Backhand grip

Table Tennis Strokes and Technique

Last updated 10 years ago

Duy Nguyen

Duy Nguyen Asked 10 years ago

Hello,

My thumb is switching on my shakehand grip, on my backhand i hold my thumb high, and on my forehand i hold my thumb lower. Is this grip ok?


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 10 years ago

Hi Duy,

It is good to keep your thumb down on the backhand because it allows you to use your wrist more fully.

It will feel like you have more control with the thumb up but it will be better in the long run to keep your thumb down.


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Thoughts on this question

Jeff Plumb

Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 10 years ago

Having the correct grip will also help you switch more easily from backhand to forehand.


Arlen Tan

Arlen Tan Posted 10 years ago

Duy, I notice I tend to hold it like you do.  But I will try doing it like Alois and Jeff and see how it works ;)


DHS Lover

DHS Lover Posted 10 years ago

Hi sir alois and sir jeff, if you said with the thumb down will make the wrist can move more, what about the pendulum serve ? It seems like it's very hard to make my thumb down as my index finger is on the middle of the bat to have control and make the bat can't fly away when serving with fast swing

Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 10 years ago

It is still in the natural position but because of the altered grip it can be further up the bat.


Duy Nguyen

Duy Nguyen Posted 10 years ago

I tried some strokes with my thumb down but it doesn't realy work for me. I got lesser control and lesser power. So i can't see why this is better.


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 10 years ago

The main advantages are what we have mentioned above, the switching and the ability to move your wrist.


Arlen Tan

Arlen Tan Posted 10 years ago

Yeah, when I tried t he thumb'down position my wrist has less flexibility; kinda stiff.


Duy Nguyen

Duy Nguyen Posted 10 years ago

Thanks,

i trained for some days, now i like my thumb down.
I like it now better because you never know when the bal comes to your backhand. If it comes there out of nowhere its to late to hit te ball if your have to switch. So i now think your thumb low is better


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 10 years ago

Sometimes it does take a bit of getting used to.  Any change does.  Well done for persevering.



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