Purpose of an Overgrip

FreshStew · May 10, 2008

I was just wondering why so many players use an overgrip. I play with the Wilson K Factor 95 and like the feel of the True Grip but my fingers overlap. I tried the Wilson Pro Overgip for a while and loved the feel but it was a little thick for my small hands. Last week a guy at Sports Chalet put masking tape under my grip to make it thicker since that is what he does with golf grips that don't fit his hands

. Is the overgrip used for making a grip thicker, sweat, or to save money on buying a replacement grip?

ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED;-)

Mick · May 10, 2008

I don't know about you guys but for me it is to protect the original grip.

FreshStew · May 10, 2008

Mick said:
I don't know about you guys but for me it is to protect the original grip.

So you protect the original grip but never use it?

Mick · May 10, 2008

FreshStew said:
So you protect the original grip but never use it?

I would put the overgrip over the original grip and use the racquet. when the overgrip is dirty I would replace it with another overgrip and the original grip would look perfect.

ambro · May 10, 2008

Better grip. I prefer the feel of an overgrip on top of a leather over a regular replacement grip.

FreshStew · May 10, 2008

Mick said:
I would put the overgrip over the original grip and use the racquet. when the overgrip is dirty I would replace it with another overgrip and the original grip would look perfect.

Do you like the feel of the overgrip better than the original?

FreshStew · May 10, 2008

And do you guys think using masking tape was a good idea?

Mick · May 10, 2008

FreshStew said:
Do you like the feel of the overgrip better than the original?

you know, I have never removed the plastic wrapping on the grip for all the racquets that I bought new, so the overgrip definitely feels much better than the grip with the plastic wrapping over it

FreshStew · May 10, 2008

Mick said:
you know, I have never removed the plastic wrapping on the grip for all the racquets that I bought new, so the overgrip definitely feels much better than the grip with the plastic wrapping over it

Was that a joke?:grin:

CaveMan · May 10, 2008

i am like mick, only I remove the plastic. But I try to keep my racquets looking nice, so I don't want to damage the original grip.

Mick · May 10, 2008

FreshStew said:
Was that a joke?:grin:

no joke

I would put the overgrip over the grip of a new racquet and take it to the tennis court. I don't remove the plastic wrapping (see below).

bluetrain4 · May 10, 2008

I sweat a lot and just can't get a good grip without overgrip. I couldn't care less about maintainin the original grip.

I really like the feel of a racquet with no overgrip, but I just can't do it. My racquet would fly out of my hands and I would have no confidence holding on to it.

dancraig · May 10, 2008

FreshStew said:
I was just wondering why so many players use an overgrip. I play with the Wilson K Factor 95 and like the feel of the True Grip but my fingers overlap. I tried the Wilson Pro Overgip for a while and loved the feel but it was a little thick for my small hands. Last week a guy at Sports Chalet put masking tape under my grip to make it thicker since that is what he does with golf grips that don't fit his hands . Is the overgrip used for making a grip thicker, sweat, or to save money on buying a replacement grip?

ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED;-)

There are two main types of overgrip, tacky and absorbant. The tacky overgrip is intended to reproduce the feel of a new permanent grip. The absorbant overgrip is for fighting the effects of sweat in warm weather.

baek57 · May 11, 2008

overgrips are easier to replace than regular grips

Holdfast44ID · May 11, 2008

Don't like them...

I like to feel the bevels of the racquet grip. Overgrips round the grip a bit and I don't like that. As a junior player, I used overgrips until I realized I didn't feel the ball as well. Used Tournagrip (yuck!) and, believe it or not, a chamois skin grip that was popular for a period of time. The chamois was terrible as it would start off being too smooth/soft, then it would get too dry/rough! I also used other thin overgrips. One other thing I don't like about overgrips: I could never regrip my racquets so they'd feel exactly the same. I'm real picky about the feel of the grip, where my index finger rests, etc. I'd prefer not to think about it, but when something feels different, you think about it! Any inconsistent feelings on the grip bug me. I want the grip to feel the same all the time, like my strings.

