Disadvantages of a Leather Grip

FreshStew

FreshStew

Rookie
I was thinking about switching to a leather grip for more bevel feel but didn't know what the disadvantages of using a leather grip were.:confused:

Also, are leather grips thicker than other grips? And how is the feel with a Wilson Pro Overgrip or a TournaGrip?

ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED ;)
 
ogruskie

ogruskie

Professional
FreshStew said:
I was thinking about switching to a leather grip for more bevel feel but didn't know what the disadvantages of using a leather grip were.:confused:

Also, are leather grips thicker than other grips? And how is the feel with a Wilson Pro Overgrip or a TournaGrip?

ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED ;)
Click to expand...

A leather grip is MUCH more firmer than a synthetic grip. After playing with a leather grip for about a year, then attempting to play with a synthetic grip again, I felt like I was holding a water balloon in my hand. Its really that much cushioned (or at least feels that way).

But I'm assuming you're converting from synthetic to leather. At first it'll feel a bit strange since the handle is going to feel rock hard, but you'll eventually get used to it.

There are no actual drawbacks in having a leather grip. You're hands might get a little blistered during very cold weather, though. I personally switch between Tourna and Wilson Pro. Once you break into the Wilson Pro, it feels simply amazing over a leather grip. Although, thats all up to your preference. Tourna feels good only once I've broken into it. A brand new strip over Tourna over leather is rather brutal on my palm, but its heavenly after about a week's use (the tackiness wears off).

Hope that helped.
 
bagung

bagung

Hall of Fame
leather is heavy.. about 24-28g.. which is almost twice the weight of syn replacement grip...
less cushion... hard....
easier to get blisters if you do not get used to it....
 
FreshStew

FreshStew

Rookie
ogruskie said:
A leather grip is MUCH more firmer than a synthetic grip. After playing with a leather grip for about a year, then attempting to play with a synthetic grip again, I felt like I was holding a water balloon in my hand. Its really that much cushioned (or at least feels that way).

But I'm assuming you're converting from synthetic to leather. At first it'll feel a bit strange since the handle is going to feel rock hard, but you'll eventually get used to it.

There are no actual drawbacks in having a leather grip. You're hands might get a little blistered during very cold weather, though. I personally switch between Tourna and Wilson Pro. Once you break into the Wilson Pro, it feels simply amazing over a leather grip. Although, thats all up to your preference. Tourna feels good only once I've broken into it. A brand new strip over Tourna over leather is rather brutal on my palm, but its heavenly after about a week's use (the tackiness wears off).

Hope that helped.
Click to expand...

Big ups ogruskie;)

But would a leather grip have any effect on my K95 since leather weighs twice as much as synthetic?
 
HyperHorse

HyperHorse

Banned
If you're not used to a leather grip...
I can't see any reason to recommend one..
They harden up like granite, don't soak up sweat very well and you will get blisters.
Lots of blisters... Oh and once they get slippery then u lose all grip.
And they are more expensive.. so imho you'd have to be nuts to buy one.
 
H

herosol

Professional
HyperHorse said:
If you're not used to a leather grip...
I can't see any reason to recommend one..
They harden up like granite, don't soak up sweat very well and you will get blisters.
Lots of blisters... Oh and once they get slippery then u lose all grip.
And they are more expensive.. so imho you'd have to be nuts to buy one.
Click to expand...

wow. you just gave all of the negatives haha.
 
AlpineCadet

AlpineCadet

Hall of Fame
FreshStew said:
I was thinking about switching to a leather grip for more bevel feel but didn't know what the disadvantages of using a leather grip were.:confused:

Also, are leather grips thicker than other grips? And how is the feel with a Wilson Pro Overgrip or a TournaGrip?

ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED ;)
Click to expand...

Leather is typically heavier than most synthetic grips. They're stiffer, less tacky, and they make your hands ache after a long hitting session. What they're good for is more vibration transmission/ball feel, a more pronounced bevel feel, more weight/stability (slightly), and they last much longer and don't compress as easily.
 
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ogruskie

ogruskie

Professional
I'd recommend trying a leather grip over a crappy racquet that you don't use, so that you can determine whether you want leather over your primary racquet. Its better to spend some extra money than have to regret your decision many weeks/months down the line.
 
N

Nitro

Rookie
Grammar is grammar whether it is spoken or written.

I mean, that's the kind of thing people say when they are trying to exaggerate someone else's speech. I don't think I've ever seen or heard someone say such a thing without intending to be funny.
 
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AlpineCadet

AlpineCadet

Hall of Fame
Nitro said:
Grammar is grammar whether it is spoken or written.

