Leather Grip Roundup (weight per area)

[sepidoel]

Choosing a leather grip can be serious for many reasons, mainly its weight, however informations regarding that are quite scarce. One good thread discussing it is here. Unfortunately, informations in that thread are not really organized well.

In this thread I want to make a better list of leather grips with their measurements and weights. With those we can calculate their weight per area, which I think is a better parameter to compare their actual weights. I will write down thickness but ignore it in the calculation (I can't find a good short explanation on this, but I think it's quite logical).

I'll use milimetres and grams for the standard.

Here's informations from the old thread by quick reading (up to 2012-09-27):
Fairway Leather - 25g
Wilson Leather - 22g
Head Leather - 23g
Pacific leather -18g
Volkl Leather -30.4g
HEAD Calfskin - 25g
Vantage leather - 24g (w/ Plastic)
Gamma Hi-Tech - 22g
Boris Becker Leather - 34g
Dunlop Tour Leather Grip - 30g


To make calculation easier it'll be area per weight instead of weight per area, so the higher the number the lighter it'll be (doesn't mean better) (when I put "^" means info was from the old thread):





Babolat Natural Leather Grip
1.7 * 25 * 1140 / 24 = 1187

Faiway KGL-151
1.8 * 27 * 1000 / 25 = 1080 (^ 25 gr is this one? I think so)

Fairway KGL-152
1.8 * 27 * 1200 / 25 = 1296 (^ 25 gr is this one?)

Gamma Leather Grip
N/A * 25 * 1200

Kimoni KGL-163
1.5 * 25 * 1050

TW Private Label Leather Grip
1.3 * 22 * 1300 / 28 = 1021
1.5 * 22 * 1300 / 30 = 953
1.3 * 25 * 1300 / 32 = 1015
1.5 * 25 * 1300 / 32 = 1015 (I think it should be 34 gr which = 955)

Wilson Leather Replacement grip
N/A * 22 * 1270 / 22 = 1270 (^)





Please correct me if there's anything wrong and add any informations you have. You can also measure any leather grip leftover's length, width and weight, but please without the plastic on. I'll update the chart if you guys need it, there's new info and I have the time.

[2ndServe]

thx for the round up

[sepidoel]

You're welcome.

From what I got up there the difference between the heaviest and the lightest is about 25% - approximately 5-6 grams. I guess some say it makes difference, some don't.

[Eugene Choi]

Thanks man this helped out a lot

[robbo1970]

Also, the Wilson is 1.8mm thick, so close to a standard synth grip and it wraps very easily (even I could wrap it well)

[winstonplum]

Can you explain the equation/variables? For example, I see the Babolat is 1.3 mm thick and 25 mm wide, but what is 1140 and 24 and 1187. What do those last three numbers represent?

[rst]

i am more sensitive to feeling a difference when a few grams is added to the hoop of a racket. my hands exceed a 4 5/8 grip size so i place two overgrips underneath a leather grip on a racket. i have found that leather grips expose the bevels better than the synthetic grips when wrapped over a few overgrips.

i can notice a differnce in a stock racket when after i wrap with the 3 total grips on my rackets.

i dont know the weight difference between most synthetic grips and leather grips...5 grams or so?? spread across a racket handle probably wouldnt offer much noticable difference as 5 grams at thh top of the hoop.

[robbo1970]

Adding a leather grip will add around 8 to 10g in static weight. I added a Wilson leather to my racket and it increased the static weight by exactly 10g. If you don't mind the extra handle weight then its a great addition in terms of feel.

However, if you are sensitive to an extra bit of weight and are used to using more comfortable synthetic grips then you will notice the difference. I know I do. Whilst the feeling with leather is great, after a 4 hour session my wrist and hand were really aching. But if you don't mind that, then leather is the way to go for sure.

[robbo1970]

I have just weighed an untrimmed Wilson Leather and it came in at 26g.

Has anyone weighed a Prince leather grip? The Wilson is 1.8mm thick, whereas the Prince is 1.5mm, I was just wondering if there was much weight difference?

One thing to also bear in mind when weighing grips untrimmed, is that they do often differ slightly in length and therefore may not always be a like for like comparison. One that appears much heavier may in fact just be a few cm's longer untrimmed which adds those few extra grams.

[robbo1970]

Just got a Prince grip and it seems thicker than its 1.5mm (definately feels thicker than the Wilsons 1.6mm).

It come in uncut a bit shorter than the Wilson and weighs 31g.