completely loose and relaxed then it doesn't take much to change the angle of my racket at all. So that's where we talk about a little bit of space in here, nice relaxed fingers and hand, so your thumb is relaxed, your forefinger is relaxed, and the other three fingers are also relaxed so that you can manoeuvre and change the angle.

Jeff: And like you said that's not only good for switching between backhand and forehand that's also good for delicate returns of serve.

Alois: Exactly. So when you're making that short push if you've got a nice relaxed grip, you can absorb the spin and speed on the ball as well.

Jeff: Alright, so we'd love to know your thoughts. Leave a comment to let us know about your grip, whether you hold it really tight and whether you switch between the backhand and forehand and we'll keep the discussion going on our blog. So thanks for watching and we will see you on the next PingPod. Bye.

Alois: Bye.