# Table tennis paddle handles: FL, ST, AN or penhold? Flared, straight, anatomic or penhold: what each handle does on topspin, blocks and grip changes, how to test it in your hand and which adjustments the ITTF allows. Updated on 10/07/2026 A table tennis paddle's handle defines how the paddle sits in your hand, how much it rotates between forehand and backhand and where the weight ends up. In the classic (shakehand) grip, there are three shapes: **flared (FL)**, the most common and the best starting point, **straight (ST)**, for players who change grips a lot, and **anatomic (AN)**, for big hands. In the penhold grip, there is the short Chinese handle (CS) and the Japanese block handle. ## Handle reference table | Code | Name | Shape | Feel in the hand | Who it's for | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | FL | Flared | wider at the base, thinner in the middle | the base locks the hand and the paddle doesn't slip | most players, from beginners to attackers | | ST | Straight | same width from start to finish | the paddle rotates easily in the hand | players who change grips, defenders, strong-backhand players | | AN | Anatomic | wider in the middle, like a belly | fills the palm and fixes the grip | big hands, players who grip the paddle lightly | | CS | Chinese penhold | short handle, rubber on both sides | free wrist and access to both faces | penhold with a reverse backhand | | JP | Japanese penhold | wooden block with a cork rest | firm fit for the index finger | penhold with rubber on one side only | The codes aren't regulated: each manufacturer designs its own FL or AN, and two FL handles from different brands can have quite different thicknesses. The code tells you the shape, your hand tells you whether it fits. ## Why the handle changes your game In the classic grip, you hold the paddle like someone shaking hands, with your index finger on the edge of the backhand rubber and your thumb on the forehand face. On every ball exchange, this grip takes three stresses that the handle resolves in different ways. **Hard forehand topspin.** The arm accelerates and the paddle tends to escape forward. On the FL, the wider base locks the hand; on the ST, all that holds it is finger pressure. That is why the FL dominates among attackers. **Switching between forehand and backhand.** Many players rotate the paddle a few degrees in the hand to open the backhand or close the forehand. The ST, with the same width along its whole length, lets that rotation happen without the hand "climbing" up the base. The **Vollo Impact 1000** spec sheet itself highlights that the straight handle makes it easier to change grips. **Blocking against a heavy ball.** When the opponent sends a hard topspin, the ball tries to twist the paddle in your hand. A handle that fills the palm well, like the AN for big hands or the FL for medium hands, helps the paddle stay still at the angle you chose. ## How to tell which handle fits your hand If you have access to a club or a store with demo paddles, this test takes five minutes: - **Pick up the paddle without thinking.** Hold it in the classic grip the way you play. Your index finger should rest on the edge of the backhand rubber without stretching, and your thumb should rest on the forehand face, near the handle. - **Check the space in your palm.** With a relaxed hand, there shouldn't be a big gap between your palm and the handle, nor should your fingers wrap around and touch your palm. Too much space: the handle is thin for you (think AN, or building it up). Fingers overlap: the handle is thick (an FL from a thinner brand, or an ST). - **Simulate the switch.** Make the forehand and backhand motion without taking your hand off the handle. If you need to reposition your whole hand for the backhand, the handle is locking you too much (an AN that is too full, for example). - **Squeeze and release.** Hold with medium force for 30 seconds. Cramping in your thumb or at the base of your index finger indicates you are compensating for a handle that doesn't fit. - **Test the block.** Ask someone to push the edge of the paddle as if it were a hard ball. It shouldn't rotate in your hand with your playing grip. If there is no way to test, the practical rule is: **FL for most, AN for big hands, ST if your game calls for changing grips**. ## Signs you have the wrong handle - **The paddle rotates on the block**, especially on the backhand. A handle too thin, or straight when you needed a base. - **You grip too hard all the time** and feel a stiff forearm at the end of practice. A thin handle takes more force to hold. - **A callus or blister always in the same place**, like at the base of the index finger. It could be an edge of the handle or an FL too wide for your hand. - **Your index finger slips off the edge** toward the middle of the rubber. A thick handle pushes the hand up. - **Your backhand feels stuck.