Which Grip is best?

The looser you hold the blade, the more relaxed the arm, which makes the rest of the body relaxed if you use it as well...and if you try to tighten at impact to reduce recoil effect..then the arm will slow down....for experiment: hit a high lob and see which is fastest...so in my opinion..a lose grip followed by a good followthrough so the blade hits the ball at its hightest speed...and the rest is slowing down.(also, if the blade keeps moving as it strikes the ball, instead of stopping as the ball leaves, the ball goes at twice the speed since the ball is travelling attached to the sponge at the speed of the arm movement + the power imparted on it through elasticity!

"im just an experimenting player please consult a coach before trying my ideas."

if you read carefully, it will explain why since your am wont have a risk of breaking at impact, its to keep it relaxed throughout.

Ok, but lets focus at 1 thing at a time...would you agree that for power, a loose grip is best?

sidofmillenium wrote: The looser you hold the blade, the more relaxed the arm, which makes the rest of the body relaxed if you use it as well!

You should define more precise about loose grip. As I see the looser you hold the blade, the more chance you would throw the blade away in the high speed.

tdragon wrote: Loose grip is different from relaxing the wrist, body and arm. I have several coaches (including someone from China). All of them told me to hold my blade tight so the surface blade would not turn when contact.

same here.

Juan King Carlo wrote: I hope that the pros aren't reading this thread otherwise there could be bats flying everywhere at the next tournament.

Speaking of flying paddles, I have a friend who loosened his grip for some unknown reason on a really fast attack, it sailed across the room like a frisbee. So in short, table tennis rackets are quite aerodynamic.

sidofmillenium wrote: I have thrown and broken quite a few rackets...now I know the exact balance...I hold it loose enough to keep my arm relaxed....and hold it in such a grip that blade is locked within my finger...so it doesn't fly away.

Now you contradict with what you said on the first post "The looser you hold the blade, the more relaxed the arm"

Alright, now lets move on.  For control, is tightest grip best or loosest?

sidofmillenium wrote: loose goes with the flow, tight goes against it.  A loose but active grip may offer better control for advance players...but for beginner...definately tight grip should provide more precision.

I am not sure how you come up with your claim that advance players loose grip and beginner tight grip. Stop giving wrong claim. You should find coach to teach you basic rather than giving the wrong claim. I doubt that you even understand the basic of grip.

Can you define what you mean by control Sid?

sidofmillenium wrote: loose goes with the flow, tight goes against it.  A loose but active grip may offer better control for advance players...but for beginner...definately tight grip should provide more precision. "im just an experimenting player please consult a coach before trying my ideas."

Before going further, let me ask if you have a coach? Why don't you consult your coach to try your idea.

SMLN, many people don't take you serious, you try to help us, but this is not a good way. You are giving us bad advices, because you are an experimented player.

You are talking about your own approach, what for you work best, work for others maybe not!