If there is one question I have heard repeatedly from penhold players over the last 30 years, it is this:
“Why does my RPB feel so unstable?”
One day the backhand feels smooth and effortless.
The next day, the ball keeps flying long or dropping into the net.
Many players assume the problem is technique.
Sometimes it is.
But sometimes the problem starts much earlier—with the way the racket sits in the hand.
RPB Is More Demanding Than Many Players Realize
Traditional Chinese penhold was originally designed around forehand dominance.
RPB was a revolutionary development that gave penhold players a modern backhand attack.
The challenge is that the traditional penhold grip was never originally optimized for this purpose.
As a result, many players experience:
- Inconsistent racket angles.
- Difficulty repeating the same backhand motion.
- Finger pressure and discomfort.
- Constant grip adjustments during rallies.
- Reduced confidence under pressure.
Over time, these small problems add up and directly affect stability.
One Common Problem: Finger Discomfort
Many players focus entirely on technique and ignore comfort.
But comfort matters.
When the index finger becomes sore, the hand naturally starts compensating.
The grip changes slightly.
The racket angle changes slightly.
The stroke changes slightly.
And suddenly, consistency disappears.
I have seen countless players spend years trying to fix a technical problem that actually started with discomfort.
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.
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- More structures are available for selection.
- The handle design has been updated to make it more comfortable
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Thirty Years of Thinking About the Same Question
For more than three decades, I kept asking myself:
“Can a penhold racket be designed specifically for the way modern players actually play?”
Not for the game of 1980.
Not for the game of 1990.
But for today’s RPB-oriented style.
That question eventually led to the development of the Su Style Tiger Claw.
Why Is the Su Style Tiger Claw Different?
One of the biggest differences is that the design was built around natural hand positioning.
A traditional Chinese penhold grip often requires players to rotate around the handle axis to reach an effective RPB position.
For experienced players, this becomes a learned skill.
For many amateurs, it becomes a source of inconsistency.
With the Su Style Tiger Claw, my goal was to eliminate much of that adjustment process.
The racket naturally encourages a position that is already very close to an RPB-ready grip.
Many players notice that from the moment they pick it up, their hand naturally falls into a position suitable for modern backhand play.
Instead of constantly searching for the correct angle, they can focus on the stroke itself.
Comfort Creates Stability
Another area I spent years refining was finger comfort.
One piece of feedback I repeatedly received from penhold players was:
“My index finger hurts.”
At first glance, that sounds like a minor issue.
But after thousands of training hours, even small discomfort becomes a major obstacle.
The Tiger Claw was continuously refined to reduce pressure points and improve hand support.
When the hand feels relaxed, maintaining the same grip becomes easier.
And when the grip becomes repeatable, stability improves.
Stability Comes From Repetition
Many players think stability is a technical skill.
I believe stability is actually the result of repeatable movements.
A repeatable movement requires:
- A repeatable grip.
- A repeatable racket angle.
- A comfortable hand position.
- Confidence in the stroke.
The easier these elements are to maintain, the easier it becomes to play quality RPB shots under pressure.
Final Thoughts
After more than 30 years of studying penhold grips, I have become convinced of one thing:
The best RPB technique in the world is difficult to reproduce if the racket never feels natural in your hand.
That is why the Su Style Tiger Claw was never designed simply as a different-looking blade.
It was designed to make modern penhold play feel more intuitive, more comfortable, and ultimately more stable.
Because when you stop fighting the racket, you can finally focus on the ball.
And that is where real improvement begins.
—
Su Zhimin
Founder of SANWEI Sports
