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During last month's Breeze Article, we discussed the various shapes and sizes of the modern ping pong paddle. This month we are going to address the two basic hand grips that players use to produce different outcomes. The paddle grip that the vast number of both recreational and professional table tennis players use is called the SHAKEHAND (see illustration 1 at right). This grip can be described as similar to "shaking hands" with someone, with three fingers and your thumb wrapped around one side of the paddle, and the forefinger extended at the base on the other. The shakehand allows a player to transition easily from a forehand stroke to backhand stroke without adjusting your grip. The second method of handling a ping pong paddle is very effective but used by fewer players is called the PENHOLD (see illustration 2 at right). The penhold grip allows you to hold the paddle as if you were "writing with a pen," with two fingers on one side and three on the other. The penhold grip provides for greater flexibility of the wrist that allows a player to impart a tremendous amount of spin on the ball from the forehand stroke. One disadvantage of the penhold grip is the difficulty of transitioning to a backhand stroke. For this reason, some paddles designed for penhold tend to have the ping pong rubber attached to only one side. The Spin and Slam Table Tennis Club was formulated to attract those players who love and respect the game of ping pong, and who are familiar with the basic rules, strategies, and serve techniques. We meet each Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings at 10 am. ~ Bob Rubenstein, brube88@gmail.com FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | MARCH 2024 61 It's March, folks! Guess what that means? That means the 2024 PNB Paribas Open is only a few days away. For those of us who live here in Beaumont, that also means, once again, we will get to watch in person all the top-notch tennis pros compete in Indian Wells. I don't know about you, but yours truly is getting pretty excited! In the past, the event was set to start on Monday of the first week and end on Sunday of the following week sometime in March, with Monday and Tuesday of the first week being the qualifying rounds. For 2024, they have added an extra day (March 3) for the qualifying rounds. As such, for a mere $10 per day (March 3 to 5), you can indulge yourself watching incredible tennis matches in person all day. Where else can you find great entertainment in a beautiful place at such a dirt-cheap price? This year, the PNB Paribas Open will again be held at the gorgeous Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, a short 45-minute drive from Four Seasons. This event is considered the biggest professional tennis tournament following the four major grand slam events, namely, the US Open, Australia Open, French Open, and Wimbledon. The beautiful grounds at Indian Wells Tennis Garden are simply breathtaking. I am certain some of us tennis enthusiasts will be spending a lot of time there during the next couple of weeks. If you have never visited that venue, I strongly urge you to give it a try. Bring your grandkids and make it a fun family day if you wish. You will be glad you did. For your convenience, here's the link to check it out online: www.indianwellstennisgarden.com. Beat you all to The Courts! Website: https://sites.google.com/view/tennis-fourseasons/home. ~ Stan Lam, (714) 757-2141, slamcpa@gmail.com Tennis Club Spin 'n Slam Table Tennis Club Illustration 2 - Penhold Illustration 1 - Shakehand