tack cloth, tacky towel, tac rag, etc.

Looking for feedback here on the quality, demand, interest, problems and opportunities for improvement, etc. in these tacky towels (tack cloths, tac rags, et al).

Tack Cloth is my area of unique expertise in design, formulation, manufacturing, etc.

We note that there is the Gamma Tacky Towel, Unique Sports Tourna Tac Rag, Gorilla Gold Grip Enhancer -- all tack cloths.

There is much that can be discussed about the design and performance of these kinds of products, as well as other "tackified" or "tackifying" products. We hope to learn some of the consumer and distributor/marketer feedback here.

Let's start with two things : first, none of these products are likely made with actual "beeswax", despite some advertising to the contrary, and 2) these products are likely all made with oil-based treatments, though water-based and even water-soluble treatments are possible.

What say you ?

Only tried the Gamma version. It was too "sticky" for me.

mikeler said:

Only tried the Gamma version. It was too "sticky" for me.

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Thanks for your input, Mike. Its quite simple to reduce the "tack" quality in a product like that. More important, there are separate resin qualities (e.g., adhesion, cohesion) that can be adjusted, customized, etc. We hope to explore that more, here, as feedback comes in.

design & production of new sports grip towels / cloths


We are offering contract production of sports grip cloths / towels of the types that are typical found in the current market (we supplied some of this material to an established brand).

We can supply these products as plainly packaged, as private-brand packaged, or as our own competitively designed brand packaging. We can offer most competitive pricing. Also, we can customize these products in many ways -- in the type of cloth (e.g., woven or terry-like "towel", gauze, etc.), in the quality or color of "tack", in sizes, with innovative packaging, and more.

We have industry leading expertise for the design and manufacture of these "tacky cloth" products, after nearly 40 years of specialization in the business.

In addition to producing and customizing these products, we can support them with a level of technical expertise (regarding product claims, information for marketing / advertising, proper and new uses, etc.) that is not now evident in the market.

Contact us at info@JLyman.com.

wow, cool to have an expert on these here. I've always wanted to try them, but TW never stocks them and I hate the other tennis retailers. It seems like a really good product given how fast grips lose tackiness for me.

friends and I tried the gamma.tac.cloth and also a hardware brand(brand.b).
Ill get the brand soon. For more detail.
Both worked well.
Very tacky.
Gamma was about $7
Brand.b was $1

I did like the gamma product because it is tuff material. Designed for multiple repeated uses
Even the storage bag was heavy plastic for multiple use
The brand.b had a flimsy plastic that tore right away. Hard to store back in tenniz bag or even pocket while playin. But it also was thin material. Like cheese cloth. While it did the job. The cloth became a ball of tacky mess quickly..

ive used "Supertuff" tack cloth (red package) and also "Finish Factor" tack cloth (blue package)
and as stated above, gamma tac cloth

we normally use these in the winter time, when we need extra tack..

1HBHfanatic said:

ive used "Supertuff" tack cloth (red package) and also "Finish Factor" tack cloth (blue package)
and as stated above, gamma tac cloth

we normally use these in the winter time, when we need extra tack..

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so using those means you never have to change the overgrip?

Eventually you will. Beause the grip you use gets too dirty usually.
Or the grip material starts to unlaminate because of all thr sticky wax..
For what ever reason though it seems to make the grip or overgrip last longer..

where to find ?

who is actually stocking / displaying any of these products at retail ?

I found mine at walmart stores usually..
At LOWES hardware stores
HOMEDEPOT hardware stores
Usually near the paint department
The GAMMA tac towel I find at the loca tennis shops
Surprising I did not see it on this site..

1HBHfanatic said:

I found mine at walmart stores usually..
At LOWES hardware stores
HOMEDEPOT hardware stores
Usually near the paint department
The GAMMA tac towel I find at the loca tennis shops
Surprising I did not see it on this site..

Click to expand...

Sorry to be unclear, but I wasn't asking about conventional "tack cloth" (I know where those are sold, as its my business). Rather, I'm asking, where do you find the branded Gorilla, Tourno Tac, Gamma et al "tacky towel" products -- those marketed/packaged for sports purposes ? I didn't see anything at my local Golf Smith, though they advertise one online. I haven't seen anything at golf course shops, or in general sporting goods stores (where tennis equipment is sold), where I often look. Plenty of online listings, but not much in stores ? Is demand insufficient ?

Also, you raise another questions : how many players use conventional tack cloths for sports ? Is the cotton gauze cloth (used for conventional tack cloth) preferable to polyester knitted cloth of the sport "tacky towel" versions ? :?:

the local stores i found the GAMMA.tac cloth are:
fairfax racquet club, fairfax, va
tennis factory, arlington, va

as for how many people use it, not many in my experience, i know of 2 and i might have seen a 3rd on a competition match, very few recreational/club tennis player focus on their grips, enough to care
i usually change the grips for them when i restring their racquets, otherwise ill see that same racquet a couple months latter with the same grip on, just dirtier

the polling option at the top of the thread would have given you a better picture of this. too bad its closed now..