Urgent Q: Can I buy 4-1/2 grip and downsize?
- Thread starter illzoni
- Start date
MauricioDias
Rookie
Sometimes the 4-1/2 grip of some manufacturer is smaller than others. What is the racquet manufacturer?
ringwraith
Rookie
I think the easiest way to downsize would be to take off the stock grip and replace it with a thin grip like babolat skinfeel . if u can take it , some people also play with just an overgrip wrapped on the bare handle. You could downsize about half a size this way.
Lukhas
Legend
Nope you can't downsize a Wilson racquet. Generally Blade handles don't size small. But you can buy a thinner replacement grip to try to bring it half a size down for example.
Some grip thickness:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=465717
Some grip thickness:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=465717
MauricioDias
Rookie
Downsize a grip is sometimes a tough work. Is more common to use less grip. In Wilson rackets I use a cuxon and a torna grip on L3 racquets and only a tourna grip in l4 racquets.
MauricioDias
Rookie
Ok, the grip size of wilson racquets you can control with quantity and thickness of chosen grip. And the size of 4-1/2 l4 is not much bigger than the l3.
MauricioDias
Rookie
Okay =), after you buy it the first step is to remove all grips and test if the size is ok. After that you tell me if it is ok or small and we'll see what is the best procedure.
Chotobaka
Hall of Fame
Great suggestion -- they are almost always very accommodating with this type of request. Based on the OP's replies I am guessing he chose the harder solution. Pity.
I assume it's a close-out item and that's why it's on happy hour. In that case, they may not get other sizes later.
Worst case, it's too big for him and I get a new racquet!
He's been playing with the Wilson BLX Tour Lite at 4-3/8 with the stock grip and--lately--the Tourna Tac overgrip. If I regrip the new racquet with something thinner, can I accomplish the tacky feel of the Tourna Tac with something also thinner and keep the size down?
Worst case, it's too big for him and I get a new racquet!
He's been playing with the Wilson BLX Tour Lite at 4-3/8 with the stock grip and--lately--the Tourna Tac overgrip. If I regrip the new racquet with something thinner, can I accomplish the tacky feel of the Tourna Tac with something also thinner and keep the size down?
MauricioDias
Rookie
Some grip brands are thinner than others. Yes you can find a grip that conserves a good feel and keeps the size down. Untill you find that you can find other grip that is a little less thinner and this will solve your problem.
When I bought a pro staff 6.1 classic that was l4 I just used one good grip. After that I stop using the grips I was used to and changed to thinner ones. Sometimes this change can show you new good setups.
When I bought a pro staff 6.1 classic that was l4 I just used one good grip. After that I stop using the grips I was used to and changed to thinner ones. Sometimes this change can show you new good setups.
I wouldn't assume that.
Many non-closeout items are featured on happy hour.
The best thing to do is call and find out.
Gut4Tennis
Hall of Fame
hope it works out
Thanks to those who were able to respond quickly. I bought the racquets and look forward to prepping them for my son's use.
When I first saw them on sale, I figured the pink would turn him off. Except that he's been influenced by major sports players wearing pink and really wants it.
When I first saw them on sale, I figured the pink would turn him off. Except that he's been influenced by major sports players wearing pink and really wants it.
It WILL work out.
I know a 11 year old girl, and her 13 year old sister, who uses Blade 98's in 18x20.
The younger is barely 4'10, and 92 lbs. The older is 5'2", maybe 105 lbs.
The younger will be next year's top 4 in girls 12, NorCal.
The older will be next year's top 30, in girls 16, NorCal.
Both now can play competitively in men's 4-4.5 levels.
And they can hit a ball as fast as any 5.0 man, but with less spin, of course.
I know a 11 year old girl, and her 13 year old sister, who uses Blade 98's in 18x20.
The younger is barely 4'10, and 92 lbs. The older is 5'2", maybe 105 lbs.
The younger will be next year's top 4 in girls 12, NorCal.
The older will be next year's top 30, in girls 16, NorCal.
Both now can play competitively in men's 4-4.5 levels.
And they can hit a ball as fast as any 5.0 man, but with less spin, of course.
heftylefty
Hall of Fame
Dude, that's a great grip. Super thin it differently made my 4 5/8 grip smaller.
depends on the handle
if the racquet has a foam handle, you can shave it down, but you kind of have to know what you are doing to make it even, or you will get funny feeling handle.
a normal coarse file works just fine.
the local tennis shop here in los gatos will do it for $10
after i watched them do it, i did it on my old speedport black that someone gave me. i took down the 5/8s to 1/2
if it is one of those old princes with the rubberize perforated handle, forget it
z
if the racquet has a foam handle, you can shave it down, but you kind of have to know what you are doing to make it even, or you will get funny feeling handle.
a normal coarse file works just fine.
the local tennis shop here in los gatos will do it for $10
after i watched them do it, i did it on my old speedport black that someone gave me. i took down the 5/8s to 1/2
if it is one of those old princes with the rubberize perforated handle, forget it
z
Rubberised handles can be shaved with the body tool, a lamprey mouth looking round tooth filing tool. It shaves course long cuts, so can be used to shave softer materials.
