How do you determine grip size? Are they serious?

TimeToPlaySets

TimeToPlaySets

Legend
I might buy a new racket. I remember the old "1 finger" gap width rule but no idea if that applies anymore. Way too imprecise.

Even measuring with a ruler is comically inaccurate when the precision tolerance needs to be within 1/8" ...I can measure 3 ways and get variation of an entire 1/2", so what is a realistic way of determining proper grip size??

I can't even tell what the hell the ruler is aligned with.
It seems placed randomly within the palm.
YOU CAN NOT BE SERIOUS
https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/LC/Gripsize.html
 
TimeToPlaySets

TimeToPlaySets

Legend
I tried the ruler method, and got 4 3/4"

There is no god damned way my hand is the largest grip that they make.
I have tiny hands and wrists.

How the fukc is literally EVERY aspect to this game more complicated and ambiguous than rocket science?
 
TimeToPlaySets

TimeToPlaySets

Legend
Do I line up the ruler on the inner edge of the ring finger? The middle axis? The outer edge?
Since the lower palm crease curve downwards, that placement has a variation of over half an inch.
Which is almost the entire range of grip size availability.
 
mad dog1

mad dog1

G.O.A.T.
And there are so many different brands of tennis racquets all with slightly different handle lengths and shapes! How does someone know which one to choose?

Head
Babolat
Wilson
Srixon
Yonex
Pro kennex
Tecnifibre
Dunlop
Donnay
Angell
 
Rubens

Rubens

Hall of Fame
It's very simple. With a correctly sized grip, if you hold it in the Conti grip, the base of your knuckle will be exactly on the second bevel.
 
R

RetroSpin

Hall of Fame
Don't forget that you will probably use an overgrip, which adds about 1/8. Babolat grips run large, so if you are between sizes, go with the smaller. Also, it's a lot easier to build up a grip than reduce it.

Grip shape is another topic. I love the Babolat shape, Wilson too. I do not like the more rectangular shape that a lot of Heads have. Personal preference but you are stuck with it.

I like a larger buttcap as well. Some handles, eg older dunlops, did not have much of a flare at the buttcap. It's not as big an issue as shape, but I don't like the feeling I might lose it if I'm sweaty.
 
R

RetroSpin

Hall of Fame
TimeToPlaySets said:
I might buy a new racket. I remember the old "1 finger" gap width rule but no idea if that applies anymore. Way too imprecise.

Even measuring with a ruler is comically inaccurate when the precision tolerance needs to be within 1/8" ...I can measure 3 ways and get variation of an entire 1/2", so what is a realistic way of determining proper grip size??

I can't even tell what the hell the ruler is aligned with.
It seems placed randomly within the palm.
YOU CAN NOT BE SERIOUS
https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/LC/Gripsize.html
Click to expand...

I don't really see this as much of an issue, but if it is bothering you, what size golf glove do you wear? Large or XL=4 5/8. Large cadet=4 1/2. Regular=4 3/8. Regular cadet= 4/38-4 1/4.

This is a lot like golf grips. Some guys prefer them a little bigger, others smaller, than the recommended size.
 
O

ONgame

Semi-Pro
You should always know what your approximate grip size (4 3/8, 4 1/2 or whatever) is by just trying them out in a local store.
And then fine tune the grip size of future racquets with different replacement grip or overgrips.
I personally need exactly 4 5/8, but I always play with overgrip, so I can either go 4 5/8 plus a TW 1.3mm leather to size down + over grip, or 4 1/2 plus a 1.7-1.8mm leather to size up + overgrip
 
S

sureshs

Bionic Poster
TimeToPlaySets said:
I might buy a new racket. I remember the old "1 finger" gap width rule but no idea if that applies anymore. Way too imprecise.

Even measuring with a ruler is comically inaccurate when the precision tolerance needs to be within 1/8" ...I can measure 3 ways and get variation of an entire 1/2", so what is a realistic way of determining proper grip size??

I can't even tell what the hell the ruler is aligned with.
It seems placed randomly within the palm.
YOU CAN NOT BE SERIOUS
https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/LC/Gripsize.html
Click to expand...

It is aligned with the finger of course as you can see in the diagram
 
Lance L

Lance L

Semi-Pro
You are overthinking this. 3 or 4 are fine for most guys. I go back & forth between 3 & 4 & don't even notice.

Get a 3 (4 3/8), play with & forget it. You can always build it up, which is a lot easier than going down as I learned from experience.
 
S

snvplayer

Hall of Fame
TimeToPlaySets said:
Do I line up the ruler on the inner edge of the ring finger? The middle axis? The outer edge?
Since the lower palm crease curve downwards, that placement has a variation of over half an inch.
Which is almost the entire range of grip size availability.
Click to expand...

you are making this more complicated. Try different grip sizes and see how they feel. If your hand begins to cramp, it's probably too big. If the racket begins to twist, it's too small.
 
Crocodile

Crocodile

G.O.A.T.
I like the finger space but I've got a large hand so I always opt for a 5/8 grip with an over grip or a 1/2 with 2 over grips.
With respect to the different brands it's just a matter of getting used to them as long as the but cap area is raised. I use a Volkl or Dunlop but quite like the Pacific snd Prince as well.
 
weelie

weelie

Professional
I remember checking online that I measure as 11cm from heel to middle finger or something or rather. And that determines I am size 3. Well, now I am playing 2 + overgrip (and 3 w/o overgrip).

When I started as a kid in the 80s, I had size 4 and two overgrips...
 
