Table Tennis Grips

Table tennis grips refer to the way you hold your table tennis paddle. The style of grip you use can help you become more successful in the sport or put you at a power disadvantage against your opponent. While it's important to understand the different types of table tennis grips, it's essential to find the right one for you to help develop a consistent success in your playing abilities.

1. Shakehand Grips. Shakehand or "Western" grips tend to be those favored by players in the U.S. and Western world. This grip looks much you're shaking hands with the paddle by placing your thumb toward the lower part of the paddle for your forehand stroke and your first finger around the top of the grip on your backhand stroke. This leaves the rest of your hand to grab around the grip and provide needed stability in your movements.
2. Minor Grips. There are three other grips that are called minor grips because they are rarely used by players. These grips include: Pistol Grip, Seemiller Grip and V Grip. These are minor grips because they can tend to be awkward for long periods of time or strain the hand and fingers. The Seemiller Grip involves wrapping your entire hand around the paddle grip with the exception of your forefinger which is wrapped most of the way around curling the first joint of your forefinger around the bottom corner of the paddle.
3. Penhold Grips. Penhold grips are generally favored by Eastern world players, predominantly Chinese, Japanese and Korean players. There are three types of Penhold grips, including: Traditional Chinese Penhold Grip, Traditional Japanese/Korean Penhold Grip, Reverse Penhold Backhand (RPB) Grip. As it sounds, this grip resembles that of how you would hold a pen or other writing instrument. Curl your hand around the paddle grip placing your forefinger on the top of the grip against the base of the paddle and your thumb wrapped under the grip to meet the tip of your forefinger. Use your other fingers and the palm of your hand to stabilize the paddle for movement. 
4. Which to Use. The grip you choose to use depends entire on you, but the Shakehand Grip tends to be the easiest to learn and work with. If you're an entry level player, start with the Shakehand Grip to get a feel for how the paddle should be an extension of your arm and not an awkward instrument you're handling.