I mean, thats the kind of thing people say when they are trying to exaggerate someone else's speech. I don't think I've ever seen or heard someone say such a thing without intending to be funny.
Click to expand...
that's = that is :oops:

Nitro said:
What are you? 10? Grow up. And while you're at it, why don't you learn to start editing your posts instead of sounding like a moron.
Click to expand...
 
M

MTXR

Professional
i never play with just the leather grip... there must be at all times an overgrip over it. I prefer supergrap or wilson pro, whichever is cheaper at time of purchase.
 
FreshStew

FreshStew

Rookie
HyperHorse said:
If you're not used to a leather grip...
I can't see any reason to recommend one..
They harden up like granite, don't soak up sweat very well and you will get blisters.
Lots of blisters... Oh and once they get slippery then u lose all grip.
And they are more expensive.. so imho you'd have to be nuts to buy one.
Click to expand...

What about with an overgrip over the leather grip?
 
armsty

armsty

Hall of Fame
Hey guys, first post and such.

Personally after playing with synthetic all my life, cannot play with a leather grip. I enjoy the bumps where the grip overlaps itself and they help me grip the grip. I cannot stand the leather grips, feels so hard and hurts like hell once you're done.

By all means though, do try it, it definately suits people's playing styles and techniques so it's probably best to have a go.
 
HyperHorse

HyperHorse

Banned
FreshStew said:
What about with an overgrip over the leather grip?
Click to expand...

What's the point of that? Cheaper and more cushioned/comfortable feel with a overgrip over a synthetic replacement grip.
Leather is for shoes, wallets and jackets. Doesn't belong anywhere on my racquet.
If you need to use a leather grip to get more bevel feel, than maybe you're not putting the grip on the handle properly?
 
armsty

armsty

Hall of Fame
HyperHorse said:
What's the point of that? Cheaper and more cushioned/comfortable feel with a overgrip over a synthetic replacement grip.
Leather is for shoes, wallets and jackets. Doesn't belong anywhere on my racquet.
If you need to use a leather grip to get more bevel feel, than maybe you're not putting the grip on the handle properly?
Click to expand...
Have to agree. I don't really see the point of a leather grip unless you want to be Federer's twin to be honest. I train with a fella who only buys the Federer grips to put on his Federer racket in his Federer bag... etc. He always complains about having sore hands but never listens when somebody mentions the grip.
 
S

slice bh compliment

G.O.A.T.
Like most pros, RF uses leather with an overgrip over it.

I feel no down side to playing with leather other than the fact that it's a couple of bucks more in initial cost.

I like the firm feel of a leather replacement grip with a thin overgrip for dryness/tackiness.
 
S

slice bh compliment

G.O.A.T.
armsty said:
Have to agree. I don't really see the point of a leather grip unless you want to be Federer's twin to be honest.....
Click to expand...

Interesting. I've never had any hand pain from a leather grip. Maybe your buddy's got the wrong size? Or he holds the racquet too tightly?

Oh, and BTW, even though Federer is by far my favorite tennis player, I have no interest in being his twin. I don't even use the same racquet, clothing/footwear brand. At all. Never have. Not even during the Pete era.

I've used leather grips since before Roger was even born.
 
N

Nellie

Hall of Fame
After reading too many posts, I decided to try a leather grip and did not like it. I got bad blasters, and really went through overgrips (new one needed for every extended session).

I have no downside to playing with a synthetic grip, so I see no reason to change.
 
tarkowski

tarkowski

Professional
HyperHorse said:
What's the point of that? Cheaper and more cushioned/comfortable feel with a overgrip over a synthetic replacement grip.
Leather is for shoes, wallets and jackets. Doesn't belong anywhere on my racquet.
If you need to use a leather grip to get more bevel feel, than maybe you're not putting the grip on the handle properly?
Click to expand...

I really like the combo of having the Wilson Pro overgrip over leather. To me, it's the best-feeling combo, and has the advantage of convenient update - i.e., overgrip starts to feel worn, replace it. It's easier to do this than to replace a primary synthetic.

However, I'd never play with leather alone - definitely prefer a synthetic to raw leather.
 
G

Gemini

Hall of Fame
Even with an overgrip on top of it, a leather grip will DEFINITELY beat up your hands. I learned that the hard way with my HPS 6.5 Tour.
 
Teyko

Teyko

Banned
MTXR said:
i never play with just the leather grip... there must be at all times an overgrip over it. I prefer supergrap or wilson pro, whichever is cheaper at time of purchase.
Click to expand...

I concur. I play with a K Factor Blade Tour 93 and I only play with an overgrip. It feels extremely solid and absorbs most of the vibrations. I would suggest an overgrip by wilson, I like the white one and yellow one for the tour , but that is of course just a personal preference.
 
