Leather grips lovers

movdqa

movdqa

Talk Tennis Guru
I have Fairway grips on my bicycle handles. A friend gave me a 12-pack as a gift many years ago.

I use overgrips so it really doesn't matter what's underneath - overgrips are a more practical solution to the problem of the accumulation of sweat and dirt. I really don't enjoy replacing leather grips either.
 
movdqa

movdqa

Talk Tennis Guru
joohan said:
On the contrary. It matters what is underneath. Big time...at least for me.
Click to expand...

All of my racquets have leather underneath - I've never had any that didn't but I've played with one overgrip and two in the past and I haven't noticed a difference in feel.
 
G

GBplayer

Hall of Fame
I use Wilson premium without overgrip . When dirty wash with soapy water . Not slippery with sweat , only rain. Then I keep a flannel in my pocket to wipe off excess water .
 
DrumWizOHBD

DrumWizOHBD

Semi-Pro
Backhanded Compliment said:
i have Fairway, Boris Becker and Head Finest Calfskin leathers on all my match frames. Beckers are the heaviest btw.

the feedback and firmness of leather seem to help serves and volleys the most for me.
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I totally agree. I am a racquet junkie, and rotate between several racquets depending on my mood, and I have to say I don't like leather on all of my racquets. I like leather on the square shaped grips, like Prince, and Yonex, but I prefer synthetic on more rectangular grips like Tecnifibre and Head. I also like my racquets slightly more headlight than stock, which the leather grip helps with nicely without having to add lead to the handle.But, like Backhand Compliment said, I prefer the feel of leather on most racquets at the net and on serve, especially around the net. Sometimes I add a thick leather grip if I am feeling like a grip size might be too small, just to see what a slightly larger grip would feel like on a stick, before I (semi-) permanantly build it up with a heat shrink sleeve. Leather grips are also more durable than most synthetics. I've got a couple of old woodies than have the original leather, and I use them all the time without and overgrip. But, in serious match play, I always use and overgrip because I sweat too much.

Right now, I have been enjoying the Head Leather, they aren't too thick or too heavy and have been super consistent. TW's house brand are pretty good too, but I find them less tacky and stretchy than the Heads. Over the years I would often try Gamma and Pro Supex, because they are a few bucks cheaper than most other brands, but I always found them too bulky. Never bought Babolat or Wilson and installed them myself, but I've played with them and they good grips, I would say on par with the head grips I like, if not just a tad firmer feeling.

When I opt for a synthetic base grip, I usually go for something firm like Gamma Hi-Tec or Tourna Pro Thin
 
DNShade

DNShade

Hall of Fame
Love playing with bare leather. I also use some spray stuff to make the leather more sticky especially during hot/humid conditions.

20160121_165433_resized.jpg
 
SpinToWin

SpinToWin

Talk Tennis Guru
DNShade said:
Love playing with bare leather. I also use some spray stuff to make the leather more sticky especially during hot/humid conditions.

20160121_165433_resized.jpg
Click to expand...
Could you perhaps comment on how Fairway leather grips perform relative to Wilson leather grips?
 
DNShade

DNShade

Hall of Fame
SpinToWin said:
Could you perhaps comment on how Fairway leather grips perform relative to Wilson leather grips?
Click to expand...

I find that Fairway are the best leather grips out there. TW's own are quite nice too -- but Fairway are just a bit higher grade of leather than any others. Softer and more feel to them than Wilson for sure and a bit more tacky as well even without using any spray. Head Calfskin are nice too -- but I prefer and just love the feel of Fairway. Their quality dipped a few years back but now it seems they are back to the way they used to feel.
 
mikeeeee

mikeeeee

Professional
I have a Tourna leather grip on one of my frames and it feels really nice. I have a Head one too and it feels good but was a real pain to install. It kept sliding up the handle and moving around. I think I heard that Fairway grips don't have an adhesive on them, so is it hard to put them on?
 
Disgruntled Worker

Disgruntled Worker

Professional
I've tried other leather but always go back to Wilson. It just feels durable and solid for me. Volkl grips kinda feel cheap IMO. Babolat is a little better but I'm a Wilson leather guy.

Overgrip doesn't really matter. If it's white with a bit of tack it's fine.
 
S

Say Chi Sin Lo

G.O.A.T.
You do know that most tennis players lack the ability to try and test things for themselves, right? They only get what they see on TV. While it's true that a lot of the top pros are still using leather underneath their overgrips, the public don't see it.

If they don't see it on TV, they won't try it.

If my racquets aren't wrapped with leather, I'm not picking them up.
 
W

winchestervatennis

Hall of Fame
I've always liked leather under my tourna. But recently I just took all gross off and went with 2 tourna. It is rough on the hand but the calluses are catching up.

I was in the thrift shop the other day and saw at least 4 frames with used leather. If it just going under tourna why not buy just for the grip, right? (I didn't buy but may go back)
 
DNShade

DNShade

Hall of Fame
Fairway does not have adhesive backing -- that is true. So can be a bit harder to put on yes. If needed try using some easy spray adhesive you can get at any number of places - Michael's, any hobby or craft store etc. Not necessary but can help. Well worth the trouble though.
 
JohnBPittsburgh

JohnBPittsburgh

Hall of Fame
1. Head Finest Calfskin
2. Prince Finest Calfskin
3. Angell Leather
4. Fairway
Haven't had a chance to try Kimony, I am sure I will get around to it. Like all things, it just takes practice to wrap leather without adhesive...but it's worth it :)
It is a ranking of my favorites :) STW
 
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Unforgiven79

Unforgiven79

Rookie
I came to experience the Wilson leather grip (+Wilson Sensation overgrip) with my first Pro Staff racquet. Then when I got into the Head Radical Pro and felt there was something just "wrong" with the handle feelings. Too deaf feeling of the ball when it mattered.

