How about a wrist strap or tether on a tennis racquet?

AR15

Professional
While serving, I have had my racquet slip out of my hands and slam into the court. This has happened about 3 times in the last couple of months. Using new overgrips, wrist bands, and grip aid products helps, but I was contemplating what the downside would be if I installed a tether like Racquetball racquets have. Last saturday I threw my new Ozone Tour on the hard courts - it was the second time I had played with it. The racquet didn't break, but has some serious chips on it.

What do you think?
 

canadave

Professional
Is the reason for the slippage due to the grip size not being what you measure for, or is it due to sweaty, slippery hands?

If you feel it's because of the grip size, then I'm curious to know why you are playing with a racquet two sizes too small for you :)

If it's because of sweaty hands...wow. You must be absolutely dripping! If that's the case, the only thing I could suggest would be to keep a good supply of dry towels on hand, and make sure you're constantly drying your hands and the handle during the changeovers (or if you're not playing a serious set, but just hitting around, then make sure you just dry your hands often).

A third idea (just brainstorming for you here) is that you could experiment with some of that "tacky" stuff that NFL receivers put on their gloves...maybe if you put some of that on your racquet it would help.

However, I'm inclined to believe that if you've had the racquet fly out three times, you're either (a) not gripping the racquet properly, (b) not gripping the racquet hard enough, or (c) not paying enough attention to gripping the racquet. Either way, it should be something you can fix without resorting to a wrist strap (which, as has been pointed out, is not allowed by the rules and would get you some strange looks on the court--i.e., "what kind of player needs a strap for his racquet??") :)
 

AR15

Professional
Is the reason for the slippage due to the grip size not being what you measure for, or is it due to sweaty, slippery hands?

If you feel it's because of the grip size, then I'm curious to know why you are playing with a racquet two sizes too small for you :)

If it's because of sweaty hands...wow. You must be absolutely dripping! If that's the case, the only thing I could suggest would be to keep a good supply of dry towels on hand, and make sure you're constantly drying your hands and the handle during the changeovers (or if you're not playing a serious set, but just hitting around, then make sure you just dry your hands often).

A third idea (just brainstorming for you here) is that you could experiment with some of that "tacky" stuff that NFL receivers put on their gloves...maybe if you put some of that on your racquet it would help.

However, I'm inclined to believe that if you've had the racquet fly out three times, you're either (a) not gripping the racquet properly, (b) not gripping the racquet hard enough, or (c) not paying enough attention to gripping the racquet. Either way, it should be something you can fix without resorting to a wrist strap (which, as has been pointed out, is not allowed by the rules and would get you some strange looks on the court--i.e., "what kind of player needs a strap for his racquet??") :)

Yes, my hands sweat profusely, as do most players in my area (Mobile, Alabama). Like I mentioned, I've used the hand sweat aids, wrist bands etc. I try to use a lighter grip while serving to get more wrist action and racquet speed. But, I think the slippage is do more to slippery grippage than grip size.

I'll have to try the "tacky" stuff. I am also considering possibly biulding up just the last 1/2 inch of the butt end of the grip.
 

canadave

Professional
Yes, my hands sweat profusely, as do most players in my area (Mobile, Alabama). Like I mentioned, I've used the hand sweat aids, wrist bands etc. I try to use a lighter grip while serving to get more wrist action and racquet speed. But, I think the slippage is do more to slippery grippage than grip size.

I'll have to try the "tacky" stuff. I am also considering possibly biulding up just the last 1/2 inch of the butt end of the grip.

Ah, I see.

Well, I'd definitely start by urging you to hold the racquet tighter, particularly during the serve. There's no reason to have anything less than a firm grip on a racquet. By firm, I don't necessarily mean "death grip"; I mean so firm that there's no way the racquet will escape from your hand, even if your hand/arm is moving around at high speed (like on a serve). Even if your hand is so wet with sweat that it's completely drenched in water, a firm grip on your racquet should be able to keep it in your hand.

Secondly, yeah, I'd give that tacky stuff a try. Not sure of the exact name of it, but I'd think a good sporting goods store would have some. If not, maybe they could suggest a similarly tacky/sticky substance you could apply.

Regarding your idea of building up the bottom of the grip: the only problem I have with it is that if you're saying the racquet's flying out of your hands because of your sweaty hands, a little more buildup around the butt cap isn't going to prevent that from happening. But if you think it'd help, go for it....

