Before you can learn to play a competitive match of table tennis, you need to learn how to hit the ping pong ball used in this sport. You can hit a ping pong ball in several different ways, with different grips. The pen-hold grip remains popular in Japan and Korea, while most players in the United States use the more natural shake-hands grip. Practice hitting the ping pong ball with each of these grips to determine which one you prefer.
Shake Hands Grip
Step 1
Hold out your dominant hand as if ready to shake a person’s hand.
Step 2
Place the paddle in your palm, and wrap your fingers around the paddle’s handle. Grip the paddle high up near the rubber side of the paddle. Leave any space below your hand rather than above it.
Step 3
Place your forefinger on one side of the paddle to support it.
Step 4
Hit the ping pong ball with the side of the paddle opposite the side on which your forefinger rests. Your forefinger should support the paddle from behind as you hit the ball.
Pen Hold Grip
Step 1
Place your thumb and forefinger around the paddle’s base at the top of the handle. Your thumb and forefinger should touch at the tips.
Step 2
Place your other fingers behind the paddle, either straight or curved.
Step 3
Hold the paddle upright in front of you so that the handle points down and the side with your three fingers against it faces toward you.
Step 4
Hit the ping pong ball with the side opposite the side on which your three fingers rest. Those fingers should support the paddle from behind, while your thumb and forefinger control the paddle’s direction.
Tips and Warnings
- To make a backhanded stroke with either of these grips, simply use the same grip, but hit the ball with the opposite side of the paddle. Focus on hitting the ball cleanly and with control rather than trying to hit it as hard as you can.
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