** If you feel the paddle doesn't open enough on the backhand, an ST may free up your wrist. None of these signs is a medical diagnosis. If pain persists, see a health professional before blaming only the equipment. ## FL or ST on the same paddle: what changes The catalog has a rare case of a clean comparison: Vollo sells similar entry-level paddles with different handles. The **Vollo Impulse** uses a flared handle; the **Impact 1000** and the **Force 1000** use a straight handle. They aren't identical paddles: the Impulse has ITTF-approved rubbers and a 1.8 mm sponge, and the Impact 1000 has a 2.0 mm sponge. But they show well the choice most beginners face in the store. If you just want to learn, the Impulse with an FL is the easiest choice. If your coach teaches a style with grip changes, or you already know you like to defend, the Impact 1000 gives you the ST without leaving the entry-level range. Strengths - + Straight ST handle, rare among the ready-made paddles in the catalog - + Makes it easier to change grips between forehand and backhand - + 2.0 mm sponge with more pop than the Vollo Impulse - + About 174 g, the weight of a training paddle Drawbacks - − A straight handle holds the paddle less securely on hard topspin - − 1.5 mm inverted rubber with limited grip for heavy spin - − No ITTF-approved rubbers listed on the spec sheet Among the catalog's ready-made paddles, the straight handle is the exception: more than 200 of the 233 paddles and blades listed appear with a flared handle. Players who want ST or AN almost always need to go for a separate blade. ## An assembled paddle: choose the handle together with the blade On blades, the handle is a purchase option. Several come in FL, ST and AN of the same wood. Butterfly offers, for example, the Outerforce ALC in FL, ST and AN and the Innerforce Layer ZLC in FL, ST, AN and CS. Tibhar sells the Stratus Power Wood in the three classic versions. Two precautions when buying: - **Confirm the handle in the listing.** Many listings show the model without saying the handle, and not every version is available. The Tibhar Stratus Samsonov Carbon, for example, is sold by Tibhar with an FL handle. When in doubt, ask the seller before buying. - **The handle affects weight.** Fuller handles, like the AN, tend to put a little more wood in the hand and shift the balance in that direction. On blades of 85 to 90 g, the difference can be felt in the swing. If you're still deciding between buying a ready-made paddle or assembling one, the guide to [ready-made or assembled paddles](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/pre-assembled-vs-custom-table-tennis-paddle/) explains the whole calculation. ## The handle also changes the balance The handle isn't just for holding. Some brands use the handle to adjust balance and vibration. Donic has two systems in the Top Team line: the **AVS**, which reduces vibration between the blade and the handle, and the **PLS**, with a hollow handle that moves weight to the head and gives more acceleration. JOOLA uses the name **Ergo Grip** for the handle on paddles like the Match Pro and the Team Master. In practice, a lighter handle leaves the paddle with a heavier head. That helps accelerate topspin, but makes quick exchanges near the table a little slower. If you play a lot of blocking and counterattacking, prefer paddles with the weight closer to the hand. ## Chinese penhold and Japanese penhold In penhold, you hold the handle like a pen, with your thumb and index finger on the front. The guide to [paddles for beginners](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/best-table-tennis-paddles-for-beginners/) already introduces the style; here what matters is the handle. **Chinese penhold (CS).** A short handle, similar to a cut-down classic handle. The blade head is usually similar to a classic one, and many players use rubber on both sides to play the backhand with the back face (the so-called reverse backhand). Blades like the Butterfly Fan Zhendong ALC and the Innerforce Layer ZLC come in a CS version. The **Butterfly RDJ CS1**, a ready-made paddle with rubber on the front only and the back painted black, appears in the catalog, but with no store offers at the moment. **Japanese penhold.** The handle is a wooden block with a cork rest for the index finger. The traditional game uses rubber on the front face only, with a lot of forehand and footwork to cover the backhand side. The **Butterfly Biriba II**, with 1.7 mm Addoy rubber, weighs between 120 and 130 g according to the spec sheet, much less than the classic ready-made paddles in the catalog, which usually run between 150 and 190 g. The **[Nitchugo I](https://racquetrank.com/us/table-tennis/butterfly/nitchugo-i/)** is the other ready-made option, with 1.9 mm Addoy rubber. ### Ready-made Japanese penhold paddles available from stores · Table Tennis ### Nitchugo I Butterfly 4.4 (122) - [ButterflySee price](https://racquetrank.com/go/01M45XH8TPFPWAZJ7PB3ZTZE06) ### The bare-face rule Players who use rubber on one side only need to know two [ITTF](https://www.ittf.com/handbook/) rules. The first: only the side covered with rubber may strike the ball (rule 2.4.3). The second: even without rubber, the back face must be matte and respect the colors, black on one side and a bright color on the other (rule 2.4.6). That is why the RDJ CS1 comes with the back painted black. Before playing a tournament with a single-rubber penhold, check the color and finish of the back. ## Adjustments the rules allow ITTF rule 2.4.4 allows adding material to the handle to give it whatever shape you want, and 2.4.5 allows leaving bare, or covering with any material, the part of the blade next to the handle where the fingers rest. That leaves room for homemade adjustments: - **Building up:** handle tape or a thin overgrip wrapped around the handle. It works well for players who found the FL thin and don't want to change paddles. - **Thinning:** many players