Guga Kuerten no replacement grip

[Shaolin]

I know he used a bare handle, no replacement grip with 2 overgrips. Just wondering what size handle. I've seen talk of grip size 2 and 3.

Also wondering what other pros do this? I have heard that Rafa does this too.

I've been hitting lately with grip size 3 no replacement grip and 2 overgrips...you can really get wicked topspin with the grip this small. I cant say how hard it is on the hands since my opponent gave up after our first set but I look forward to continuing to try it.

 

[Rubens]

I tried once. Too rough on the skin. But then I put on a golf glove and it was the tackiest combination ever! Too bad it also looked tacky.

 

[Rabbit]

Becker did it.

I did it for a while, it was ok, I did like the feeling of really defined bevels.

 

[Ronaldo]

Played singles with a player who used a wooden racquet without any grip, bare wood, 4 7/8 grip. Used it like a swizzle stick. Obliterated the ball with topspin. Never saw another guy try this. Sharp bevels, forgetaboutit

 

[moon shot]

Guga had a custom molded foam handle for the majority of his career if I remember right. Don’t know what size but that does make it a bit different than ‘he played with a grip size 3’.

I play a few size 5 Wilson frames for a season with one overgrip wrapped with 50% overlap and haven’t noticed any change in my callouses. The grip does have the same volume as what I normally play with though.

 

[jackcrawford]

Played singles with a player who used a wooden racquet without any grip, bare wood, 4 7/8 grip. Used it like a swizzle stick. Obliterated the ball with topspin. Never saw another guy try this. Sharp bevels, forgetaboutit

Don Budge used a 16 ounce racquet with a bare wood handle, also with a 4 7/8 grip. See A Terrible Splendor, by Marshall Jon Fisher, page 11, for some interesting talk about frame choices of the 1930's players.

 

[Shaolin]

Thanks for the responses guys. Here I thought that Guga invented playing with no replacement grip and it goes way back.

 

[Ronaldo]

Thanks for the responses guys. Here I thought that Guga invented playing with no replacement grip and it goes way back.

Played with only a Babolat Gripsy overgrip BITD. Preferred Fairway and Balmforth

 

[IowaGuy]

Thanks for the responses guys. Here I thought that Guga invented playing with no replacement grip and it goes way back.

6-time Wimbledon champion Lenglen:

 

[Ronaldo]

6-time Wimbledon champion Lenglen:

A Manly Grip

 

[Shaolin]

Definitely interested if anyone knows of other players like Guga using a modern racquet with no replacement grip.

 

[BorgCash]

I know he used a bare handle, no replacement grip with 2 overgrips. Just wondering what size handle. I've seen talk of grip size 2 and 3.

Also wondering what other pros do this? I have heard that Rafa does this too.

I've been hitting lately with grip size 3 no replacement grip and 2 overgrips...you can really get wicked topspin with the grip this small. I cant say how hard it is on the hands since my opponent gave up after our first set but I look forward to continuing to try it.

Becker used the same.

 

[Lukhas]

Definitely interested if anyone knows of other players like Guga using a modern racquet with no replacement grip.

Söderling was so sensitive to the compression of his base grip that P1 ended up directly moulding his favourite grip shape on the racquet. He used an overgrip on the handle. The moulded handle was asymmetrical, as Söderling always hit the ball with the same side of the racquet every time. Just search the forum for pictures and more details.

 

[rafa_prestige89]

Kuerten used grip L3, but he really did use a custom molded handle for some time (2001 season if I recall).

 

[rafa_prestige89]

You can see here the bare handle with the Austrian made Head pallets.


Enviado do meu iPad usando Tapatalk

 

[velvetsledgehammer]

I read one time Guga saying he only carries 2 or 3 racquets because he felt like it took him a bit of time to get his grips just like he felt comfortable with them.

 

[henrytennisadelaide]

Sam Groth also did this

 

[henrytennisadelaide]

 

[dr325i]

LOL at “Austrian made pallets” above

 

[Povl Carstensen]

Definitely interested if anyone knows of other players like Guga using a modern racquet with no replacement grip.

Me. I play RF97 a grip size up (4) and two Wilson pro overgrips. Gives me a 340 gram strung RF about 6 pts head light.

 

[Ace of Aces]

This is actually pretty comfortable with the right overgrips. Thinner more paper like ones can be pretty miserable though

 

[2ndServe]

This is actually pretty comfortable with the right overgrips. Thinner more paper like ones can be pretty miserable though

Which overgrips do you use? I’m finding replacegrip plus overgrip makes it too big. I’m usIng 3 overgrips and this feels ok but what’s a good overgrip to do this with? Babolat VS overgrip is way too thin even with 3 overgrips, Solinco is slightly thicker

 

[Better_Call_Raul]

I find little difference in feel using overgrip over a leather grip versus overgrip over a replacement grip.
But I use leather as it lasts longer than a replacement. And feels a bit better.

 

[Grafil Injection]

I have many size 5s with just one og, and size 4s with two ogs, no base grips. Works best with rounder\squarer handles like Wilson or Prince. For comfort go for Pro Overgrip Soft og against the handle, then your preferred og on top. Weirdly just one thin Pro overgrip Sensation (0.3mm) actually feels ok too.

Dan Evans does it with 2 ogs.