Cheers,
Dave
 

backhand

Rookie
I've found some overgrips better than others. TW has a nice list with user reviews, several brands have a high stick type. Overgraps work pretty well for me.

Never tried tacky stuff (mental pic of being unable to switch hand cuz it's glued), but if it works for baseball and football players, should work for you.

But maybe what it gets down to is relaxed, yes, loose, no...
 

nCode747

Semi-Pro
hmm. here is my advice use toruna grip wear the most adsorbent wristband on the market(i have no clue what that is) and buy a rosin bag. when ever your hands get sweaty put it on
 

bad_call

Legend
Yes, my hands sweat profusely, as do most players in my area (Mobile, Alabama). Like I mentioned, I've used the hand sweat aids, wrist bands etc. I try to use a lighter grip while serving to get more wrist action and racquet speed. But, I think the slippage is do more to slippery grippage than grip size.

I'll have to try the "tacky" stuff. I am also considering possibly biulding up just the last 1/2 inch of the butt end of the grip.

my whole body sweats. i wear wrist bands and towel off often. also built up the butt end (like u mentioned) and wrapped with tacky wrap. never had a racquet slip out of my hands but have seen it happen to others. now i see why the pros frequently towel off...and they don't sweat anywhere near what i do.
 

klinsi

New User
FYI, In college, I played against a guy who had a "racket ball" set up on his tennis racket. he basically had a string attached from the butt end of the grip to his wrist. The referee saw it and asked him to remove it. It was illegal by rule.
 

saram

Legend
I think your new Tour is broken and you should send it to me.

Seriously--sounds like a grip issue...
 

wrxtotoro

Rookie
I use half a size smaller too... but I just build it up the grip with the Wilson Contour grip and then with one more layer of cheapo Gamma OG... Never slide out of my hand...
 
While serving, I have had my racquet slip out of my hands and slam into the court. This has happened about 3 times in the last couple of months. Using new overgrips, wrist bands, and grip aid products helps, but I was contemplating what the downside would be if I installed a tether like Racquetball racquets have. Last saturday I threw my new Ozone Tour on the hard courts - it was the second time I had played with it. The racquet didn't break, but has some serious chips on it.

What do you think?
Wowowowh, a post 10yrs back:?))) I've got the solution after my rackets flew many many times. 4 rackets cracked n 2 of them were quite new n expensive babolats (1 by my younger son:)), then about a yr n 1/2 ago I started using ID strap by doing this n problems solved:)))))))))) n feel gr8 also I can loose up my grip even more, hallelujah....:)))))))

I've been playing w/ the cheap cotton gloves n strap for >1yr by now n no more 'flying racket' while completely loose up my grip. Also got rid of the ugly lumpy calluses on index n pinky finger though the 2 on ring finger n 1 on thumb still there.

(My April fb post) Any1 tried playing tennis with gloves on yet:?)) You might expect more and more people wearing gloves to play tennis soon n even pros gonna do it soon:?)) It does make sense to me. For so many years why every1 waste time n $ to wrap the overgrip onto the handle:?) what for:?)) to protect the stick:?))) instead of taking care of their own fingers/palms:?))) I've been wearing very simple/cheap pure cotton glove (I'm a 1 hander:)), not the expensive 1s sold in the tennis shops, when fixing up my daily dosage of hardcore topspin f/h b/h >500 shots. Feel gr8, quite a few annoy calluses gone n no more wrist sweat band as the cotton's absorbing the sweat nicely:))) Furthermore, recently I necked my racket a ID card neck strap, wish'd done it early as during years of playing quite a few rackets flew away from my hand while hard/fast/sweaty swinging n cracked incl. 2 pro aero:((( Now completely worry free n allow me to loose my grip even more. Try n it might work for u 2:))) let me know how you go
1f605.png
1f605.png
1f605.png
1f605.png
1f605.png


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2026509460945345&set=g.2369373923&type=1&theater&ifg=1

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2026509390945352&set=g.2369373923&type=1&theater&ifg=1
 

zaskar1

Professional
While serving, I have had my racquet slip out of my hands and slam into the court. This has happened about 3 times in the last couple of months. Using new overgrips, wrist bands, and grip aid products helps, but I was contemplating what the downside would be if I installed a tether like Racquetball racquets have. Last saturday I threw my new Ozone Tour on the hard courts - it was the second time I had played with it. The racquet didn't break, but has some serious chips on it.