FreshStew · May 11, 2008

Holdfast44ID said:
I like to feel the bevels of the racquet grip. Overgrips round the grip a bit and I don't like that. As a junior player, I used overgrips until I realized I didn't feel the ball as well. Used Tournagrip (yuck!) and, believe it or not, a chamois skin grip that was popular for a period of time. The chamois was terrible as it would start off being too smooth/soft, then it would get too dry/rough! I also used other thin overgrips. One other thing I don't like about overgrips: I could never regrip my racquets so they'd feel exactly the same. I'm real picky about the feel of the grip, where my index finger rests, etc. I'd prefer not to think about it, but when something feels different, you think about it! Any inconsistent feelings on the grip bug me. I want the grip to feel the same all the time, like my strings.

Yeah I like to feel the bevels and the ball. Is there a good thin, tack overgrip out there?

Has anyone ever heard of putting masking tape under a grip? Does it have any effects on the racquet?

Lendl and Federer Fan · May 11, 2008

It is for the sweaty hand.

Lendl and Federer Fan · May 11, 2008

Mick said:
no joke

I would put the overgrip over the grip of a new racquet and take it to the tennis court. I don't remove the plastic wrapping (see below).

No kidding, that is a good advice, let me try it too.

FreshStew · May 11, 2008

Do you guys think using masking tape was a good idea?

BullDogTennis · May 11, 2008

masking tape cant hurt it, its just making it thicker, its not going to damage the racket

Babb · May 11, 2008

Overgrips for me are for more sweat absorbency. Standard grips don't really absorb moisture and get really slick after just a little while.

chapjp22 · May 11, 2008

Mick said:
you know, I have never removed the plastic wrapping on the grip for all the racquets that I bought new, so the overgrip definitely feels much better than the grip with the plastic wrapping over it

you know thats interesting. i was thinking of doing that too. but whats the real purpose of doing it? just saving the factory grip?

Mick · May 11, 2008

chapjp22 said:
you know thats interesting. i was thinking of doing that too. but whats the real purpose of doing it? just saving the factory grip?

yep.
to me, overgrip over plastic wrapping and overgrip over grip without plastic wrapping both feel the same, so why remove the plastic wrapping ?

sixone90 · May 12, 2008

What a great idea. I'm not removing the plastic wrapping after I buy my next racquet! Is it harder to put the overgrip on while the plastic is still on it?

Klatu Verata Necktie · May 12, 2008

Are you doing this so you could pass your used racquet off as new?

Lefty5 · May 12, 2008

its to get a better grip on the racket. Original grips have no sweat absorbing qualities and will slip out of your hand. Tourna Grip is the best all around grip hands down. Some others are tacky but the tack wears out quickly.

Tennis_Perfectus · May 12, 2008

If you're going to use an overgrip to protect a racquet's original grip then I find that its better if you REMOVE the plastic wrapping. If you don't remove the plastic after buying you will never be able to remove the plastic cover without damaging the original grip. This is because the plastic will stick to the grip after a while, specially if you apply pressure on it (putting an overgrip on top and then playing with it). It won't matter if you will never remove the plastic as you'll not damage it, but the way that I think about it is that the grip is damaged already, you just don't see it.

I've personally experieced this after I finally decided to take off a plastic on top of one of my racquet's original grip after a long time of having it in. I really tried to take it off as carefully as I can but there was no preventing the damage.

This happened a while ago on one of my starting frames that did not have leather grips on them. I learned my lesson right there and didn't want any more of my original grips ruined (specially the leather ones). Since then I've always taken off the plastic and put on overgrips on all the frames I buy, even those I'm not stringing yet.

Personally, I use overgrip (Wilson Pro Overgrip - white) because I want to protect my original grip, I love how it feels on top of Wilson's Leather Grip, and its much easier to install and replace.

autumn_leaf · May 12, 2008

i use overgrip to give a more cushy feeling. and the fact that it's a lot cheaper than replacing original grips is a plus.

