OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Dan,

When I first switched to a windshield wiper grip from shakehand, I did so from the pictures in "Winning Table Tennis". While I liked the forehand, the backhand felt weak and low on control - until I placed my thumb on the back of the blade as well. See pictures of my grip below.







The addition of the thumb gave my backhand not only much more power and control, but feel as well. Whereas before the backhand was much weaker than the shakehand, with the thumb it was now all as potent. Plus, it allowed me to open the blade face for the backhand by simply pressing with the thumb rather than trying to crank back even further on the wrist.

Another advantage is that I don't require any grip change for any of my strokes.

Has your grip changed much from the one pictured in your book?

Mike

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Currently playing classic defensive style (a la Chtchetinine)
American Hinoki Single Ply 9mm Bald Cypress
Palio CJ8000/1.2mm Dawei Butter
Saviga V 0.6

Hookshot: How does your grip look? Do you have pix of it?

Anyone else care to share notes/pix/info on their windshield wiper grips?

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Currently playing classic defensive style (a la Chtchetinine)
American Hinoki Single Ply 9mm Bald Cypress
Palio CJ8000/1.2mm Dawei Butter
Saviga V 0.6

After trying the grip like Dan uses, I had similar problems and now use a grip similar to Glueless. I actually hold the edge of the blade on both sides. I also use the backside on backhand for pushing, blocking or chopping without twiddling, just roll the forarm over. Works great for return of serve. Instant choice to loop, flip, block or push.

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Shakehand, left handed.
Blade, Yinhe, W-1
Forhand, H-3 National
Backhand, Sriver FX Max

Man, Hookshot. Do you live here? I just posted this!

I didn't even get into strategy and tactics yet, but do the same thing with flicking the wrist over to use the backside of the blade at a moment's notice and for service return.

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Currently playing classic defensive style (a la Chtchetinine)
American Hinoki Single Ply 9mm Bald Cypress
Palio CJ8000/1.2mm Dawei Butter
Saviga V 0.6

I have pics on here somewhere. I'll look for them.

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Shakehand, left handed.
Blade, Yinhe, W-1
Forhand, H-3 National
Backhand, Sriver FX Max

This is an interesting topic. Here's the Dickie Fleisher grip:

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The MNNB Blog has had some pretty amazing stuff lately. Just click this text to check it out. | My OOAK Interview
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My whole set-up costs less than a sheet of Butterfly Dignics

Here's the Ann Alvarez grip:

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The MNNB Blog has had some pretty amazing stuff lately. Just click this text to check it out. | My OOAK Interview
Table Tennis Video Links: itTV | laola1.tv | ttbl | fftt | Challenger Series | mnnb-tv

My whole set-up costs less than a sheet of Butterfly Dignics

The problem with these grips are the forehand just won't work with the wrist locked up like that. In effect it is too strong a BH grip. In TT you must have a stong FH loop or progress will hit a wall.
It is difficult to change. You can actually have the same angle on the BH if the blade sits halfway up the thumb. I would seriously doubt if any of you have a strong fh loop. Without one you are in trouble if you want to go to the next level and then the next and so on.
Dan

Dan just curious if you've ever played Dickie Fleisher. He's rated 2345 and attacks primarily with Curl P2 long pips on the forehand. He serves with Yasaka Mark V with 1.0 sponge, then twiddles where he has has a backhand punch shot.

Ann Alvarez is rated 1945, although she is just a pure frictionless blocker. I think she's about 70.

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The MNNB Blog has had some pretty amazing stuff lately. Just click this text to check it out. | My OOAK Interview
Table Tennis Video Links: itTV | laola1.tv | ttbl | fftt | Challenger Series | mnnb-tv

My whole set-up costs less than a sheet of Butterfly Dignics

Not sure who you are directing this comment at.



What makes you say this? I know that this forehand is stronger than any shake hand forehand I ever had...

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Currently playing classic defensive style (a la Chtchetinine)
American Hinoki Single Ply 9mm Bald Cypress
Palio CJ8000/1.2mm Dawei Butter
Saviga V 0.6

I think what Dan is saying is with two fingers on the blade the wrist isn't as loose. He hooks a finger underneath which both gives tremendous lift and allows the wrist to have maximum flexibility for a big snap. Dan has a world class loop, which is a necessity at the elite level where he plays (2557).

_________________



The MNNB Blog has had some pretty amazing stuff lately. Just click this text to check it out. | My OOAK Interview
Table Tennis Video Links: itTV | laola1.tv | ttbl | fftt | Challenger Series | mnnb-tv

My whole set-up costs less than a sheet of Butterfly Dignics

Yes, but the backhand is made incredibly weak with no support on the thumb side of the blade. Makes for a very unbalanced stroke.

My wrist does not feel even remotely tight or locked up when I'm hitting strong forehands with my grip.

Interesting discussion. Sometimes when you start these things you never know where they're going to go...

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Currently playing classic defensive style (a la Chtchetinine)
American Hinoki Single Ply 9mm Bald Cypress
Palio CJ8000/1.2mm Dawei Butter
Saviga V 0.6

I played this grip for awhile myself. I agree that the backhand is stronger with the two fingers (a rocket even) and you can hit good forehand drives, but as Dan said, the loop isn't as powerful and that's the finishing shot. Watch this clip of Dan in action. He doesn't hit the backhand much, but his loop is dominating and that's what his whole game is built around.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHDvz076qis&fmt=18

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The MNNB Blog has had some pretty amazing stuff lately. Just click this text to check it out. | My OOAK Interview
Table Tennis Video Links: itTV | laola1.tv | ttbl | fftt | Challenger Series | mnnb-tv

My whole set-up costs less than a sheet of Butterfly Dignics

Looked like the guy forgot Dan is a lefty.

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Shakehand, left handed.
Blade, Yinhe, W-1
Forhand, H-3 National
Backhand, Sriver FX Max

I play using the Ann Alvarez grip. BH flicks and over-the-table loops are indeed rocket-like, just as mynamenotbob noted. I, too, do the forearm roll and play my LP sans twiddle when needed, and I occasionally twiddle to use the LP in a FH swipe.

My BH has always been (far) stronger than my FH so this grip hasn't been too much of a problem for me, though my coaches/mentors are starting to comment on my BH/FH imbalance. Fortunately I have several other non-grip related aspects of my FH stroke to correct that should all bring additional power.