Site Products
Coach Truong Tu

Ask The Experts: Truong Tu, No. 406

Posted on

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

Showtime Table Tennis Expands Community, International, and Youth Development Programs

July 3, 2026
(by Showtime Table Tennis Club/Buttefly Americas Team) From launching a new membership program to welcoming an international player… Read More

United States Smash: Jha Reaches Final 16

July 3, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) With the Fourth of July just around the corner, the Kanak Jha's American… Read More

United States Smash: Hitomi Sato with Big Upset in LA

June 30, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) The first top seed has fallen, as World No. 2 Wang Manyu fell… Read More

Kou Lei – Backhand Flip Serve Return

June 30, 2026
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Kou Lei is working on the Backhand Flip Serve Return… Read More

United States Smash: Kanak Jha and Lily Zhang Advance

June 30, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) A pair of American upsets marked the second day of action in the Round of… Read More

Seven Placements and the Wide Angles

June 29, 2026
(By Larry Hodges, Member of US Table Tennis Hall of Fame There are basically seven different directional placements… Read More

Arantxa Cossio Aceves – Forehand & Backhand Loop from underspin

June 29, 2026
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips,  Arantxa Cossio Aceves is focusing on the Forehand and Backhand… Read More

MLTT Meet the Teams: Texas Smash

June 29, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, photo MLTT) The Texas Smash remain one of the most formidable franchises in Major League… 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.