How to Hold a Ping Pong Paddle

The game of ping pong, also called table tennis, may serve as a casual diversion or a competitive sport. Regardless of how you view ping pong, the game provides entertainment for both players and spectators. With the tabletop playing field and the center net, the object of the game involves volleying the light ball back and forth between opponents. Players earn points when their opponents fail to return the ball legally. By learning the basics of the game, including how to hold a ping pong paddle, you may develop your ping pong skills for casual or competitive play.

Instructions

    • 1

      Grasp the ping pong paddle in your dominant hand as if you were going to shake hands with the paddle to hold the paddle in a "shakehands" grip. The shakehands grip is the grip most commonly used by home and tournament players today.

    • 2

      Place your thumb alone on the inside of the paddle with your four fingers together on the outside of the paddle.

    • 3

      Wrap your third, fourth and fifth fingers securely around the handle of the paddle and extend your index finger straight out along the bottom of the blade of the paddle (just touching the paddle rubber).

    • 4

      Check your grasp to make sure you are not holding the paddle too tightly. Hold the paddle tight enough to control it but not so tight that your hand feels uncomfortable around the handle.

    • 5

      Strike the ball with the front side of the paddle, the side your thumb is on, when the ball comes to your forehand side.

    • 6

      Strike the ball with the back of the paddle, the side your index finger is on, when the ball comes to your backhand side.