A sureform will also work, but it's harder to be precisely flat, since it needs a tool to hold the blade, and you don't have direct input.
A sureform will also work, but it's harder to be precisely flat, since it needs a tool to hold the blade, and you don't have direct input.
MauricioDias
Rookie
That's great =), hope your son enjoy the new racquet.
The new racquet with stock grip is the same size as the old racquet with stock grip and Tourna Tac overgrip. They measure just a hair under 4-1/2".
Although he's young, he's a pianist with long, strong fingers, so I let him try the new racquet after putting the overgrip on it (he really likes Tourna Tac). He's practicing now and complained a bit about the grip, saying his wrist hurt a bit.
I removed the overgrip and stock grip, exposing the bare racquet beneath. Other than lacking paint, the shaft under the grip appears to be the same material as the rest of the racquet. Just for kicks I rewrapped it just with the overgrip and he's hitting with it now. It's very hard and I don't believe it's a good long-term solution. Besides, it's now a smudge smaller than what he's used to.
I think I'll deconstruct an old racquet for comparison, then ponder it some more before deciding how to move forward. I believe my options are: 1) use a thinner grip with the overgrip to provide adequate (but less than old racquet) cushion; 2) modify/reduce the shaft to match the old and use the same/old grip and overgrip that he's accustomed to.
Although he's young, he's a pianist with long, strong fingers, so I let him try the new racquet after putting the overgrip on it (he really likes Tourna Tac). He's practicing now and complained a bit about the grip, saying his wrist hurt a bit.
I removed the overgrip and stock grip, exposing the bare racquet beneath. Other than lacking paint, the shaft under the grip appears to be the same material as the rest of the racquet. Just for kicks I rewrapped it just with the overgrip and he's hitting with it now. It's very hard and I don't believe it's a good long-term solution. Besides, it's now a smudge smaller than what he's used to.
I think I'll deconstruct an old racquet for comparison, then ponder it some more before deciding how to move forward. I believe my options are: 1) use a thinner grip with the overgrip to provide adequate (but less than old racquet) cushion; 2) modify/reduce the shaft to match the old and use the same/old grip and overgrip that he's accustomed to.
MauricioDias
Rookie
Try using 2 ovrgrips, that works fine for me.
This would be your best bet, IMO.
When I played with the Volkl Tour 10 Mid, it made the 4 1/2 grip feel VERY close to a 4 3/8 (with an overgrip).
Two little girls are our courts use stock BLX Blade 18x20's. In 4 1/2 size.
One is under 5' tall and maybe 93 lbs. She is next year's No.4, NorCal junior girl's in the 12's.
Her sister is 5'2" tall, maybe 100 lbs., is 13 years old, is next year's No. 27, junior girl's in the 16's in NorCal.
They both use 4 1/2 grips, and one of the reasons they like it is that they practice quite often with men's players in the 4.5 to 5.0 levels, and those level guys really hit a solid strong ball.
One is under 5' tall and maybe 93 lbs. She is next year's No.4, NorCal junior girl's in the 12's.
Her sister is 5'2" tall, maybe 100 lbs., is 13 years old, is next year's No. 27, junior girl's in the 16's in NorCal.
They both use 4 1/2 grips, and one of the reasons they like it is that they practice quite often with men's players in the 4.5 to 5.0 levels, and those level guys really hit a solid strong ball.
ringwraith
Rookie
Right, Pull 'em tight with less overlap. That's another tool that you have to make small adjustments in grip size.
MauricioDias
Rookie
Tourna's Pro Thin is just the ticket. You do sacrifice a bit of cushioning but it does lower the size by one. My son's new racquet grip is now the same grip size as the old.
thats great news!!! I'm happy to know that everything ended allright.
The thinner grip combination wasn't a problem during warm weather, but is magnified in the colder weather we have now. It's time to modify the racquets so I can install traditional grips and achieve the right size.
I believe I'll take my palm sander to it, carefully checking progress with a digital caliper. I'll need to be patient and keep in mind each flat surface is only part of the circumference.
Wish me luck. ;-)
I believe I'll take my palm sander to it, carefully checking progress with a digital caliper. I'll need to be patient and keep in mind each flat surface is only part of the circumference.
Wish me luck. ;-)
