This is a question I have been asked many times over the years:
“Mr. Su, with shakehand players becoming more common around the world, does the Chinese penhold style still have a future?”
My answer is:
Yes, absolutely.
In fact, I believe modern penhold still has tremendous potential.
The Penhold Style Is Not Outdated
Some players think the penhold style belongs to the past.
But I do not agree.
A technique does not disappear simply because another style becomes more popular.
Every grip has its own strengths.
The reason Chinese penhold has survived for decades is because it provides unique advantages that other grips cannot completely replace.
One of the biggest advantages is the natural relationship between the racket and the forearm.
The Natural Advantage of Chinese Penhold
When holding a traditional penhold racket, the racket is naturally positioned closer to the extension line of the forearm.
This creates a very direct connection between the hand, arm, and racket.
For many players, this feeling is extremely intuitive.
The racket feels like a natural extension of the arm.
This is one reason why penhold players have always been known for:
- Fast reactions close to the table.
- Excellent forehand control.
- Quick changes in racket angle.
- Strong attacking ability near the table.
These characteristics are still valuable in modern table tennis.
Sanwei Su Style Tiger Claw
- ITTF Approved: Fully compliant with ITTF regulations, the Sanwei Su Style Racket is certified for use in any level of table tennis competition, ensuring you stay competitive and compliant with official standards.
- Ultimate Pen-Holding Solution: Specifically engineered for pen-hold players, the Su Style Racket offers unmatched comfort and control, addressing the unique needs of pen-hold enthusiasts.
- Ergonomic Swing Design: Utilizing ergonomic principles, the traditional CS handle is transformed to align the racket face parallel to the palm. This design reduces strain and enhances the natural swing motion, providing better control and precision.
- More structures are available for selection.
- The handle design has been updated to make it more comfortable
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Modern Players Have Already Shown the Potential
Today, we can still see high-level players proving that penhold has not disappeared.
For example, Félix Lebrun has achieved excellent results using a Chinese penhold style racket.
His success shows an important point:
The penhold style is not limited by history.
With modern training methods and improved equipment, it can continue to compete at the highest level.
The Traditional Penhold Challenge
Of course, every design has advantages and challenges.
While traditional Chinese penhold has a natural connection with the forearm, there is also a limitation:
The racket face and hand position are not always parallel in the most comfortable way for modern backhand techniques.
Especially with the development of RPB (Reverse Penhold Backhand), players began asking:
“Can we keep the advantages of penhold while making modern backhand play easier?”
This became one of the questions I spent many years studying.
Why Did I Develop the Su Style Tiger Claw?
The Su Style Tiger Claw was created from this idea.
I wanted to keep the natural advantages of Chinese penhold while improving the parts that made modern play more difficult.
After more than 30 years of research and refinement, the goal was simple:
Make the grip feel more natural for today’s penhold players.
The design focuses on helping players achieve a more comfortable hand position, especially for RPB.
Instead of requiring players to constantly adjust their grip before backhand attacks, the racket is designed to make the RPB position feel more intuitive.
The Future of Penhold Is About Evolution
I do not believe the future of penhold is about returning to the past.
The future is about evolution.
The best equipment should respect traditional strengths while solving modern problems.
Just like table tennis techniques continue to develop, racket design should also continue to improve.
My Thoughts After 30 Years in Table Tennis
After decades of designing table tennis equipment, I believe one thing very strongly:
A style does not survive because of tradition.
It survives because it still has value.
Chinese penhold has unique characteristics that cannot simply be replaced.
With better understanding, better training, and better equipment, I believe penhold still has a very bright future.
The goal of the Su Style Tiger Claw is not to change what makes penhold special.
It is to help more players experience its potential.
Because when a traditional technique meets modern innovation, something new can happen.
—
Su Zhimin
Founder of SANWEI Sports