lightly sand the base of the FL or the corners of the handle. Do it gradually, with fine sandpaper, because there is no going back and it can remove the wood's finish. - **Improving grip:** if your hand sweats a lot, a thin overgrip or non-slip tape solves it without changing the shape. Working on the handle changes weight and balance by a few grams, which is almost always imperceptible on a ready-made paddle, but can be noticed on a light blade. ## Kids and small hands For a small hand, the problem is rarely the shape and almost always the thickness and weight. A thin-handled FL with a light paddle usually works better than an ST. The **Donic Top Team 600** weighs about 134 g, one of the lightest ready-made paddles in the catalog with approved rubber. For other options by age and level, see the [table tennis catalog](https://racquetrank.com/us/table-tennis/) or use [Find Your Paddle](https://racquetrank.com/us/racquet-finder/). If, after getting the handle right, you want to understand what the rubber does to the ball, read the guide to [inverted rubber, short pips or long pips](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/inverted-short-pips-or-long-pips-table-tennis-rubber/). To compare paddles from [Butterfly](https://racquetrank.com/us/table-tennis/butterfly/), [Vollo](https://racquetrank.com/us/table-tennis/vollo/) and other brands side by side, use the [table tennis comparison tool](https://racquetrank.com/us/compare/table-tennis/). What is the best table tennis paddle handle for a beginner? For the classic grip, the flared (FL). It is wider at the base and keeps the paddle from slipping when you still grip too hard or mistime the stroke. It is also the easiest to find: the vast majority of ready-made paddles in the catalog use FL. It's only worth starting with an ST if your coach teaches a style with lots of grip changes. FL or ST handle: which is better for the backhand? The ST makes it easier to rotate the paddle slightly in your hand to open the backhand, so it is common among players who use that side a lot and among defenders. The FL holds better on a hard forehand. There is no single best: if your game is balanced and offensive, FL; if you adjust your grip on every stroke or rotate the paddle to switch rubbers, ST. Can you change a paddle's handle? No. The handle is part of the blade, so on a ready-made paddle it comes as it is and on an assembled paddle you choose the type when you buy the blade. What you can do is adjust it: build it up with tape or a thin overgrip, or thin it by sanding the FL. ITTF rules allow adding material to shape the handle, but sanding is irreversible. Is the anatomic (AN) handle good for people with big hands? It usually is. The belly in the middle fills the palm and keeps a big hand from closing too far, which tires the forearm. The trade-off is that the paddle is locked more into a single position, and switching grips between forehand and backhand gets harder. Is penhold still worth it for someone just starting out? It is if you have someone to teach you. Penhold gives a lot of wrist freedom in the short game and on the forehand, but the backhand is harder to learn without guidance. Without a coach who plays penhold, the classic grip is the simplest path. ## Where to buy the racquets in this guide - [Nitchugo I Butterfly](https://racquetrank.com/us/table-tennis/butterfly/nitchugo-i/)Wood with Japanese penhold handle [See price](https://racquetrank.com/go/01M45XH8TPFPWAZJ7PB3ZTZE06)Butterfly The prices above are checked automatically at each store and may have changed since the last check. The price that counts is the one shown on the store's website at checkout. We may earn a commission on purchases made through store links, at no extra cost to you. ## More table tennis guides - [Best Table Tennis Paddles 2026: Pre-Assembled and Blades by Playing Style](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/best-table-tennis-paddles/) - [7 Best Table Tennis Paddles for Beginners in 2026](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/best-table-tennis-paddles-for-beginners/) - [10 Best Table Tennis Paddles for Intermediate Players in 2026](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/best-table-tennis-paddles-for-intermediate-players/) - [How to Choose a Table Tennis Paddle: Complete Buying Guide](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/how-to-choose-a-table-tennis-paddle/) - [Pre-Assembled or Custom-Built Table Tennis Paddle: Which Is Worth It?](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/pre-assembled-vs-custom-table-tennis-paddle/) - [7 ready-made table tennis paddles with spin for topspin](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/7-ready-made-table-tennis-paddles-with-spin/) - [Inverted, short pips or long pips: rubber types and ITTF rules](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/inverted-short-pips-or-long-pips-table-tennis-rubber/) - [10 best table tennis paddles for advanced players in 2026](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/best-table-tennis-paddles-for-advanced-players/) - [7 best table tennis paddles for competition in 2026](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/best-table-tennis-paddles-for-competition/) [All table tennis guides →](https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/table-tennis/) --- Fonte: https://racquetrank.com/us/guides/table-tennis-paddle-handle-fl-st-or-an/