Now both my Radical Pro's have Wilson leather and the Sensation overgrip. And they just feel right.

Not just with volleys and serves, but especially with those demi-volley strokes from the baseline, when you need your wrist to do a proper job.
 
J

joohan

Guest
DNShade said:
I find that Fairway are the best leather grips out there. TW's own are quite nice too -- but Fairway are just a bit higher grade of leather than any others. Softer and more feel to them than Wilson for sure and a bit more tacky as well even without using any spray. Head Calfskin are nice too -- but I prefer and just love the feel of Fairway. Their quality dipped a few years back but now it seems they are back to the way they used to feel.
Click to expand...

Do you buy Fairway grips from the TW?
 
movdqa

movdqa

Talk Tennis Guru
I thought that they went out of business. Are they back in business now?

I have Head Finest on my current and previous racquets.
 
A

Alex78

Hall of Fame
Got some Head finest calfskin when they were available for 15 EUR a piece. Now at 20 EUR, I'm reluctant to get more.
But I also have some Head leather tour, Gamma, Prince, Dunlop, Pacific, and Oehms. Out of these, Prince and Dunlop are basically the same, very soft and comfy. Gamma is the hardest, Pacific is close, and Head leather tour is middle of the road. Oehms claims their leather grips are from the same manufacturer who supplied the finest calfskin grips to Head years ago - not sure if Head has another supplier now or if they've changed these grips over the years. The Oehms leather grip is indeed very similar to the Hfc, albeit not exactly the same as far as I can tell. Oh, and the Hfc is indeed my favourite out of the ones I have. Medium firmness but nice feeling.
That would be underneath an overgrip for all these leather grips - you do feel differences even then!
 
tdhawks

tdhawks

Professional
I use prince finest calfskin, never tried anything else. I feel the bevels perfectly with my overgrip on. That was the intended purpose, I don't feel I need to switch to try anything else. If you plan on using an overgrip over the leather, all that really matters is the thickness, correct?
 
Unforgiven79

Unforgiven79

Rookie
beltsman said:
The one leather grip I used was on my PS 90. I wasn't a big fan. Maybe one day I'll try again.
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It may be a matter of the overgrip, the two should combine well. I once arrived at a tournament with my PS90 only to discover my OG was too worn out, with no spare, therefore I bought one from the club shop. They only had the Babolat rough crap model, add it was a pain to carry all through the match... I could not feel the leather beneath it, its roughness could have only matched well with a soft cushion.

Never missed checking my OG again.
 
Winners or Errors

Winners or Errors

Legend
DNShade said:
Fairway does not have adhesive backing -- that is true. So can be a bit harder to put on yes. If needed try using some easy spray adhesive you can get at any number of places - Michael's, any hobby or craft store etc. Not necessary but can help. Well worth the trouble though.
Click to expand...

I just use double sided tape for mine and it works. That's what most leather grips have on them anyway...
 
T

TadDavis

Rookie
The old Fairways are my favorite. The new ones don't feel right to me- not as supple and soft. They're a little bit too orange for me as well.

Kimony leather grips are extremely thin. I can't use them without an over grip.
 
FedLIKEnot

FedLIKEnot

Professional
I feel there are less racquets then ever before that come with a leather base grip. Usually the "tour" or pro models or in the Pro Staff line their premier so to speak racquets.

Personally I love the feel of a leather base grip to a synthetic one. I do use an overgrip at all times so I don't have to fret to much about maintaining the leather as its more or less always protected. The last few go around a have been using the TW ones on the thicker form for a touch more weight and as I have a 2hbh and use the PS95s which has a slightly longer throat I am able to wrap the leather a touch higher for my two hander so it's more comfortable. All in all I'll always use leather base grips but can't play with them for same reason I cant use tourna grip I need a bit of tack.
 
G

GioV

Rookie
Old Fairway leather was my favorite. The new ones feel different to me. I also love Head Finest Calfskin when I can get it and Yonex leather.

In a pinch, I have used Babolat leather, Head Leather Tour and Wilson Leather. They are all serviceable, but not my preferred grip.
 
jersey34tennis

jersey34tennis

Professional
my favorite leather grips are neumans , dunlop, and some retro prince finest calfskin . suprised to see no neumans mentioned ...
 
C

cartel

Rookie
ive used fairway in the past - right now i have all TW leather on my rackets-- even under overgrips i like the firmness more of the leather beneath-
 
M

markwillplay

Hall of Fame
I have used the volkl leather and the head leather is a tad thicker. that is not the nfo here but I bought two of them and put my head leather back on because it was slightly thicker. Both nice, but I really like the head leather.
 
P

pfrischmann

Professional
I hold the racquet too tightly to use leather. I love the response and weight but end up hurting my hands. Something else to work on...
 
Fedinkum

Fedinkum

Legend
I pay my stringing guy to replace all my new rackets with a leather grip, only he can make them like factory made.

Racket without the leather grip is like playing tennis with noodles.
 
Big_Dangerous

Big_Dangerous

Talk Tennis Guru
DNShade said:
Fairway does not have adhesive backing -- that is true. So can be a bit harder to put on yes. If needed try using some easy spray adhesive you can get at any number of places - Michael's, any hobby or craft store etc. Not necessary but can help. Well worth the trouble though.
Click to expand...

Just use some double sided tape for the first couple rotations, and you're all set. Don't really need a staple, though it can help.
 
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