D

Deleted member 23235

Guest
mad dog1 said:
And there are so many different brands of tennis racquets all with slightly different handle lengths and shapes! How does someone know which one to choose?

Head
Babolat
Wilson
Srixon
Yonex
Pro kennex
Tecnifibre
Dunlop
Donnay
Angell
Click to expand...

Demo... a lot.
Try friends racquets.
Presume that you'll need to switch racquets as your game progresses,...

Personally I still use a racquet from 1999. Probably could/should change, but can't justify spending 600 on 3x racquets (i.e. Won't help my game 600 worth :p)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
F

fuzz nation

G.O.A.T.
TimeToPlaySets said:
I tried the ruler method, and got 4 3/4"

There is no god damned way my hand is the largest grip that they make.
I have tiny hands and wrists.

How the fukc is literally EVERY aspect to this game more complicated and ambiguous than rocket science?
Click to expand...

I'd say that there's probably more art than science at work in the tennis realm, at least compared with the rocket thingy where the art is pretty much limited to the paint job on said projectile...

Lots of our pals these days prefer 4 3/8" or even 4 1/4" grips. A LOT of this issue is about the mercurial animal we call feel - it will boil down to what's comfortable for you. Empirical measurements can offer a rough guideline, but they don't change what you sense to be a "good fit".

One more potential problem is that different labels have different grip shapes. While one company's 4 3/8" grip might feel like a skinny little pencil in your hand, another builder's racquet having the same grip size might feel more cumbersome or chunky. Sorting this out is one more thing that demands a little sampling.

Think of the issue of grip size sort of like shoes. Even though I know I'm typically a size 12, I still need to try them on to check how they fit me.

...and don't knock it til you try it. I've played with 4 5/8" grips forever and a couple of those are even built up with heat shrink sleeves, so they're at least 4 3/4". Cozy for me and my hands aren't freakishly big. My sister has always used 4 5/8" grips, too. She's average size, played in college years ago... nothing crazy going on there.
 
TimeToPlaySets

TimeToPlaySets

Legend
I went to a store. I was told 4 1/2 is my grip.
4 1/4 too small (but I played with one, and no disaster)

Anyone want to sell me a 4 1/2 grip racket?
 
ohiostate124

ohiostate124

Professional
Not sure why I’m bumping this but I’ve had similar issues. Lately, I pretty much always use the 1 finger trick and 4 5/8 has always been my go to gripsize. I was doing the measurement method to help someone pick a racket and did myself out of curiosity. If I’m doing it right by measuring from the second crease to the tip of my ring finger, I get 5 1/4. That’s interesting lol. I’ll have to wrap a bunch of extra overgrips one time and see how it feels.
 
E

Envy

Rookie
Ive used 4 1/4 before, it was comfortable and wippy but once i sweat a lot, its pretty hard to swing freely. The fear of having my racquet slip from my grip eventually slowed my RHS. later i tried a 4 3/8 at it felt better mainly due to the fact that I can swing freely. Anyways, its better to buy a grip smaller then build your grip from there untill you feel comfortable.
 
Hmgraphite1

Hmgraphite1

Hall of Fame
I would recommend the heat shrink sleeves to try increasing it. The thicker one does change the feel and the balance a lot so it might not work long term. I was using a half for a long time, had a 5/8 as a kid, always preferred baseball bats with thicker grip. I tried 3/8 for a couple years but now back to 1/2. I Don't use an overgrip. On off center hits with the half it feels more stable. Measuring didn't provide any info . My hand seems to be between medium and large.
 
P

PMChambers

Hall of Fame
TimeToPlaySets said:
I went to a store. I was told 4 1/2 is my grip.
4 1/4 too small (but I played with one, and no disaster)

Anyone want to sell me a 4 1/2 grip racket?
Click to expand...
If you think 4 1/2 is right go with 4 3/8. It's unlikely correct if you intend to play more modern game
But serious is this your first racquet? If not why don't you know.
Can build up easily but hard to reduce.
 
Shroud

Shroud

G.O.A.T.
RetroSpin said:
Don't forget that you will probably use an overgrip, which adds about 1/8. Babolat grips run large, so if you are between sizes, go with the smaller. Also, it's a lot easier to build up a grip than reduce it.

Grip shape is another topic. I love the Babolat shape, Wilson too. I do not like the more rectangular shape that a lot of Heads have. Personal preference but you are stuck with it.

I like a larger buttcap as well. Some handles, eg older dunlops, did not have much of a flare at the buttcap. It's not as big an issue as shape, but I don't like the feeling I might lose it if I'm sweaty.
Click to expand...
Finally someone who gets that an og adds one whole size
 
Dartagnan64

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
I measure to 4 1/2". I generally go to 4 3/8 with 2 overgrips or 4 1/2 with one overgrip depending on cushioning needs. I also find I like a bigger grip for volleys and touch shots and a smaller grip for topspin groundies. So I gravitate to my bigger grip rackets in doubles and to my smaller ones in singles.
 
OnTheLine

OnTheLine

Hall of Fame
I think it is all personal preference, I like a 4 1/2 with 2 overgrips or a 4 5/8" with 1 overgrip. I find that anything smaller I start using a death grip on the racquet that leads to terrible shots and arm pain.
 
tlm

tlm

G.O.A.T.
If you use an overgrip that gains almost a full size. The old way of measuring I would use a 4 1/2 because I have a pretty large hand. But I have dropped down over the years and now use a 4 1/4 and it’s just right. The old school guys use the log handles which personally I think suck. Feels like you have a tree in your hand.
 
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