Table Tennis Grip: Chinese Coach Explication

Based on the Chinese coaching, having a grip is very important. If you want to have a good technique, a correct grip is a must. However, some table tennis coaches don’t explain “how to hold the racket” carefully to new players. Today let’s learn the principle of a good grip in Chinese philosophy.

There are 6 types of handle, and 5 types of grip in table tennis!

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Why having a good grip is important in table tennis

The grip is one of the first lessons that every player should learn carefully. Holding the bat correctly will help:

• Improve the power of the stroke
• Improve the spin of the ball
• Let you feel the ball with your hand (most important in Chinese philosophy of table tennis)
• Easy transition between Backhand and Forehand

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How to hold the bat correctly? Tips of Chinese coach

These are some tips, advice of the coach to the new players. Based on the Chinese coach, you should hold your paddle:

1. Hold the racket loosely
2. Form a straight line
3. Make a compact grip is better
4. Put the index and the thumb to pinch your racket
5. Thumb finger to apply pressure

1. Hold the racket loosely

• Hold the racket loosely with the web between your thumb and index finger, touching the curve of the blade. Some amateur players hold his racket too firm, hence they can’t “accelerate” into the ball.
• Chinese coach focuses a lot on this aspect. They said that “Someone behind you, can pull out your racket easily”. Holding loosely also increase the feeling during the shots.

2. Form a straight line

• Keep your wrist straight with your forearm and don’t angle it up or down
• You need to form a straight line from your hand to the head of the racket. New players just hold the racket like a “knife”, where the racket is perpendicular to the hand, which is not good.

3. Compact grip is better

• All of the fingers are compact, the fingers are close together.
• Compact grip will help you make a stroke correctly, and rapidly. Look at the way how Zhang Jike holds his racket: Very compact.
• All of his fingers are placed close together. Compact grip improves the power of the strokes.

4. Where to put the index finger on the racket

• Index finger rests on the Backhand rubber, and parallel to the handle. The index finger is the main support for your Forehand strokes. That’s why the index finger must be placed along at the edge of the blade. If you place it too high on the rubber, it will block the acceleration of your wrist.
• Chinese coach also emphasizes the use of the wrist during the forehand shots (forehand flick, and forehand topspin).

5. Use thumb finger to apply pressure

• Thumb finger always fixed on the handle -> consistent grip -> good technique.
• Having a consistent grip is crucial for new players. The thumb is always on the “head of the handle”.
• Use thumb to apply the pressure during your backhand strokes.

Good table tennis grip: Pinch the blade with your index and your thumbs

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How to hold a ping pong paddle correctly?

If you a new in table tennis, these are the best tips to correct your grip. (These tips are based on several good Chinese coaches that I’ve met).

• Have a nice soft loose grip on the handle, wrist straight and relax (give a good feeling and increase the spin of the ball)
• The index finger should be parallel with the blade edge (increase the contact and increase the power of the Forehand stroke)
• Thumb finger is always fixed on the handle (support to your Backhand flip, and Backhand loop)
• All of your fingers should be compact, this style won’t block the wrist rotation during the shots.

Best tips from Chinese coach:

“When you hold your racket, focus on the feeling”

There are another good 5 tips from Chinese coach.

Readmore:

• Table tennis grips: Pros and Cons
• Best table tennis grip tape to buy
• 10 Fundamental Skills for Modern Table Tennis
• Proper distance from the table in table tennis

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