Babolat Grip Size Update

[TennisManiac]

To those of you out there considering a Babolat frame and haven't played with one before, I would like to share my findings with you. There has been discussions on these forums before regarding Babolat grip sizes seemingly running large compared to other manufacturers. It's definitely true. So if you know your grip size and what your finished grip size would be after installing an over grip, you may want to order a size smaller than what you would normally order. My grip size finished measures 4 3/8. With a Wilson frame I normally order a 4 1/4 and with an over grip my handle finishes at 4 3/8... perfect for me. With Babolat I had to order a 4 1/8 to finish at 4 3/8. I posted a picture that shows a Babolat L1 4 1/8 grip that actually measures 4 1/4. Hope this puts an end to all the confusion about this topic.

 

[A_Instead]

On babolats..I get them in 4 3/8 then remove the babolat grip and replace it with a tourna pro thin....it's perfect...

 

[TennisManiac]

On babolats..I get them in 4 3/8 then remove the babolat grip and replace it with a tourna pro thin....it's perfect...

Wow! You must have some small hands. That would mean your finished grip size is 4 1/8.

 

[Tuskarr]

Word.
Long time babolat user here. I've always used 4 1/4. But every other frame (wilson, head) 4 3/8 feels about the same

 

[Kalin]

I also kind of feel that Babolat grips run a bit thicker yet the data I have (made by measuring the bare pallets of my racquets) seems to say they're similar to other brands. It probably has to do with the grips being somewhat thicker? Yones, for one, use very flimsy grips (and buttcaps) on their otherwise fine sticks.

One thing which is great about Babolat is that their pallets seem very consistent in shape and size between different models/years.

Babolat Pallet Size (WxH), in mm
#2 31.3 x 27.38
#3 32.3 x 28.25
#4 33.5 x 29.20

Wilson Pallets
#2 30.9 x 26.9
#3 - no data
#4 33.5 x 29.2
#5 36.0 x 30.9

Yonex Pallets
#2 32.3 x 28.2
#3 32.9 x 29.0

Prince Pallets
#3 32.1 x 27.8
#4 32.8 x 29.8

These are all averages. The Prince data is based on very old racquets; I have no new ones.

 

[vsbabolat]

I also kind of feel that Babolat grips run a bit thicker yet the data I have (made by measuring the bare pallets of my racquets) seems to say they're similar to other brands. It probably has to do with the grips being somewhat thicker? Yones, for one, use very flimsy grips (and buttcaps) on their otherwise fine sticks.

One thing which is great about Babolat is that their pallets seem very consistent in shape and size between different models/years.

Babolat Pallet Size (WxH), in mm
#2 31.3 x 27.38
#3 32.3 x 28.25
#4 33.5 x 29.20

Wilson Pallets
#2 30.9 x 26.9
#3 - no data
#4 33.5 x 29.2
#5 36.0 x 30.9

Yonex Pallets
#2 32.3 x 28.2
#3 32.9 x 29.0

Prince Pallets
#3 32.1 x 27.8
#4 32.8 x 29.8

These are all averages. The Prince data is based on very old racquets; I have no new ones.

Don't mean to be a jerk but all those racquets have molded handles and don't use pallets.

 

[Kalin]

Don't mean to be a jerk but all those racquets have molded handles and don't use pallets.

Yeah, good point, by 'pallet' I mean the bare handle without any grips on it. I just call it pallet by habit; plus, it kind of makes it clear it has no grips on it. 'Handle' just means too many things these days

 

[Power Player]

I agree with the OP. Found it out by feel really. I always bought 1/8 Babs.

Also pull the grip off my Yonex and just use 2 overgrips.

 

[vsbabolat]

Yeah, good point, by 'pallet' I mean the bare handle without any grips on it. I just call it pallet by habit; plus, it kind of makes it clear it has no grips on it. 'Handle' just means too many things these days

You can write "molded handle".

 

[jackcrawford]

I agree with the OP. Found it out by feel really. I always bought 1/8 Babs.

1/4 on every other brand for me, 1/8 for Babolat.

 

[Gtech]

I agree that the Babolat grip size is a bit bigger than a Wilson which I mostly attribute to their grips being much more cushioned than an equivalent Wilson grip. I find over time the Babo grip will pack down a bit. My experience the one time I downsized to the 1/4 in a Babo APD, I ended up with such bad pain the wrist I had to get rid of it. Now using a PD 2015 using the same size as I used with Wilson L3, no pain on the wrist. I get it that these are different rackets in the APD vs PD, but just sharing my experience.

I would say don't automatically down size, go feel the grips, their shapes are different too, the Babo is more rounded or maybe is the cushioning so it is harder to feel the bevels than the Wilson.

 

[danbrenner]

Iare used to think the same. But I don't think that anymore I think that they are all the correct size but just the shape of the grip differs enough to make it feel fuller in the hand

 

[TennisManiac]

Iare used to think the same. But I don't think that anymore I think that they are all the correct size but just the shape of the grip differs enough to make it feel fuller in the hand

How can you say that after seeing my picture that clealy shows that the grips ARE bigger?

 

[thelimfactor]

Hi guys- my 2 cents worth- if it helps any1 else then i will be happy! I have been using a Prince 4 1/2, then just switched over to a Babolat also 4 1/2. However i found that the Babolat felt bigger, even though the actual circumference was exactly the same. On close analysis, the Babolat felt bigger because out of the factory they overlapped their grip quite substantially. Some people may like it like this, but i just removed the factory grip and reduced the overlap so that there was hardly any overlap. This then means your fingers are closer to the bevel as there is less material on the edges of the grip. Hope this helps! Happy tennis every1!