Shrink fit grip/handle enlargers

[janm]

Hi guys,

I have a few different frames with L3 handle size and want to get them all to
L4 size. (the grip I use currently)

I prefer to have a fairly hard feeling handle and like to be able to feel the bevels easily.

Just wondering how it will effect grip feel if I build the handle up with a few of these shrink fits.

thanks

[bugeyed]

The material is pretty dense. It should feel about like the original pallet.
You only need one of the black ones to go from a 3 to a 4.
Cheers,
kev

[janm]

thanks kev sound like they will do the job, will give them a go.

[Stringers]

Yup. Using more than one is going to make it hard to feel the bevels tho.

[janm]

I think i'll need just the one, if it works like advertised.
I've orderded a couple incase i mess it up somehow.

I guess i might have to lead tape the head to keep the same balance.

[Steve Huff]

Use a good heat gun and it will shrink them pretty tight, so you should still feel the bevels fine. I'd read all this about it making the bevels harder to feel, but have install at least a hundred, and have not noticed that the bevels lose their sharp edge as long as you heat them adequately (heat gun instead of a hair dryer).

[janm]

Yeah i've got a heat gun at the ready, just waiting for them to come now.

One thing I don't get is do I apply heat along the bevel edges in series or start at one end of the handle?

[txt858]

i did this to my racquet and it build up the grip one grip size nicely.

first, slide the sleeve in and have it go past the top of your grip by about two inches. Now start heating up the sleeve starting from the top of the sleeve then move down. Heat it more at the top. you will notice it shrinking considerably, once you get it to a smaller size, adjust it up or down to cover your whole handle. Make sure the top of the sleeve is where you want it. give it a little more heat and it will lock in at the top. Then start heating more down the handle. Don't trim the sleeve just yet, keep heating the sleeve until it's a tight fit around your handle. Also be careful to move your heat gun around the sleeve evenly as to not put it in one place for too long...it's going to burn the sleeve. Also heat up the end of the butt cap. Once the sleeve wraps around the butt cap nice and tight. Then you can go ahead and use a razor blade to trim it. I like to leave a little lip around the butt cap to encase the butt cap in the sleeve.

[janm]

Cool thanks, does not sound too difficult (famous last words)
will update on how I get on.

[janm]

Ok just tried this with the black sleeve and its worked fantastically. I used a heat gun and the sleeve shrunk pretty quickly and tightly. Its a tough material so it still feels like a hard handle. The bevels are very pronounced and i'm able to feel and see them pretty easily when a replacement grip is applied over the handle.

Weighing with my scales before I appled it the weight for the shrinkfit is 15g.

I'm going to dig out the balance board and apply lead tape to the racket to get the balance back to my preference.

Overall i'm very pleased.