Table tennis paddle

Abstract

A table tennis paddle is provided. The paddle includes a blade having forehand and backhand playing surfaces and a handle joined to the blade at an angle from a vertical centerline of the blade. The handle has an ergonomic form having palm and finger engaging surfaces, an aperture in a neck of the handle, and finger recesses positioned on opposing sides of the handle, the combination of which forms a precision grip. A precision grip and a method of using the tennis table paddle are also disclosed.

1 . A table tennis paddle comprising:
 a blade having forehand and backhand playing surfaces; and   a handle having a proximal section and a distal section, the distal section arranged to engage a palm of a user and having an approximate center line which extends at an angle greater than ninety degrees from an approximate center line of the blade, wherein the handle forms a precision grip and the blade extends outward from the handle as a natural extension of the user's arm when gripped.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The table tennis paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the handle has palm and finger engaging surfaces for precision placement of a hand. 
     
     
         4 . The table tennis paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the precision grip has an aperture in a neck of the handle which receives a finger. 
     
     
         5 . The table tennis paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the precision grip has finger recesses positioned on opposing sides of the handle which receive fingers. 
     
     
         6 . The table tennis paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the precision grip has an aperture in a neck of the handle and finger recesses positioned on opposing sides of the handle. 
     
     
         7 . The table tennis paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the blade is at least partially formed of wood. 
     
     
         8 . The table tennis paddle of  claim 7 , wherein the handle is at least partially formed of wood. 
     
     
         9 . The table tennis paddle of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the paddle is formed of a plastic material. 
     
     
         10 . The table tennis paddle of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the paddle is formed of a rubberized material. 
     
     
         11 . The table tennis paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the precision grip accommodates a hand such that the entire hand is retained below the playing surfaces. 
     
     
         12 . A table tennis paddle comprising:
 a blade having forehand and backhand playing surfaces;   a handle having an approximate center line and joined to the blade at an angle from an approximate center line of the blade, the handle having an ergonomic form having palm and finger engaging surfaces, an aperture in a neck of the handle, and finger recesses positioned on opposing sides of the handle, the combination of which forms a precision grip.   
     
     
         13 . The table tennis paddle of  claim 12 , wherein the blade is at least partially formed of wood. 
     
     
         14 . The table tennis paddle of  claim 13 , wherein the handle is at least partially formed of wood. 
     
     
         15 . The table tennis paddle of  claim 12 , wherein a portion of the paddle is formed of a plastic material. 
     
     
         16 . The table tennis paddle of  claim 12 , wherein a portion of the paddle is formed of a rubberized material. 
     
     
         17 . The table tennis paddle of  claim 12 , wherein the blade extends outward from the handle in a direction which forms a natural extension of the arm when gripped, and wherein the precision grip accommodates a hand such that the entire hand is retained below the playing surfaces. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A precision grip for a table tennis paddle, the precision grip comprising:
 a handle having a proximal section and a distal section, the distal section comprising an ergonomic form having palm and finger engaging surfaces for precision placement of a hand, and the proximal section has an aperture in a neck of the handle and finger recesses positioned on opposing sides of the handle for finger placement, the distal section extending at an angle greater than ninety degrees from an approximate center line extending across the aperture, wherein the handle forms a precision grip;   wherein the precision grip accommodates the hand such that the entire hand is retained below playing surfaces of the table tennis paddle blade.   
     
     
         20 . The precision grip of  claim 19 , wherein the grip is formed of multiple materials. 
     
     
         21 . The table tennis paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the approximate center line of the blade extends through the user's forearm and middle finger when gripped. 
     
     
         22 . The table tennis paddle of  claim 12 , wherein the angle between the approximate center line of the handle and the approximate center line of the blade is an angle greater than ninety degrees.