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Shakehand grip

Table tennis / Popular

Hold the bat the way most players do, with a neutral wrist and free fingers.

What coaches agree on

  • Control comes mainly from your thumb and index finger, not the rest of the hand. Press the thumb against the forehand side and run the index finger along the edge of the backhand side to get the clearest feel for the racket face.
  • Keep the grip relaxed rather than clenched. Tension anywhere in the hand locks up your wrist and slows the racket head, so hold on just firmly enough that the racket won't slip.
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  • Shift your grip slightly toward the index finger for backhand shots and slightly toward the thumb for forehand shots, rather than keeping one fixed neutral grip for both.

Common mistakes

  • A common error is letting the index finger or thumb creep up toward the blade during a stroke, which opens the racket face and costs control - bring it back to its base position before the next shot.
table tennis shakehand grip techniques
Intermediate

table tennis shakehand grip techniques

Coach's take: The rare grip video that explains WHY, not just where to put your fingers — and gives you a way to test it on your own hand.

3.9
Penhold grip versus Shakehand grip
Intermediate

Penhold grip versus Shakehand grip

Coach's take: Fair, accurate comparison of the two grips' strengths, but doesn't teach you how to actually hold the paddle.

1.3