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A distinctively different style of play was developed in some Asian countries. Rather than holding the table tennis racket as Europeans with a shake hand grip, they employ a penhold grip. As the term says the racket handle is held similarly to a pen, with the butt of the handle pointing upward between the thumb and index.

Traditionally, penholders strike the ping pong ball with one side of the racket only but the modern Chinese style has developed to include a backhand stroke. The mechanics of which look like a shake hand backhand. It employs the reverse side of a racket and requires rubber on both sides.