Best way to increase gripsize without adding weight?

What is the best way to make a 3/8 racquet like a 1/2, without adding weight?
I know about the heat shrink sleeves, but they add too much extra weight to the handle. What about adding some masking tape or Athletic tape on top of the pallet and then wrapping the grip over that?

I know there are some thicker grips out there like the Babolat Air Sphere, but they make the handle feel too mushy.

Has anyone tried the Game Hi-tech grip? Isn't that supposed to be thicker?

Hi Jack,
the only way is thin layers of balsa-wood.
You can attach it with doublesided tape and maintain the bevels/edges of the handle....
Balsawood with a width of 0.8mm-1.0 mm increases one size.
The weight is next to nothing..

lphansen

1 grip size requires 1/64" filler on all pallet faces. Here are some options.

1/64" balsa is lightest adding less than 2 grams, but material is hard to find.

4 layers of masking tape will add 5 - 6 grams. Take your time and cut pieces for each pallet face and the bevels stay nice and sharp.

Both these options are far better than a standard heat shrink sleeve which is easy to apply but rounds the bevels.

2handsbothsides said:

1 grip size requires 1/64" filler on all pallet faces. Here are some options.

1/64" balsa is lightest adding less than 2 grams, but material is hard to find.

4 layers of masking tape will add 5 - 6 grams. Take your time and cut pieces for each pallet face and the bevels stay nice and sharp.

Both these options are far better than a standard heat shrink sleeve which is easy to apply but rounds the bevels.

Click to expand...

That's brilliant.

8 pieces of silver tape, meaning one on each flat surface, does the job quite well. You preserve sharp corners, it sticks well to a grip, and it's not rocket science.

2handsbothsides said:

1 grip size requires 1/64" filler on all pallet faces. Here are some options.

1/64" balsa is lightest adding less than 2 grams, but material is hard to find.

4 layers of masking tape will add 5 - 6 grams. Take your time and cut pieces for each pallet face and the bevels stay nice and sharp.

Both these options are far better than a standard heat shrink sleeve which is easy to apply but rounds the bevels.

Click to expand...

So does that mean that using 1/32" would increase two grip sizes? I'm looking to increase a grip from 1/8 to 3/8.

How would you measure "1/64th or 1/32" of an inch? How would you cut it?
Two sided tape weighs lots, and varies in thickness.
Grain in balsa is variable, so sometimes it cuts clean, oftentimes not.
At "1/64", it might crush.

Lphansen said:

Hi Jack,
the only way is thin layers of balsa-wood.
You can attach it with doublesided tape and maintain the bevels/edges of the handle....
Balsawood with a width of 0.8mm-1.0 mm increases one size.
The weight is next to nothing..

lphansen

Click to expand...

have you actually done this? Wouldn't you have to cut 8 strips of the balsa?
seems like it would be an awful lot of trouble??

LeeD said:

How would you measure "1/64th or 1/32"

Click to expand...

You don't need to measure that - the balsa comes in sheets (or strips) of various standard thicknesses. 1/32" is pretty common; 1/64" less so (I have not used this thickness myself).

JackB1 said:

have you actually done this? Wouldn't you have to cut 8 strips of the balsa?
seems like it would be an awful lot of trouble??

Click to expand...

I've done this (using 1/32"). Not that hard. Yes you need to cut out up to 8 strips, although I used only 4 (on the 'larger' surfaces of the grip). You do need to trace out the grip onto the balsa, and then cut it out. Cutting is easy using a hobby knife. A tip: put electrical tape on the underside of the balsa where you are going to cut it; this will help prevent splintering and give you a clean sharp cut. This can all be done in maybe 10-15 mins; whether it's worth the trouble is up to you...

Sorry, brainfade on my part.
You can buy various thickness balsa at most model airplane stores.
You also have to do the experimenting yourself, as the variables are too huge to account for without knowing your materials.