Pictures of the V Grip (Actual, left-handed orientation)
Alan Lee of Bellevue, Washington, was kind enough to take some digital
pictures of me showing various perspectives on the V grip and then to
email them to me. Here they are:
First
Second
Third
Discussion
Notice a few things:
This particular paddle is a regular (chinese penhold) paddle, with
minor modifications. The handle is shorter than a regular shakehand
paddle's handle. The butt of the handle is within the palm.
The butt of the handle is within the palm. A shakehand paddle
feels and plays worse because of its longer handle. A better handle
would be shaped like the grip on an 1850's woman's pistol, a vertical
flange extending more downward into the palm and providing easier grip
for the pinky. Also this particular arrangement doesn't quite make
the blade perpendicular to the wrist. It's not too bad as a first
try. But a variety of other ergonomic configurations are
easy to imagine.
Notice the cork "finger posts" or knobs under the forefinger
and middle finger, which allow the grip to be relaxed, without
having to pinch the blade between the forefinger and middle finger.
The posts are made from a couple of regular bottle corks, with their
inner surfaces shaped to accept a tight superglue fit onto the handle,
and their outer surfaces shaped best fit in my hand.
The post is somewhat triangular under the thumb in order to allow
the thumb a place to rest, and that also allows the thumb to squeeze
the post against the forefinger, for extra solidity. The effect is
similar to my "Sung Yang Special" finger-posts which you can see
here.
The second picture shows how *BOTH* last two joints of the
forefinger and middle finger are curled around the finger posts.
Although it appears loose, with the finger posts the grip is actually
very solid.
Another thing you can't see very well here are two wedges attached
halfway down the handle on both the top and bottom. You can sort of
see one of them, it's that yellowish spot underneath the thumb.
These wedges shape the handle ergonomically and help both the
thumb and ring finger grip the handle.
You can only hold it one way; there are no finger or grip adjustments
as with penhold or shakehand grips.
Notice my posture in the forehand ring-finger side topspin stroke
shown in the first picture. I'm leaning somewhat backward and toward
the handle side, and my body is rotating with the stroke. I've found
that doing this produces a dramatic increase in stability and control
as compared with the normal forward-leaning posture appropriate for
forehand penhold and shakehand strokes. Think of a
jai alai
player.