FreshStew

FreshStew

Rookie
tarkowski said:
I really like the combo of having the Wilson Pro overgrip over leather. To me, it's the best-feeling combo, and has the advantage of convenient update - i.e., overgrip starts to feel worn, replace it. It's easier to do this than to replace a primary synthetic.

However, I'd never play with leather alone - definitely prefer a synthetic to raw leather.
Click to expand...

Yeah thats the combo I wanted to try.

Do you still get blisters with the Wilson Pro over the Leather?
 
F

fortunecookiesjc

Professional
When I got my first k90 i had a wilson pro on it and it had the best reponse to balls and feel with the combo... Its really nice. Just the wilson grip......you must have hands of steel.. I didnt like the feel.
 
tarkowski

tarkowski

Professional
FreshStew said:
Yeah thats the combo I wanted to try.

Do you still get blisters with the Wilson Pro over the Leather?
Click to expand...

No blisters - but calluses in several areas. Though nothing different than when using a synthetic. Just like the feel more with the pro over leather...
 
orangettecoleman

orangettecoleman

Professional
the hardness of the leather grip is what gives you such good bevel feel, and the weight is what absorbs vibrations and makes it feel more solid. both advantages for me, but some people don't like that, as you can see. definitely use an overgrip, as they said above. otherwise it will tear your hand up pretty bad.
 
FreshStew

FreshStew

Rookie
I just ordered the TW 25x1.3 leather grip today.

I ordered the thinner version since I am going to put an overgrip over it.

The only concern I have is the thickness of the leather+overgrip.:confused:

Right now my setup is Head Hydrosorb+TournaGrip which is just the right amount of thickness.

Will the leather+SuperGrap be about as thick?????
 
Cup8489

Cup8489

G.O.A.T.
FreshStew said:
I just ordered the TW 25x1.3 leather grip today.

I ordered the thinner version since I am going to put an overgrip over it.

The only concern I have is the thickness of the leather+overgrip.:confused:

Right now my setup is Head Hydrosorb+TournaGrip which is just the right amount of thickness.

Will the leather+SuperGrap be about as thick?????
Click to expand...

the 1.3 mm version is a little bit thinner than most synthetic grips, and i use it mainly because i wanted to get a smaller grip than the prince duratac w/ tournagrip provided.

but the 1.5 mm is about the same as most synthetic grips that come on frames, except for some reason babolat syntec seems way too thick.

but the new grip might feel smaller, but will be stiffer, so you may or may not detect a difference.
 
FreshStew

FreshStew

Rookie
Cup8489 said:
the 1.3 mm version is a little bit thinner than most synthetic grips, and i use it mainly because i wanted to get a smaller grip than the prince duratac w/ tournagrip provided.

but the 1.5 mm is about the same as most synthetic grips that come on frames, except for some reason babolat syntec seems way too thick.

but the new grip might feel smaller, but will be stiffer, so you may or may not detect a difference.
Click to expand...

SuperGrap or Wilson Pro?
 
T

tbini87

Hall of Fame
i love the feel of leather with an overgrip. with that being said... it is pretty stiff, and not very easy on the hands, wrist, arm. since my hand has had a few surgeries it doesn't work as well as it used to, and hurts fairly often. i have decided to go back to synthetic grips to help save my hand a bit. i also found that the leather grip seemed to move in my hand a little bit more (on an off center volley or something) than a syn grip.
 
Sixpointone

Sixpointone

Professional
FreshStew said:
Would you guys prefer Wilson Pro or SuperGrap over leather?:confused:
Click to expand...

I use Wilson Pro over my Leather Grip. I'm sure others might prefer Yonex as it is all personal preference.

If possible, I'd suggest trying both and seeing first hand your likes and dislikes.

Hope that helps!
 
AlpineCadet

AlpineCadet

Hall of Fame
Wilson Pro and Yonex SG don't last very long for my dry, sandpaper skin. Gamma Supreme and maybe a worn down Wilson Pro Soft are better matches for me.
 
FreshStew

FreshStew

Rookie
Sixpointone said:
I use Wilson Pro over my Leather Grip. I'm sure others might prefer Yonex as it is all personal preference.

If possible, I'd suggest trying both and seeing first hand your likes and dislikes.

Hope that helps!
Click to expand...

Whats the difference between Pro and SuperGrap?:-?
 
FreshStew

FreshStew

Rookie
I just hit with TW leather 1.3+SuperGrap today and it started to hurt my hand after 2 hours of hitting.

Does it just take time to get used to?:confused:
 
T

tbini87

Hall of Fame
^you will prob need a little while to get used to it... but expect a little more soreness in your hands from now on if you keep using leather. that was my experience at least.
 
AlpineCadet

AlpineCadet

Hall of Fame
The handle is harder on your hands, so your body combats this by producing thicker skin. What else are you looking for?
 
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