Can't decide on grip size

[politrix]

Ok, I'm planning to buy a new racquet, but the only thing holding me back is picking a grip size.

I currently use a 4 1/2 grip with Wilson Pro overgrip. With a 4 1/2 grip size my ring finger barely touches my thumb/palm and with 4 1/2 + overgrip there's about a 1/2 centimeter gap. So I'm wondering if I should shoot for a 4 5/8 grip size. I like overgrips so I would put an overgrip on top of that.

According to the Wilson PDF thing, I'm inbetween 4 1/2 and 4 5/8 and using the ruler method I'm inbetween 4 5/8 and 4 11/16.

So, I'm wondering what you guys think. A lot of people say the index finger method is outdated and a lot of pros use smaller grips for their hand sizes so it makes me wonder if I should just stick to the 4 1/2 size + overgrip.

 

[politrix]

By 1/2 centimeter I mean .5 cm not 1 or 2 just for clarification.

 

[Gantz]

when in doubt, always go smaller. you can always use more than one overgrip if you have to.

 

[ThePro101]

I was in the same boat as you a few years ago. I could easily play a L5, but had always played a L4.

After demoing a few racquets, all of which were L3, I decided to make a bold move and drop a grip size to a L3. I felt like I could generate a little more head speed with the smaller grip.

I would stay with the L4 unless you absolutely feel that's it's too small. It's always easier to make a grip lager than it is to make it smaller.

(Just my opinion)

 

[koopa_troopa]

I like to use a smaller grip than recommended. According the recommended way of determining grip size, I should be between a 4 1/2 and 4 5/8, however I do not find this comfortable at all. I am using a 4 1/2 now and probably will go with a 4 3/8 next racquet and use a single overgrip.

Are you uncomfortable with it or showing signs of tennis elbow? If you are not having any problems, then there probably is no reason to change grip sizes.

 

[gjoc]

I would stay with the L4 unless you absolutely feel that's it's too small. It's always easier to make a grip lager than it is to make it smaller.

I’d definitely way second that...

You might also consider that perhaps your optimal grip might be halfway between L4 and L5, plus an overgrip.

They make heat shrink tubing especially for building up racquet grips, and they make it in full-step and half-step thicknesses, so building the 4½ up a half step is trivial.

Going the other way is so difficult, it’s usually preferable to just buy another racquet in the next smaller size, if available.

 

[bagung]

larger grip feel better in 1-handed backhand and volley...
smaller grip feel better in serve and forehand.....

 

[politrix]

Are you uncomfortable with it or showing signs of tennis elbow? If you are not having any problems, then there probably is no reason to change grip sizes.

It's pretty comfortable. Most of the time I have no problems, on occasion I might get a little sore on my wrist/thumb area, but that usually goes away pretty fast. Never had any issues with my elbow. Although when I tried a L3 racquet with no overgrip, I was hurting pretty quickly, but that grip was way too small.

They make heat shrink tubing especially for building up racquet grips, and they make it in full-step and half-step thicknesses, so building the 4½ up a half step is trivial.

The only thing that bothers me with heat shrink tubing is I hear it adds a lot of weight which also affects the balance. By the time you weigh your hoop up to compensate, your racquet is quite a bit heavier. Although maybe the 1/2 size is a lot lighter? I also hear atheletic tape works pretty well and doesn't add much weight?

Going the other way is so difficult, it’s usually preferable to just buy another racquet in the next smaller size, if available.

I suppose if I went with the 5/8 and it turned out to be too big, I could remove the replacement grip and add two overgrips. That might bring the grip down to where I am now or would that significantly alter the feel of the racquet?

 

[gjoc]

The only thing that bothers me with heat shrink tubing is I hear it adds a lot of weight which also affects the balance. By the time you weigh your hoop up to compensate, your racquet is quite a bit heavier. Although maybe the 1/2 size is a lot lighter? I also hear atheletic tape works pretty well and doesn't add much weight?

LOL, it’s a piece of plastic, 4½" wide by 6" or 7" long, and 0.010" thick--the weight is insignificant.

Your overgrip changes the weight and balance more than a half-step grip build-up sleeve. Do you notice a difference in weight and balance with and without that?

Also, note that the various sizes of original grips don’t all weigh the same either--again, the difference isn’t particularly significant.

 

[politrix]

LOL, it’s a piece of plastic, 4½" wide by 6" or 7" long, and 0.010" thick--the weight is insignificant.

Your overgrip changes the weight and balance more than a half-step grip build-up sleeve.

IIRC, surprisingly, a full size heat shrink sleeve weights about 0.7 oz which is pretty significant. I don't know what the weight of the half-size is, but if it is half the weight, it still weighs more than 1 overgrip.

 

[Bud]

Sleeve Weight

I can believe the .7 oz. per sleeve. On some of my older racquets that are 4 1/4, I've added 4 sleeves to bring them to 4 5/8 (no racquet grip and super grap overgrip). They weigh significantly more. I like the feeling of the overgrip directly on the beveled handle. The ability to really feel the bevels has improved my backhand immensely.

 

[Bud]

To add a bit to my last post, you can trim a good 2-3" off the sleeve and it will still be effective. It will simply cover less of the handle.

 

[bluetrain4]

Like others have said, it's way easier to increase grip size (thicker overgrip, multiple overgrips, heat shrink sleeve) than to decrease.

So, if you're in between, definitely go go smaller.

 

[jck01]

when in doubt, always go smaller. you can always use more than one overgrip if you have to.

I agree. There are number of ways to make grip size bigger but no easy way to make it smaller.