The most fundamental decision any table tennis player makes is how to hold their racket. The core difference between the Penhold (直拍) and Shakehand (横拍) grips goes far beyond hand placement—it fundamentally dictates your playing style, technique, and weapon of choice. In short: the Penhold grip relies on wrist flexibility for delicate control, while the Shakehand grip relies on stability for balanced, powerful strokes.
Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the two styles and how to choose the right one for your game.
The Penhold Grip: The "Flexible Dagger"
As the name suggests, this grip mimics holding a pen. The thumb and index finger pinch the handle, while the remaining fingers rest directly against the rubber on the back of the blade.
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The Advantages: Because the palm is suspended, this grip offers unmatched wrist flexibility. It is incredibly dominant in the short game over the table—allowing for delicate drop shots, heavy pushes, and highly deceptive serves. A penholder's first three strokes (serve, receive, and third-ball attack) are famously lethal.
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The Disadvantages: Traditionally, the penhold backhand relies on a push-block technique, which lacks offensive punching power. It can also struggle with power generation in mid-to-far distance rallies.
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The Modern Solution: Today, elite players bridge this gap using the Reverse Penhold Backhand (RPB) technique. By using the backside rubber to attack, legends like Wang Hao and Xu Xin turned a traditional weakness into a devastating weapon.
The Shakehand Grip: The "Stable Broadsword"
This grip is similar to holding a knife or shaking hands. The web of your hand rests snugly against the shoulder of the blade, with your fingers fully wrapped around the handle.
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The Advantages: The Shakehand grip offers a natural, fluid transition between forehand and backhand. Because the hand fully wraps the handle, the racket angle is highly stable, allowing for massive power generation. It shines in mid-to-far distance topspin rallies. Modern aggressive techniques like the backhand banana flick (Chiquita) and quick tears are staple moves for this grip.
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The Disadvantages: With the handle locked in the palm, wrist mobility is slightly restricted compared to Penhold. This can make handling very short, tight balls over the table feel a bit clumsier.
Head-to-Head Comparison
How to Choose the Right Grip for You
1. Choose Penhold if: You have slightly smaller hands, prefer playing aggressively close to the table, and want to outsmart opponents with delicate spin variations and tactical short balls. It plays like a nimble dagger.
2. Choose Shakehand if: You have good physical strength, love stepping back from the table for explosive topspin rallies, and want a comprehensively balanced game. It swings like a powerful broadsword.
3. Advice for Beginners & Casual Players: If you are just starting out or playing casually without perfectly drilled fundamentals, start with the Shakehand grip. The mechanics are easier to learn, and the ceiling for generating heavy, quality shots is very accessible. If you eventually find yourself frustrated in the short game, you can always experiment with Penhold later. A poorly trained Penhold backhand will often leave you pinned down and heavily pressured during matches.
Final Thoughts
Whether you are trying to master Wang Hao’s lethal RPB or mimicking Fan Zhendong’s explosive backhand loops, the most important step is building solid basic fundamentals.
Once your technique and footwork are dialed in, you can start customizing your equipment to amplify your style. Whether you need a highly sensitive all-wood blade for over-the-table Penhold control, or an aggressive ALC/ZLC carbon blade paired with sticky rubbers like the YINHE Big Dipper for Shakehand power looping, you can find the perfect setup at TTGearHub to take your game to the next level.