FreshStew · May 12, 2008

bluetrain4 said:
I sweat a lot and just can't get a good grip without overgrip. I couldn't care less about maintainin the original grip.

I really like the feel of a racquet with no overgrip, but I just can't do it. My racquet would fly out of my hands and I would have no confidence holding on to it.

The racquet would sometimes slip in my hands with overgrip.

Is there an overgrip similar to the Wilson Pro Overgrip but thinner?

I love the feel of the Pro Overgrip but I can't feel the bevels and its a lil thick for my small hands?

Also, does absorbant overgrip last longer than tack overgrip?

Tennis_Perfectus · May 12, 2008

Is there an overgrip similar to the Wilson Pro Overgrip but thinner?

You're looking for the Yonex SuperGrap. Its very similar to Wilson Pro, but slightly thinner. (we're talking very slightly thinner here, but its noticeable)

I love the feel of the Pro Overgrip but I can't feel the bevels and its a lil thick for my small hands?

You can adjust the thickness of soft overgrips like the Wilson Pro and the Yonex SuperGrap by how tight you wrap it around the handle. I personally like the SuperGrap, but I gotta say I really prefer the Wilson Pro because it just peforms better. The slight increase of thickness goes a long way in providing a softer touch specially when wrapped over leather.

Also, does absorbant overgrip last longer than tack overgrip?

Absorbent overgrips tend to be replaced quicker than the tacky ones since people who buy those have really sweaty palms and don't like keeping them on as they won't be as effective next time.

FreshStew · May 12, 2008

Tennis_Perfectus said:
You're looking for the Yonex SuperGrap. Its very similar to Wilson Pro, but slightly thinner. (we're talking very slightly thinner here, but its noticeable)

You can adjust the thickness of soft overgrips like the Wilson Pro and the Yonex SuperGrap by how tight you wrap it around the handle. I personally like the SuperGrap, but I gotta say I really prefer the Wilson Pro because it just peforms better. The slight increase of thickness goes a long way in providing a softer touch specially when wrapped over leather.

Absorbent overgrips tend to be replaced quicker than the tacky ones since people who buy those have really sweaty palms and don't like keeping them on as they won't be as effective next time.

Thanks

Big ups to Tennis Perfectus

Does SuperGrap lasts longer?

bluetrain4 · May 12, 2008

FreshStew said:
Also, does absorbant overgrip last longer than tack overgrip?

No. I use Tournagrip for sweat absorption and I change grip ALL THE TIME. I buy the 30 packs from TW. During indoor season, I can sometimes use a grip for multiple matches (bu I don't like too). During the summer, I change grips every time I play. Sometimes I change between sets in a tournament. Simply a fact of life for a heavy sweater.

Mick · May 12, 2008

Klatu Verata Necktie said:
Are you doing this so you could pass your used racquet off as new?

nope. i don't plan to sell any of my racquets. when I need money, there's the stock market

FreshStew · May 13, 2008

Anyone tried the TournaGrip II?

symon_say · May 13, 2008

I use grip cause they feel better than original grip, and are cheaper to change, y play 3 times a week, and like to use white grip and i change it max every 2 weeks cause it gets really dirty.

Cup8489 · May 13, 2008

FreshStew said:
Anyone tried the TournaGrip II?

it's mainly for people who use tournagrip but don't sweat alot, but still like the tournagrip name. if you want something tacky, yonex supergrap really is the way to go. it comes in black 30 grip reels, which is just awesome, because white gets too dirty too quickly.

i have a question for you though: did the masking tape get placed on the bare handle or was it over the original grip? if you want to feel the bevels more, leather is very firm and lets the bevels stand out, but is cushy enough for you to use most overgrips comfortably. when you wrap an overgrip, make sure that it overlaps the same amount all the way down the handle, for a uniform feel.

but for sweaty hands, Leather Replacement grip + Tournagrip on top = perfection (i use this setup, and wont use anything else, ever)

but if you DONT use a regular grip, and just the overgrip on the masking tape, can you explain why you didnt put another grip on once the first wore out?

greenfan · May 14, 2008

For me is firstly to absorbe sweat. You can change it every time your hands slip and the original grip stays as new....
Furthermore it makes the grip a little thicker and I can handle it better.

