penhold grips--XX, ML, WH

thanks for the closeups, they're really helpful.  I would say my grip is similar to Xu Xin's, even though RPB is my primary attacking form (like Wang Hao)

My grip is similar to WH's grip.

Can you post pictures of how Ma Lin, Wang Hao and Xu Xin hold the paddle on the other side (with the last 3 fingers) ?

Hi Sandiway,

Xu Xin needs to clip his nails. I don't know how he does it. When I play penhold and my nails are long, it is a pain.

I'm a penhold playeｒ with long fingers. The way I hold the front of my bat is the same as Wang Hao using my Hao 656 blade.

I own a Stiga blade similar to Xu Xin and when using it, I need to adopt the same grip as he does. The reason is because the Stiga blade is wider and forces the fingers to grip the way they do.

I am more interested in the backhand fingers of these players. Recently, I've been practicing a lot of RPBs, and serves and my back three fingers are starting to hurt. I feel there is something wrong with my grip.

I hold similarly to Ma Lin, except with an even more curled third finger. Using this grip, I can RPB loop perfectly, however I can't open up the bat without feeling immense pressure and pain on my fingers.

As a result, I was experimenting and I've found that by straightening the fingers like Japanese penholders, I was able to open the back racket more and flat hit with much more power than usual. The way the blade is held on the back is similar to what Xu Xin is doing on the first two pictures. In doing so, there is no way to traditionally penhold block. Which made me think 'is this the reason why Wang Hao can't traditionally block?'

I'm reluctant to adopt a jpen grip for obvious reasons:

1. I want to know what Japanese penholders never reverse loop if it is better to do so using their grip?

2. I'm afraid that by holding it that way, I will no longer have a traditional block

3. If I want to still have a traditional block, then I have to quickly curl my fingers up again during the point. This seems tedious.

Maybe I'm misinterpreting the photos....


Edited by lifewire - 02/06/2011 at 8:57am

hi lifewire,

Erm, I don't think that above picture of Xu Xin's grip is accurate. That's just him holding it at the moment when he's not in play. Sometimes he holds it shakehand when he's not in play, you wouldn't really believe that's how he holds it all the time, would you? I believe he just holds it just like any regular Chinese penholder -- same way as Ma Lin, for example. The only other vastly different way, as far as I know, is Wang Hao's grip, which is higher near the handle for more rotation.

Here are some action shots of Xu Xin in the middle of play:

juanal07 wrote: My problem is I do not really know how to put your fingers on the upside and on the right. I do not know to where to cut the rubber right.

Could someone put photos of Xu Xin backhand?

I thought it was just a matter of what position is most comfortable. If you hold the paddle with a grip that feels awkward to you, the shots will most likely be awkward as well. Just an opinion but I think you should go with the grip that you feel most comfortable and efficient with and not what the pros do. Notice they all do penhold but grip it slightly differently. Its just a matter of being comfortable and efficient. Sometimes it works well if you just dont even think about it and pick up your paddle in penhold form. Look at your hand and sometimes you'll find that is the most comfortable to work with.

I wonder how much damage these guys have on their fingers playing Penhold?