Site Products
Coach Truong Tu

Ask The Experts: Truong Tu, No. 406

Butterfly Table Tennis Question and Answer

Question:  I am looking to upgrade my racket setup to match my play style. I play with the Chinese or hold grip and do use the backhand to impart a backhand smash and an occasional flick. I use the front primarily and have found I tend to focus heavily on spunky serves and then prefer to attack but like to use spunky returns as well. What do you recommend? I do not have a Chinese penhold blade and am interested in getting one but do not know if it would benefit me.

Answer: 

image004

This Ask the Experts question was answered by Truong Tu. Truong plays at the Silicon Valley Table Tennis Club in San Jose, CA. Coach Tu’s response is as follows:

Hi Isaac,  Per your description, your game is heavily based on serve and attack as well as tricky return to setup your attack.  Therefore, I would recommend an actual penhold blade that will free your wrist more to create more spin and flexibility on your serve and return.   You can use the Innerforce Layer ALC.S CS blade which has 5 plies of wood for control and spin, plus two plies of Arylate/Carbon for power when you attack, both forehand and backhand.  
 
Best of luck, 
 

Contact our Experts with your table tennis equipment question.

Latest News

Return Back to Neutral

November 7, 2025
In and Out Footwork against random topspin with different amounts of spin: Robot plays random topspin balls all… Read More

Kevin Doyle – Forehand Push & Backhand Loop Sequencing

November 7, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Kevin Doyle is focusing on a Gameplay Sequence that consist… Read More

Racket Always Up

November 5, 2025
In and Out Footwork against random topspin with different amounts of spin: Robot plays random topspin balls to… Read More

MLTT Weekly Round-Up – We’re Heading To New York

November 5, 2025
(by: Major League Table Tennis) WEEK 5 IN NEW YORK: Fresh match-ups and new storylines as the league… Read More

Product Validation – Outerforce ALC

November 3, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) Choosing the right equipment can be challenging — but confidence in what you play with… Read More

Ball Contact in Front of the Body

November 3, 2025
In and Out Footwork against random topspin with different amounts of spin: Robot plays random topspin balls to… Read More

Learn to Defend on Receive

November 3, 2025
(By Larry Hodges) Many coaches, including myself for many years, encouraged up-and-coming players to return serves aggressively, even… Read More

Jonathan Pino – Falkenburg Variation

November 3, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Jonathan Pino is doing a variation of the Falkenburg drill… Read More
View All News

Get the latest from Butterfly

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.