by Andrew Krigline

Created on: April 29, 2009

Ping-Pong, also known as "Table Tennis," is a widely recognized sport played around the world today. An Olympic sport that many countries participate in, ping-pong is a very fast paced game when played professionally. The audience's eyes constantly jolt back and forth between the two contestants as the small yellow or white ball zips through the air. Over this game's relatively short history the ways to play have evolved rapidly. For instance, there are several ways to do something as simple as holding the miniature egg shaped paddle. Although there are quite a few forms of grips that can be used, and players are free to make up their own way as well, the two most commonly used grips are the "Penhold grip" and the "Shakehand grip." Each of these two holds has its advantages and disadvantages.

The Penhold Grip

This grip is the most common amongst Asian players. The typical penhold grip involves wrapping your index finger around the paddle's handle to meet your thumb coming from the opposite direction, then spreading out the middle, ring, and fourth fingers out against the paddle's backside (the side facing the palm to the player's hand) for support and stability. Follow these steps to get the basics of the traditional Asian penhold grip:

1. Hold the paddle in the palm of your hand with the handle under your thumb.

2. Swivel the paddle until your ring finger is in the middle of the width of the paddle's face (the part the ball hits), making sure to keep your thumb on one side and your other four fingers on the other.

3. Swivel your thumb down so that it is parallel to the handle and extends out over the face.

4. Curl your index finger up around the face to meet your thumb on the opposite side. You should have now looped around the handle with your thumb and index finger.

5. Spread your middle, ring, and fourth fingers relatively evenly across the width of the paddle's face.

6. Make sure the handle extends out of the loop created by your index finger and thumb, pressing against the fleshy place between these two fingers.

The leverage generated by the two fingers pushing on one side and the three pushing the opposite way on the other side will keep the paddle steady while playing.

The Penhold grip is good for its looser style of playing. The player is more free to use his wrist to hit in more difficult angles and can counter spins with greater ease. The penhold grip allows the player to either swing from either side of the player and is overall more flexible than its counterpart,

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