How to Play Against a Penhold Opponent: 6 Real Tactics
One peer-reviewed study of national-level male players measured lower backhand racket and ball speeds for penhold-grip players than for shakehand players. This page uses that result as background and treats the tactics below as general advice, not as findings of the study.
Short answer: As general advice, attacking the backhand side is a reasonable starting point, because one study found lower backhand racket and ball speeds for penhold-grip players than for shakehand players. Varying placement between both corners and the middle keeps an opponent from anticipating where the next ball goes. Reverse penhold backhand (RPB) players use a different backhand technique, and that study does not mention RPB, so its figures should not be assumed to apply to them.
Table of Contents
What the Study Measured
Xia et al. (2020), Journal of Sports Science and Medicine 19, 637-644 compared 9 penhold-grip players with 18 matched shakehand-grip players, all male, right-handed and at the Chinese national level I or II, hitting maximal-effort strokes against balls from a serving machine. For backhand strokes against backspin balls, peak racket resultant velocity was 17.86 m/s for the shakehand group and 15.36 m/s for the penhold group (Table 3). For forehand strokes, no significant differences were observed in ball or racket velocities. The authors say the lower backhand velocities were likely due to decreased shoulder, elbow and forearm motion and less aligned longitudinal axes between the racket and forearm in the penhold grip. These figures describe advanced male players in a lab setting, not every penhold opponent.
📊 Note: The introduction of the study cites a 2017 ITTF report that only 2 of the top-20 male players in the world and none of the top-20 female players were using the penhold grip in 2017. Penhold remains a legitimate style at both elite and recreational levels.
Tactic 1: Attack the Backhand, Especially Wide
As a general approach, directing balls wide to the backhand side is the placement most directly related to the finding about backhand speed. The study measured stroke speed, not match results, so treat this as a starting idea to test against the opponent in front of you, not a guaranteed weakness.
Tactic 2: Don’t Only Attack One Corner
Attacking only one corner makes placement predictable. As general advice, varying between both wide corners makes it harder for any opponent to anticipate where the next ball is going.
Tactic 3: Target the Middle and the Elbow Too
The middle of the table, near the playing elbow, is a placement that forces a player to choose between a forehand and a backhand. As general advice, mixing it in with corner attacks is another way to vary placement. The study did not test responses to different placements.
Tactic 4: Stay in the Rally
Staying in the point rather than trying to end it quickly gives any game plan more time to work. This is general advice; the study measured individual strokes and did not test rally length or distance from the table.
Tactic 5: Vary Height and Spin
Mixing heights and spins to the backhand is a general way to test any opponent’s backhand. The study fed machine balls with topspin and backspin and did not test balls of different heights, so it does not show that high balls are harder for a penhold backhand.
Tactic 6: Stay Patient Against a Fast Start
Falling behind early is not a reason to abandon a plan. As general advice for any match, give the plan a fair number of points before changing it.
Reverse Penhold Backhand (RPB)
Not every penhold player uses the same backhand. Reverse penhold backhand, RPB, is a technique where the player uses the reverse side of the blade for backhand strokes. Wikipedia’s article on table tennis grips says RPB solves the shoulder mechanics problem of the traditional penhold backhand. The study above does not mention RPB, so its backhand speed figures should not be assumed to apply to players who use it.
⚠️ Watch out: Do not assume an RPB opponent has the same backhand profile as the penhold-grip players in the study. The study gives no figures for RPB, so check how the opponent actually plays backhand balls.
What the Study Suggests About the Backhand
The authors link the lower backhand velocities to decreased shoulder, elbow and forearm motion and a less aligned racket and forearm in the penhold grip. They did not measure reach, coverage area or performance in rallies, so this page does not claim a specific reach limit or that width and height tactics work together.
Serve Selection Against a Penhold Opponent
Serve choice is a matter of general tactics. A long backspin serve to the backhand is one option for setting up a third-ball attack, but the study did not test serves. Watch how the opponent handles the first few returns and adjust.
What Doesn’t Change Against a Penhold Opponent
In the study, no significant differences were observed in forehand ball or racket velocities between the two grips, so it gives no basis for expecting a forehand speed gap. A penhold player’s forehand can be as fast and spinny as a shakehand player’s, and the backhand finding is not a statement that penhold players are weaker overall.
💡 Pro tip: Don’t let a successful backhand-targeting strategy tempt you into underestimating a penhold opponent’s forehand. Respect it as you would any shakehand player’s forehand, since the study found no significant forehand speed difference.
Reading Which Style You’re Facing Early
Because the study does not cover reverse penhold backhand, it can help to pay attention during the warm-up and opening points to how an opponent handles backhand-side balls. This site’s coverage of Felix Lebrun, who plays penhold with a reverse penhold backhand, is a reference point for what that style looks like at elite level.
- ✓Attack the backhand, especially wide, as a starting point
- ✓Vary your placement between both corners rather than only the backhand
- ✓Vary the height and spin of balls to the backhand
- ✓Watch the opening points closely to see how the opponent plays backhand balls
- ✕Attack the same backhand corner so predictably that they can step around it easily
- ✕Rely only on corner attacks and ignore the middle/elbow as a target
- ✕Rush to end every point quickly instead of staying with your plan
- ✕Assume every penhold player has an equally exploitable backhand regardless of their specific technique
Applying This at Club and Recreational Level
At club and recreational level, treat the tactics above as a starting point and adjust once you see how the opponent actually plays backhand balls.
The Short Version, Restated
One peer-reviewed study of male national-level players found lower backhand racket and ball speeds for penhold-grip players than for shakehand players. As general advice, attack the backhand side as a starting point, vary placement so it is not predictable, mix heights and spins, stay in the rally, and give your plan time before changing it. The study does not mention RPB, so check how an opponent actually plays backhand balls before relying on this.
Common Questions
Why is a penhold backhand considered a weakness?
One peer-reviewed study of male national-level players measured lower peak racket velocity in penhold-grip backhand strokes than in shakehand-grip backhand strokes, and the authors say this was likely due to decreased shoulder, elbow and forearm motion in the penhold grip.
What’s the best way to attack a penhold opponent?
As general advice, attacking the backhand side is a reasonable starting point, while varying placement to the middle and forehand corner keeps your attacks from being predictable.
Does the study apply to reverse penhold backhand (RPB) players?
The study does not mention RPB, so its backhand figures should not be assumed to apply to players who use it.
Should you try to extend rallies against a penhold opponent?
That is general advice: staying in the point gives any plan more time to work. The study measured individual strokes and did not test rally length.
Do all penhold players have the same backhand weakness?
Not necessarily. Players use different backhand techniques, including the reverse penhold backhand, and the study does not report figures for RPB players.
The Short Version
- →A peer-reviewed study of male national-level players measured lower backhand racket speed for penhold-grip players.
- →As general advice, attack the backhand wide as a starting point, but vary placement so it is not predictable.
- →Vary the height and spin of balls to the backhand.
- →Staying in the rally gives your plan more time to work.
- →Give your plan time rather than abandoning it after an early deficit.
- →The study does not mention reverse penhold backhand (RPB), so check how your opponent plays backhand balls.
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