The penhold grip is a forehand-dominant table tennis racket grip that holds the racket like a writing pen: the thumb and index finger pinch the handle near the blade head, while the remaining 3 fingers curl behind the blade. The grip places the racket in a position that supports traditional Chinese-style flat hitting and the modern Reverse Penhold Backhand (RPB) topspin technique. Roughly 20% of top-100 WTT singles players use a penhold grip, with the share concentrated among Chinese, Korean, and Japanese players. The full grip overview covering shakehand and penhold variants is in the grips guide.
What Defines the Penhold Grip?
Three position attributes define the penhold grip:
Pen-pinch at the handle. The thumb and index finger pinch the handle near the blade head, similar to holding a writing pen. The pinch anchors the racket and provides fine wrist control during stroke execution.
Back-finger position varies by variant. Three variants distinguish penhold styles by what the back 3 fingers do (see below).
Wrist-driven stroke arc. Penhold strokes rely on wrist rotation more than shakehand strokes. The wrist drives most of the racket movement during forehand topspin and backhand block.
Penhold Variants: Chinese, Japanese/Korean, and Traditional
Three penhold variants:
Chinese penhold (CS). The 3 back fingers curl tightly behind the blade head. Compact stroke arc, high wrist mobility. Suited to close-to-table attacking with fast forehand topspin and RPB backhand. Common blade head dimensions: 145 x 135 mm to 156 x 148 mm. Used by Xu Xin, Ma Lin (historical), Wang Hao (historical).
Japanese/Korean penhold (JP). The 3 back fingers extend along the blade with the middle finger pressing against the blade rubber for stability. Longer arm leverage, wider stroke arc. Common blade head dimensions: 156 x 148 mm or larger. Used by Ryu Seungmin, historical Japanese champions.
Traditional penhold (single-side). Original penhold style with rubber on the playing side only. No backhand topspin technique; backhand returns are flat blocks or pushes only. Mostly displaced by the modern RPB technique but still seen in recreational and historical play.
The Reverse Penhold Backhand (RPB) Technique
Modern penhold play depends on the Reverse Penhold Backhand to compete with shakehand backhand topspin. The RPB rotates the wrist to expose the back of the blade during the backhand stroke. The back of the blade carries inverted rubber (in Chinese penhold setups) and acts as a second hitting surface.
RPB execution:
- Setup. Wrist rotates inward; back of the blade faces the incoming ball.
- Acceleration. The wrist drives the racket forward through the ball with the back-blade rubber making contact.
- Contact. Brushing topspin contact at the same speed as a shakehand backhand topspin.
Wang Hao popularized RPB in 2000s WTT competition, using it as a primary backhand stroke that matched shakehand backhand topspin output. Modern Chinese penhold players (including Xu Xin during his career) used RPB as a co-equal backhand alongside the forehand.
Blade Head Dimensions for Penhold
Penhold blades use smaller, often square-cut head dimensions:
- Chinese penhold (CS). 145 x 135 mm to 156 x 148 mm. Compact head suits close-to-table attacking.
- Japanese/Korean penhold (JP). 156 x 148 mm to 160 x 152 mm. Slightly larger than CS for the longer-arm Japanese style.
Standard shakehand blades (157 x 150 mm) are not designed for penhold grip. Penhold players need penhold-specific handle and head dimensions. The best table tennis paddles guide notes which paddles ship in penhold configurations.
Penhold Versus Shakehand: Trade-Offs
The penhold grip delivers 3 advantages over shakehand:
- Forehand wrist mobility. Wrist-driven forehand topspin generates 5-10% more spin output than shakehand forehand at equivalent stroke speed.
- Close-to-table speed. Compact stroke arc suits the close-to-table Chinese-style attacking common in WTT singles.
- Short-game flexibility. Penhold wrist control allows precise short-game touch on serves and pushes.
The trade-offs:
- Backhand power gap. Even with RPB, penhold backhand topspin output sits 5-10% below modern shakehand backhand topspin.
- Equipment availability. Far fewer penhold-specific blades are produced compared to shakehand blades.
- Mid-distance arm load. Penhold strokes from mid-distance (1.5-2 m back) require more arm acceleration than shakehand strokes, increasing fatigue during long matches.
Equipment Pairing for Penhold Players
Penhold setups depend on grip variant. Chinese penhold setups commonly pair tacky DHS Hurricane 3 forehand rubber with a tensor backhand rubber for RPB. Japanese penhold setups historically used pip-out rubbers (Spinpips, Speedy) for forehand-dominant flat hitting. The best paddles for beginners and best paddles for intermediate players guides note the limited penhold options available in mainstream paddle ranges. The DHS brand guide covers Chinese penhold equipment specifically.