Grip/Overgrip

Grip/Overgrip

Postby ELTXETXU » Sun, 14 Jul 2013 19:39

Hi guys!

I read a lot about the differences and uses of a grip and overgrip and the truth is not very clear to me. Someone can explain me, please? :D

Also there are people who says that the original grip shouldn't be removed, or that only someone professional should change it. Is that true? (when i say grip i mean for ex http://www.wilson.com/es-es/tennis/grips/1113986/)

Now i need to change the grip again. I'm curious which is the best way to do it because, always, when I have worn one grip, I changed myself by removing the original and putting a new one, and so on and i think I've ever used an overgrip. Even sometimes I have played with two grips(but I think that's not very good option because I lose a lot of sensitivity).

My raquet is a Prince grip size 2(my hand is between grip 2 and 3). What is the best option? Put only 1 grip, 1 grip and 1 overgrip, 2 overgrips, 1 grip 2 overgrips, 2 grips ...??

Sorry for my english. Hope you can understand me!

Thanks! :)
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Re: Grip/Overgrip

Postby Rob ITST » Mon, 15 Jul 2013 01:19

I read a lot about the differences and uses of a grip and overgrip and the truth is not very clear to me. Someone can explain me, please?


The grip that came with your racquet is commonly called a "replacement grip". When you change these, you remove the old one, and replace it with the new one. An overgrip is sort of a thin version of a replacement grip, usually without any adhesive, and it goes over the original grip. Overgrips are usually designed to be more absorbent than a replacement grip - they usually feel better when your hand is wet, but not as good when your hand is dry. However, there are some overgrips that feel "tacky", like an original grip. Overgrips need to be replaced more often, but they also cost less.

Also there are people who says that the original grip shouldn't be removed, or that only someone professional should change it. Is that true?


I usually recommend that people let me change their replacement grips. I do this for a few reasons:
1: They are not replaced very often, so it's not a big inconvenience to have someone do it for you.
2: The customer is usually in the shop, with their racquet, and it takes me about 90 seconds to change one.
3: You do need to be a little more careful with how you wrap them. Overgrips are very thin, so it doesn't really matter if you mess up a little. But replacement grips will feel very lumpy if you overlap them too much. They will also expose the bare handle if you don't overlap them enough.

However, if you are comfortable doing it yourself, there is no reason not to. Besides, at some point, almost every "professional" learned by doing their own racquets.

My raquet is a Prince grip size 2(my hand is between grip 2 and 3). What is the best option?


If your racquet is a size 2, and your hand is between a 2 and 3, then I would do one of 2 things:

If you have trouble gripping the racquet when you sweat, I would use 1 grip + 1 overgrip.

If you prefer the feel of the original grip, I would have a shop build the handle up 1/2 size. There are heat-shrink sleeves specifically intended for this purpose - it shouldn't cost more than a few dollars to have it done.

There really is no right or wrong - what most important is what feels comfortable to you. Personally, I always use overgrips - they help with sweat, and they are cheap and easy to replace - so you can always keep a fresh grip on your racquet.
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Re: Grip/Overgrip

Postby ELTXETXU » Mon, 15 Jul 2013 14:14

Thank you very much for the information and advice, Rob!!! Very helpful!

:)
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Re: Grip/Overgrip

Postby Rob ITST » Mon, 15 Jul 2013 15:10

You're welcome. Let me know if I can explain anything a little better.
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Re: Grip/Overgrip

Postby ax4chidori » Mon, 22 Jul 2013 13:50

I say 1 regular grip and 1 overgrip. But for the overgrip I'd suggest buying a Solinco Wonder grip (the white one) because it is hands-down the best of the vast majority of all grips and I love it! buy it from tennis-warehouse.com but they only come in pack of 30 though. They last longer than ANY GRIP I've ever used (lasts me from 1.5-2.5 weeks) and I play EVERYDAY at the USTA level for ATLEAST 4 hours every time I go out. Hope this helps!
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Re: Grip/Overgrip

Postby Rob ITST » Mon, 22 Jul 2013 14:31

My favorite is the Wilson Pro OverGrip...... sometimes it's the TournaTac..... if I'm REALLY sweating, it's TouraGrip or Wilson Advantage..... if I'm not sweating at all, it's Gamma Supreme or Dunlop ViperDry..... the other day I tested a new prototype Dunlop grip that might be my new favorite when it is released for sale......

Everyone has different tastes, and sometimes those tastes change - there is no absolute best.
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Re: Grip/Overgrip

Postby ELTXETXU » Wed, 24 Jul 2013 00:31

Finally i put an overgrip over my regular grip, and now everything is perfect! Good size, good feeling. I always have played only with a regular grip like Wilson sponge grip, or same type of grips. The guy of the shop told me that nowadays EVERY single person who play tennis use overgrips.

Am i so strange? Why then, babolat or Wilson for ex. make regular grips with different feeling/touch?? For kids, maybe old people? As i said, if the size of the grip of my raquet is perfect, i always have played just with a regular grip. I must say that my level isn't USTA level ;), but i play tennis since i was 5 years old (30 now), and i am the best of my neighbourhood :D

But my main problem is that i have never played really seriously, and i didn't pay too much atention to some things like strings or grips. Just a good raquet, play play play, broken string/very used grip, replace it with ANY other, and continue playing. So i play tennis really good, but i'm absolutely a newbie in terms of grips or strings.

Now i'm getting older an i need some information!! :D

Thanks for the advices!
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Re: Grip/Overgrip

Postby Rob ITST » Wed, 24 Jul 2013 04:30

Most people do use overgrips, but certainly not everyone. Some people just prefer the feel of the grips that come on the racquets. I also have a LOT of customers who have started using the Wilson Sublime/Prince ResiPro grip (basically, the same grip) - those grips do reasonably well when you sweat, and they have a very tacky feel.
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