FreshStew · May 14, 2008

Cup8489 said:
it's mainly for people who use tournagrip but don't sweat alot, but still like the tournagrip name. if you want something tacky, yonex supergrap really is the way to go. it comes in black 30 grip reels, which is just awesome, because white gets too dirty too quickly.

i have a question for you though: did the masking tape get placed on the bare handle or was it over the original grip? if you want to feel the bevels more, leather is very firm and lets the bevels stand out, but is cushy enough for you to use most overgrips comfortably. when you wrap an overgrip, make sure that it overlaps the same amount all the way down the handle, for a uniform feel.

but for sweaty hands, Leather Replacement grip + Tournagrip on top = perfection (i use this setup, and wont use anything else, ever)

but if you DONT use a regular grip, and just the overgrip on the masking tape, can you explain why you didnt put another grip on once the first wore out?

Thanks Cup

Yeah the masking tape was placed under the grip to thicken the grip a bit so that it would fit my hands.

I like how I can feel the bevels with leather grip but leather feels stiff. How is the feel under Yonex SuperGrap? Is leather thinner than the Wilson True Grip?

mdjenders · May 14, 2008

IMO, overgrips are a necessity to maintain a grip on the frame because all standard replacement grips get slippery when soaked thoroughly. However, I agree with several posters that overgrips feel like trash over many cushioned replacement grips because all the bevel feel is lost. I used to use leather under my tournagrips, but now I like the Laserfibre Tour Fit grip underneath. It is cheaper, and if you stretch it tight when wrapping, you get nice bevel feel with the overgrip.

TenniseaWilliams · May 15, 2008

I like the firmness and the feel of the bevels through a leather grip, but it tears up my hands and gets too slick when profusely sweated upon. Supergrap is less expensive (unless you like white and buy 30 at a time) and seems to last a little longer the Wilson Pro.

FreshStew · May 15, 2008

Does leather feel softer under an overgrip like SuperGrap or Wilson Pro?

TenniseaWilliams · May 15, 2008

FreshStew said:
Does leather feel softer under an overgrip like SuperGrap or Wilson Pro?

Yes. I mostly use an overgrip for the lesser abrasion, but there is also a slight difference in pure handle shock against your palm.

FreshStew · May 17, 2008

TenniseaWilliams said:
Yes. I mostly use an overgrip for the lesser abrasion, but there is also a slight difference in pure handle shock against your palm.

Is shock why a lot players don't use leather?

Topspin Kid364 · May 17, 2008

Well, my racket has a smaller handle size than i would like, so i put on an overgrip on. I also use overgrips because they have more absorbtion, tack, and feel. The regular grip that comes with the racket is usually just for cushion.

FreshStew · May 19, 2008

I took the TrueGrip and masking tape off and put on a Head Hydrosorb grip from my other racquet. I just put the TournaGrip over the Hydrosorb and it feels real good.

How long do TournaGrips usually last?

Babb · May 19, 2008

FreshStew said:
Anyone tried the TournaGrip II?

It's everything that the original is not. TG's legacy lies in its absorbency, and that is something the tacky does not have. I tried it and absolutely hated it.

Maybe for tacky fans it would be worth a try, but it shouldn't have the TG name on it...

WilsonPlayer101 · May 22, 2010

I only put an over-grip on my original grip to make it bigger a bit. I used to put some gauze grip under the original grip then put the original grip back on but now I just put an over-grip on. I don't see the reason for an over-grip other than just to make the grip bigger. Other than that use the original grip because the surface area last longer than an over-grip. You'll be replacing an over-grip a lot and might as well use the original grip and when it goes bad just buy a new one.

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