Table Tennis Grip
Strokes and Technique
Dhruv Sinha Asked 11 years ago
So I was playing at my club when someone told me that my grip was incorrect. He said that my grip was "forehand oriented" and the angle forced me to be better at my forehand and wasn't very strong on my backhand. The grip he told me to do seemed to make me have to point downwards to help me with me forehand and despite his advice it made my backhand worse. I've been using this grip for several years and I have my first tournament in about 2 months. Should I change my grip?
Alois Rosario Answered 11 years ago
Hi Dhruv,
It isn't a good idea to change something like your grip too close to a tournament. This is something that needs to be changed in the off season.
Thoughts on this question
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Mark L Posted 9 years ago
Coach Alois, can you help me please?
I had adopted a neutral shakehand grip very suitable for fast play on both forehand and backhand wing. However recently another coach observed me and commented my shots' quality is lacking and had room for improvement, asking and requesting me to put in more explosive power. However it is hard for me to do so using the neutral grip. Today, I had change to the backhand oriented grip and my backhand finally is able to use explosive strength due to the wrist flexibility. However, my forehand become very weak. When I use the forehand oriented grip, the vice versa effect took place. What should i do??
Please advise me.
Warm Regards,
Mark
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 9 years ago
Hi Mark,
I think it is better to work with the central grip. You can definitely play a faster ball with this grip. It is a matter of relaxing your hand and allowing your swing to flow more.
Steve Billmire Posted 9 years ago
Okay I'll bite, what is the difference between the 3 ways to hold the bat with the "Shakehand" grip? Reading this thread it sounds like we have a few options, "Neutral Grip", " BH Oriented Grip", and the "Central Grip". Is there more than one way to hold the bat with the " Shakehand " style??? I have watched Alois's video about how to hold the bat correctly in: Get a Grip and he does not show these other ways that are being talked about here.
Alois can you please explain who the difference is between these "Shakehand" grips and what benefit they have.
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 9 years ago
Hi Steve,
There is not much difference. The forehand grip you turn the bat slightly towards your forehand so that the bat is more closed when playing a forehand. The Backhand grip is the reverse.
I think you need to maintain a neutral grip most of the time especially when developing.