Correct grip (method of holding) helps you master technique. It should provide freedom and natural movement of the entire arm while you are playing. The way you hold your racket has a lot of influence on your playing style.

In modern table tennis, there are two fundamentally different types of grip – the shakehand grip and the penhold grip.

The shakehand grip was invented in Europe, but ever since that time, more and more Asian players have started using this type of grip. With this grip, the racket is held like another hand during a handshake. The edge of the racket is placed between the thumb and forefinger. The thumb is placed on the rubber surface of the forehand side, and the index finger along the edge of the rubber surface on the backside of the racket. The middle, ring, and pinky fingers wrap around and hold the racket handle, but not too tightly. You hold the racket like you would a bird. If you grip too tightly, you can injure the bird, but if you hold it too loosely, the bird may fly away. With the correct grip, the racket becomes an extension of your arm and is easy and natural to play with, almost as if you are using your own hand. The fingertips of the thumb and forefinger are very sensitive. It is easy to be convinced of this from everyday experience – if we want to feel something for thickness, softness, etc., we, first of all, use the fingertips of our thumb and forefinger. Therefore, the correct placement of the thumb and forefinger provides better ball feeling during the game. The simplest experiment confirms the importance of subtle tactile sensations. Put on an ordinary thimble on the thumb and forefinger and watch as accuracy and confidence in game reduce considerably, even for highly skilled players.

The penhold grip originates from Asia. Even now, most of the players using this kind of grip are from Asian countries. The thumb and forefinger grip the racket handle close to the rackets playing surface, while the middle, ring, and pinky fingers are on the other side of the racket, usually on or near the rubber surface. This grip closely resembles holding a pen or pencil, hence the name. As with the shakehand grip, it is not enough to just hold the racket. You must make it a part of your arm, with racket, hand, wrist, and forearm working together as a single unit. There are several variations of the penhold grip that also greatly influence a player’s technique and style. A looser type of grip allows for a more active backhand stroke, more variation in the game, and service. With this type of penhold grip, the thumb and forefinger form a sort of ‘’open pincers’’ shape on the forehand side of the racket, the middle finger lies in a bent position in the middle of the back side, and the ring and pinky fingers, in a freely bent position, are superimposed on the middle one. This kind of grip is called “Chinese pen” because of its origin and is still used nowadays by many Chinese players, though the shakehand grip is becoming more and more popular in China. Another variation consists of a tighter hold of the racket, increasing stability and control while performing forehand topspins. However, it makes for a more difficult active game from the backhand side and allows for less variation. With this type of penhold grip, the thumb and forefinger wrap around the handle, forming a ‘’closed pincer’’ shape, and the three remaining fingers (middle, ring, pinky) are straight in a fan shape on the back or closed on the back, but slightly shifted towards the edge of the racket. This kind of grip has been used by Japanese players for many years, which is why it is usually called “Japanese pen”. In recent years, especially since penhold players have started actively using the reverse side of the racket when performing backhand shots, combined versions of the penhold grip are becoming more common. Same as with the shakehand grip, tactile sensations play a very large role with all types of the penhold grip. The fingertips of thumb and forefinger are always actively involved in feeling the game.