Get a handle on your tennis! Pallet shapes and sizes de-bunked, measured and explained! (what‘s a pallet?! essentially, the shape your grip takes)

[TW Staff]

You can't HANDLE the truth of what your racquet's pallet shape measures out too! Just kidding! But in this episode, we dive deep into all things grip shape and size and get down to the nitty gritty of your racquet's pallet. Troy joins Michelle to talk about the generalizations about the different pallet shapes and sizes. He also gets down to the bare bones and measures the racquets to see if we can de-bunk some of the stereotypes of some of the brands and their grip shapes! Included below are measurements that Troy took of racquets with 4 3/8 grips.

(If you are curious as to what a pallet is, we would simply define it as the firm base material underneath the grip on a racquet, or even say, it helps shape the grip of your racquet.)

Take a look/listen as Troy and I talk about grip sizes and shapes (and I will add the measurements Troy took as well)!

audio only:
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podca...allet-shapes-and/id1475845728?i=1000544185830
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4a9wMTEvzi5mOTQyy7nvI7?si=d027d7cba4504fc2

Wilson: 32.4 x 28.5
Prince: 31.2 x 28
Yonex: 32.8 x 29
Babolat: 32.4 x 28.5
Head (modern TK82S): 31.3 x 28.5
Dunlop: 32 x 28.2
Head (classic TK82): 33.4 x 27.6
Tecnifibre: 33.1 x 27.9
ProKennex: 32 x 27.6
Volkl: 32 x 27.8
*some measurements may vary slightly from the video, taken a few times to check for accuracy

Happy Hitting!

 

[BorisBecker1872]

Nice episode. The pallet sizes seem relatively close now. Where can I get a set of those calipers Troy used?

 

[McLovin]

Cool episode. I think it's the ratio that matters more than the actual measurements, only because (and this was mentioned in the podcast) the base grips used by the manufacturers have different thickness. So, for example, Yonex "3/8" is considerably larger in both dimensions than Prince "3/8", because Yonex base grip is only ~ 1.5mm thick.

Increasing Ratios (e.g., more 'square' to more 'rectangular'):

Head (TK82S): 1.098​

Prince: 1.114​

Yonex: 1.131​

Dunlop: 1.135​

Wilson: 1.137​

Babolat: 1.137​

Volkl: 1.151​

ProKennex: 1.159​

Tecnifibre: 1.186​

Head (TK82): 1.210​

 

[TW Staff]

Nice episode. The pallet sizes seem relatively close now. Where can I get a set of those calipers Troy used?

@BorisBecker1872

We actually don't sell them and there is a wide range of options from fairly valuable to more expensive. A hardware store should have some great options! And there might be some options of calipers you can buy online!

Hope that helps,
Michelle, TW

 

[Automatix]

delete

 

[BorisBecker1872]

I'm just curious but how did you come up with those ratio numbers? long side/short side = ratio?

Cool episode. I think it's the ratio that matters more than the actual measurements, only because (and this was mentioned in the podcast) the base grips used by the manufacturers have different thickness. So, for example, Yonex "3/8" is considerably larger in both dimensions than Prince "3/8", because Yonex base grip is only ~ 1.5mm thick.

Increasing Ratios (e.g., more 'square' to more 'rectangular'):

Head (TK82S): 1.098​

Prince: 1.114​

Yonex: 1.131​

Dunlop: 1.135​

Wilson: 1.137​

Babolat: 1.137​

Volkl: 1.151​

ProKennex: 1.159​

Tecnifibre: 1.186​

Head (TK82): 1.210​

 

[McLovin]

I'm just curious but how did you come up with those ratio numbers? long side/short side = ratio?

Yes. Did I mess up any of them?

 

[nyc]

I agree with Michelle that the flare on the new Wilson Blade is very noticeable at best, and just too annoying to play with for me. Has anyone tried to modify it?

 

[LordRaceR]

Nice and useful episode.

Sorry, have two questions:
Is it possible that someone can measure Head L2 grip (pallet) size on modern TK82S?
And is the butt cap on new TK82S pallet same as on TK82, or butt caps are different also.

Thanks.

 

[graycrait]

I can't believe I never saw this thread before. And thank you @McLovin for making this simple for me. Not that it will change my choice of rackets but I might change base grips of a couple of rackets and it gives me some buttcap options as I'll use any companies buttcap on any companies racket as long as it is a close fit and feels good to me.

 

[Humbi_HTX]

This makes a lot of sense, my favorite shapes are PK, Volkl and TK82 but I never new the numbers were so close to each other.

When I had a YY L3 it felt bigger than my other frames and was one of the reasons I did not gel with it. Now I know why.

 

[Shroud]

Nice job on an important topic.

I always customize the handle on all my racquets. I just have to.

 

[Purestriker]

Nice job on an important topic.

I always customize the handle on all my racquets. I just have to.

In what way? I'm working on a change to some rackets, trying to increase the pallet size without adding a ton of weight.

 

[Shroud]

In what way? I'm working on a change to some rackets, trying to increase the pallet size without adding a ton of weight.

Easier to ride a unicorn. My handle adds about 50g or more. Lightest and biggest I have found is putting double sided tape on each bevel then wrapping with a replacement grip.

