Do you screw up a racket if you take off the original overgrip

I have a Wilson k factor six 90 and another k factor, the k88; they are both the same grip size, 3/8. I had used them for a while and they were fine but when i started playing against a better opponent than me i noticed that all of a sudden the grip felt too thick and it was messing up my game. I guess it was because i had to respond faster as opposed to when i played with weaker opponents, where i had more time. Either way i started noticing that the grip felt thick anyways and didn't allow me that much wrist action in the serve and well basically on all the other strokes.

So what i did was remove the original leather grip they came with and put 2 regular overgrips instead. They were lighter and the handle was thinner but they feel off in some way. They feel like off-center and unbalanced, i don't know how to explain it.

I have another k88 but this one is 1/4 grip size so it feels really good. It may be that my real grip size is 1/4. I haven't removed the original leather grip on this 1/4 of course so it feels solid and better than the other 2.

So could it be that taking off the original leather grip and putting 2 regular ones, which are thinner and lighter, messed up something?

Quite possible, based on my experience. I wanted to reduce the grip size on 3/8 tfight320s and removed the original grips and, not long after, the top of the handle started squeaking, rattling, and feeling unstable on each of the racquets. I use screws and superglue from time to time, but the fix is always temporary. Perhaps the original grip is part of the basic handle infrastructure on some racquets.

The problem isn't the tickness of the grip, but by removing the leather and replacing it with 2 OG, you removed about 12 grams from the handle.

That's why it has a different balance (less headlight) and feels sluggish.

If you wan't to keep the same size, put some lead under the grip and you should be good to go.

i dont see how people can play with just overgrips on the handle

zapvor said:

i dont see how people can play with just overgrips on the handle

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It feels wonderful.

Does it really feel wonderful?
I haven't tried this myself yet, but I remember reading an interview from some years back with a guy from Pacific, who among other things basically said that the worst thing you can do with regard to hurting your arm is playing with two overgrips only instead of a base grip (+ overgrip). Beats using poly strings etc. according to him. Don't ask me for a source because I don't have it...
But anyway, I'm now wondering if just using two overgrips really is SoBad for your arm

After removing the original grip, I would only put a single overgrip on the handle. It felt abolutely wonderful feeling the bevels, until the top of the handle started squeaking and became unstable.

You could compensate by running a single stripe of 1/2 inch leadtape from the top of the bevel down around the butt and up again to the top of the opposite bevel. This has been my favourite way to add weight to the handle. It will add about 7 grams if I remember correctly.

Thanks for all the answers, lead tape seems like the way to go right now, since I'm outside the US and can't buy 2 new original overgrips.

I put the original overgrips somewhere when I first removed them, I didn't throw them away, but they seem to have gotten lost because I can't find them anywhere or maybe somebody in my house threw them away.

OP that is a really bad feeling. I've tried that. I ended up switching to a lighter racquet (babolat) and that helped me keep up with bigger hitters / better players.

It will not make a racquet squeak or hurt the racquet in any way. Throw some lead on the bare graphite and layer 2 overgrips and all is groovy. The issue resides primarily in one's head...

Disputaciones said:

Do you screw up a racket if you take off the original overgrip

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You probably mean "Original grip". There is no such thing as "Original overgrip".

Thread title should say grip, not overgrip

sureshs said:

Thread title should say grip, not overgrip

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Yep, OK.

I think he just changed the racquet balance a good bit. (I imagine there is a big weight difference going from a leather grip to two overgrips.)

Disputaciones said:

Thanks for all the answers, lead tape seems like the way to go right now, since I'm outside the US and can't buy 2 new original overgrips.

I put the original overgrips somewhere when I first removed them, I didn't throw them away, but they seem to have gotten lost because I can't find them anywhere or maybe somebody in my house threw them away.

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Nothing wrong with removing the original grip and using just a single overgrip, especially if you like the feel of less cushion or more pronounced bevels. Overgrips are available in different thicknesses also. The notion that it will hurt your arm is a bit overblown - you really should not have a "death-grip" on your racquets anyway.

I did this to most of my racquets when I decided to reduce my grip size from 5/8 to 3/8 - taking off the original grip and replacing itwith a single overgrip did just that and I wound up liking the feel of the bevels. If you don't want to reduce your grip size (or at least not very much) and/or want more cushioning, you can replace the original grip with 2 overgrips or even wind the lower one with no overlap but overlap the top one - many possibilities.

As far as balance, anytime you take something off or add anything your racquet weight and balance changes. It is real easy to get a postal scale and a yard stick (with some pivot point - dowel or something else to pivot/balance the racquet on the yardstick to get your balance point) and measure the racquet before and after any alteration. If you need to replace some of the weight from the original grip, along with lead tape, tiny lead fishing weights/sinkers under the butt cap work very well also.