Knowing the difference between grip and overgrip is fundamental since we all know that matching the right material with the player’s needs is crucial in a technical sport like tennis.
You can walk down the hall of a sports store and see hundreds of tennis rackets on one side and only four different basketballs on the other.
It seems excessive, but there is a reason for every variety of tennis rackets. With such a wide selection, which will be the best and most suitable for you?
That is why it is so important to know the difference between grip and overgrip. Here we will give you some tips to know which is the best grip and know how to choose the grip or overgrip you need, because it is a fundamental piece of equipment that is often overlooked.
What is a grip? What is an overgrip?
TENNIS OVERGRIP
An overgrip is a soft, padded ribbon, similar to a fabric, wrapped around the hilt of a racket. There are some purposes for an overgrip. The two main uses are to add adhesion and increase sweat absorption. Other purposes are for the expansion of the circumference of the handle and to add more padding or cushioning.
There are also different colors and patterns in overgrips to mark the player’s style and personality with his racket.
Some popular brands of overgrip are: Tourna Grip, ProKennex, Dunlop, Li-Ning, Gamma, Gosen, Head, Karakal, Prince, Völkl, Wilson and Yonex.
Overgrips are usually placed from the bottom of the handle or handle towards the section between the handle and the head of the racket.
If the overgrip exceeds the length of the handle and is in the area where the racket body begins, it is recommended to cut the excess at an angle and use grip tape to prevent fraying.
TENNIS GRIP
In tennis, a grip is the first layer that wraps the handle or handle of a racket. Therefore, it is the first layer that is in direct contact with the handle or handle of our racket.
In other words, it is the tape that wraps around our grip once we buy a new tennis racket.
Generally, the grip that comes with our new tennis racket is usually not of very good quality, so I would recommend changing it as soon as possible and buying a new tennis grip.
So what is the difference between grip and overgrip?
The grips are either replacement grips or they can be overgripped. A replacement grip can be applied directly to the handle of a racket, they have an adhesive layer (VERY IMPORTANT) and offer a reasonable amount of cushioning.
An overgrip, on the other hand, does not have that adhesive layer and is generally much thinner and thinner. Overgrips are frequently used to provide specific grip characteristics or to slightly increase the size of the grip.
However, overgrips commonly offer one or more of the following features:
- Sticky surface to provide extra grip (Do not confuse with the adhesive layer to stick directly to the handle).
- Extra sweat absorption
- Textured surface for greater grip (includes handles with perforations)
The additional benefit of overgrips is that they are cheaper and, therefore, people often change them more frequently, they also come in a much wider variety of colors!
On this other page you have different grips and overgrips that you can buy, of different colors and different models.
How many overgrips can I put on my racket?
The truth and truth is that you can put as many overgrips as you want, as long as you are comfortable. Eye, but remember the difference between grip and overgrip, since it is not the same.
For example, I like my tennis rackets to have a thick grip so I can have a better grip, so I put on two.
But you can always take overgrips to see what’s underneath. Most of the rackets that are usually bought come with a grip.
It should be wood under the real grip, so don’t remove it if you see that. If you see another grip, remove it or put yours on top. Everything is about tastes.
When should we change the overgrip of our racket?
Overgrips are affordable and every tennis player should think about changing them at least once a month, although it depends on the sweating of your hand and your frequency of play.
Overgrips cost much less than a can of balls or the price of the tennis court ,however, they can significantly affect the game and improve the experience and comfort on the court. If you have never seriously thought about your overgrip, now is the time to regularly change your overgrip. Your body (and your mental game) will thank you!
How to choose the ideal overgrip for your racket?
Choosing the right grip size means knowing the circumference or thickness of the tennis racket .
The circumference of the handle of a tennis racket can be given in inches or mm, which then corresponds to a certain grip size.
Sometimes there is confusion as to the size of a racket’s grip. This is due to the use of different size measures in Europe than in the USA. UU.
In Europe, grip sizes 0-5 and in the USA are used. UU grip sizes from 4 to 4 5/8 inch are used.
The table below shows the corresponding grip sizes:
| Circumference in mm | US overgrip size: | Overgrip size in Europe: |
| 115-117 mm | 4 5/8 | 5 |
| 112-114 mm | 4 4/8 or 4/12 | 4 |
| 109-111 mm | 4 3/8 | 3 |
| 106-108 mm | 4 2/8 or 4 1/4 | two |
| 103-105 mm | 4 1/8 | one |
| 100-102 mm | 4 | 0 |
How to place an overgrip?
And finally and after clarifying the difference between grip and overgrip, I will leave you the best video in my opinion to know how to place an overgrip correctly. Enjoy it!
Do You Need a Base Grip or an Overgrip?
Usually, your stick should have at least one type of tape on it. But there are a few combos of tapes that are used very often.
Base grip + Overgrip
Overgrip + Overgrip
Overgrip
The base grip with an overgrip is the most common way to use them together. Most players find this one the most comfortable and easy to use. When an overgrip wears out, buying a new one is usually cheaper than playing without one and repairing the base grip.
Still, some players like to play without the overgrip. You must be open-minded and try different things to determine what works best.
Other tennis players have grown to love how the racket feels when they use two pieces of overgrip. Even though it has some problems, it is a cheap and easy way to get a good grip. Besides that, it's not uncommon for players to use three levels of overgrip. (You can use as many levels of overgrip as you like.)
There could also be a single layer of overgrip. But this will hurt your hands even more, and the tremors will be vital. Most of the time, there are better ideas than this setting.
And to ensure I've thought of everything, you could technically play without any grip tape. But this isn't a good idea because you'll get a lot of blisters, your hand and shoulder will be much more tired, and if your hands sweat, you won't be able to hold the racket well.
Your hand could get hurt because the racquet will dig into it, and the movements will be decisive.
If you have trouble with your elbows and shoulders, you should have a good base grip (or replacement grip) and an overgrip. You want as much padding as possible to keep your arm and shoulder from hurting. (In this case, you may also need to change other things about your racquet, like how tight the strings are.)
Overall, if your base grip is in good shape, all you need to do is add an overgrip. Many pros use a leather grip with an overgrip to deal with sweat. This could be a good goal in the long run. Ultimately, it all comes down to how you feel and what you like.
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