 

[Purestriker]

Easier to ride a unicorn. My handle adds about 50g or more. Lightest and biggest I have found is putting double sided tape on each bevel then wrapping with a replacement grip.

Ha. True. The 50g’s is impressive! Is your swing weight 360+?

I’m ok with adding 10 grams, just trying not to pass the 340 static mark. The double tape is a great idea. These are Ezone 98 DR’s and need to move them two sizes.

 

[tele]

Ha. True. The 50g’s is impressive! Is your swing weight 360+?

I’m ok with adding 10 grams, just trying not to pass the 340 static mark. The double tape is a great idea. These are Ezone 98 DR’s and need to move them two sizes.

If they have stock yonex grips, a gamma hi tech will get you halfway to your goal.

 

[aerogami]

In what way? I'm working on a change to some rackets, trying to increase the pallet size without adding a ton of weight.

Try fibatape extra strength drywall tape cut to size. Wrap that down with standard clear shipping tape. Lightest material I have found to build up grips, it is a fiberglass mesh with a mildly sticky adhesive backing.it is also very cheap and easy to find. You can layer it, and use individual strips as needed to keep bevels intact. Took me about 30 years to stumble upon the idea, but now I won't use anything else.

 

[aerogami]

Nice episode. The pallet sizes seem relatively close now. Where can I get a set of those calipers Troy used?

If you have a harbor freight nearby, that is the cheapest, otherwise Amazon has a zillion of them for cheap. These don't need to be hyper precise expensive calipers for this kind of work.

 

[Purestriker]

Try fibatape extra strength drywall tape cut to size. Wrap that down with standard clear shipping tape. Lightest material I have found to build up grips, it is a fiberglass mesh with a mildly sticky adhesive backing.it is also very cheap and easy to find. You can layer it, and use individual strips as needed to keep bevels intact. Took me about 30 years to stumble upon the idea, but now I won't use anything else.

Very interesting! Have not even thought about that as a way to increase it.

 

[aerogami]

Very interesting! Have not even thought about that as a way to increase it.

Just give me credit if it changes your pallet shaping life! LOL.

 

[StringStrungStrang]

You can't HANDLE the truth of what your racquet's pallet shape measures out too! Just kidding! But in this episode, we dive deep into all things grip shape and size and get down to the nitty gritty of your racquet's pallet. Troy joins Michelle to talk about the generalizations about the different pallet shapes and sizes. He also gets down to the bare bones and measures the racquets to see if we can de-bunk some of the stereotypes of some of the brands and their grip shapes! Included below are measurements that Troy took of racquets with 4 3/8 grips.

(If you are curious as to what a pallet is, we would simply define it as the firm base material underneath the grip on a racquet, or even say, it helps shape the grip of your racquet.)

Take a look/listen as Troy and I talk about grip sizes and shapes (and I will add the measurements Troy took as well)!

audio only:
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podca...allet-shapes-and/id1475845728?i=1000544185830
Spotify:

Wilson: 32.4 x 28.5
Prince: 31.2 x 28
Yonex: 32.8 x 29
Babolat: 32.4 x 28.5
Head (modern TK82S): 31.3 x 28.5
Dunlop: 32 x 28.2
Head (classic TK82): 33.4 x 27.6
Tecnifibre: 33.1 x 27.9
ProKennex: 32 x 27.6
Volkl: 32 x 27.8
*some measurements may vary slightly from the video, taken a few times to check for accuracy

Happy Hitting!

GET A GRIP !!
Great info - thanks !!

 

[borracho]

Try fibatape extra strength drywall tape cut to size. Wrap that down with standard clear shipping tape. Lightest material I have found to build up grips, it is a fiberglass mesh with a mildly sticky adhesive backing.it is also very cheap and easy to find. You can layer it, and use individual strips as needed to keep bevels intact. Took me about 30 years to stumble upon the idea, but now I won't use anything else.

Nice! Can I increase 2 grip sizes and keep bevels? I am using window isolation foam tape now, also weights nothing but lost the bevels

 

[aerogami]

Nice! Can I increase 2 grip sizes and keep bevels? I am using window isolation foam tape now, also weights nothing but lost the bevels

It is possible, but you will need to experiment with using single strips for each bevel, at least on the top layer. That may take quite a few layers of this tape, since it is fairly thin. Try it and let us know back here. I have raised one size and kept good bevels, so I think you can add another size of you take your time and lay out the strips accurately. Remember to affix as you go as needed with thin packing tape.

 

[Casey 1988]

Nice! Can I increase 2 grip sizes and keep bevels? I am using window isolation foam tape now, also weights nothing but lost the bevels

The way I would do that is by using a thin cloth Hockey tape 1 inch wide and use a few layers of the tape. I use the black Hocky tape 1 inch wide one layer for my outer layer on the base grip going 1/4 overlap at most with as little as needed of waterproof glue at the bottom as needed as on top, I go over the start just by about 1/2 to 1 inch before going down in a spiral. For my use as an over grip, I go with a bit of soil/dirt worked in then brushed off and a damp paper towel to remove the rest of the easy and working in a micro amount of soil, this way I have a worked in grip that is not going to have issues of the tapes color coming off on my hand/very little in the beginning or being stuck to the racquet/sticky hand feeling due to the tape issue.