What do you think?
ar
use the megatac grip by tournagrip, its about the most tacky overgrip on the market.
i have switched to this overgrip, had to get use to the tackiness. as i perspire a lot, and was worried about
dropping the racket and damaging them,
if that doesnt work for you, i guess you can get some stickum
that the baseball players use, should be ok as i see the pros putting "baby powder"on their racket grips
as the us open

z
 

atatu

Legend
I never knew it was illegal, it seems like back the 70's I remember a professional player from the US who used a tether ? I was thinking it was Fritz Buehning but I just googled him and didn't find any pics of the tether.
 

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
Wowowowh, a post 10yrs back:?))) I've got the solution after my rackets flew many many times. 4 rackets cracked n 2 of them were quite new n expensive babolats (1 by my younger son:)), then about a yr n 1/2 ago I started using ID strap by doing this n problems solved:)))))))))) n feel gr8 also I can loose up my grip even more, hallelujah....:)))))))

I've been playing w/ the cheap cotton gloves n strap for >1yr by now n no more 'flying racket' while completely loose up my grip. Also got rid of the ugly lumpy calluses on index n pinky finger though the 2 on ring finger n 1 on thumb still there.

(My April fb post) Any1 tried playing tennis with gloves on yet:?)) You might expect more and more people wearing gloves to play tennis soon n even pros gonna do it soon:?)) It does make sense to me. For so many years why every1 waste time n $ to wrap the overgrip onto the handle:?) what for:?)) to protect the stick:?))) instead of taking care of their own fingers/palms:?))) I've been wearing very simple/cheap pure cotton glove (I'm a 1 hander:)), not the expensive 1s sold in the tennis shops, when fixing up my daily dosage of hardcore topspin f/h b/h >500 shots. Feel gr8, quite a few annoy calluses gone n no more wrist sweat band as the cotton's absorbing the sweat nicely:))) Furthermore, recently I necked my racket a ID card neck strap, wish'd done it early as during years of playing quite a few rackets flew away from my hand while hard/fast/sweaty swinging n cracked incl. 2 pro aero:((( Now completely worry free n allow me to loose my grip even more. Try n it might work for u 2:))) let me know how you go
1f605.png
1f605.png
1f605.png
1f605.png
1f605.png


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2026509460945345&set=g.2369373923&type=1&theater&ifg=1

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2026509390945352&set=g.2369373923&type=1&theater&ifg=1

Yeah but it looks totally stupid.

I think you'd get laughed out of our club with a DIY solution like that. A rosin bag is so more discrete.
 

Steve Huff

G.O.A.T.
I never knew it was illegal, it seems like back the 70's I remember a professional player from the US who used a tether ? I was thinking it was Fritz Buehning but I just googled him and didn't find any pics of the tether.

I think you're right. I seem to remember a pro using a racketball-like tether also.
 
Yeah but it looks totally stupid.

I think you'd get laughed out of our club with a DIY solution like that. A rosin bag is so more discrete.

hahahah who cares. I play 'tennis' for my own sake n people think that's tennis actually only topspin fh/bh nothing else. To me it's simply a fixation or fix up of my craving like smokers addict to cigies or drug addicts addict to drugs I reckon. Lucky me addict to something not that bad:)))))))))))) just feel thrilled hitting topspin non stop >600 daily n that's my daily dosage. Used to be 500-1000 hits would fix me up but now it has to be over 600.........with music in my ears n a bottle of salty juice for ~2hrs then perfect deep sleep n feel so so so good next morning:)))))))))))
 
A tether would've avoided this?


yeah mate it'll surely eliminate the possibilities of getting warnings, court violations or accidental throwing etc n I think it's the way to go. A few hitting mates who are playing tournaments/comps said the strap might be illegal n now I can tell them it's ok:))))))
 

esgee48

G.O.A.T.
Appendix II, Part D

The racket shall be free of any attached object, protrusion or device which
makes it possible to change materially the shape of the racket, or its moment
of inertia about any principal axis, or to change any physical property which
may affect the performance of the racket during the playing of a point.
Attached objects, protrusions and devices that are classified as Player
Analysis Technology, or that are utilised to limit or prevent wear and tear or
vibration or, for the frame only, to distribute weight, are permitted. All
permissible objects, protrusions and devices must be reasonable in size and
placement for their respective purpose(s).

No energy source that in any way could change or affect the playing
characteristics of a racket may be built into or attached to a racket.

This rule precludes mods which can change the properties of the racquet. I do not think a tether can change the characteristics of a frame since its intent is to prevent loss of grip. Now if it could moved as a point is being played, it would be illegal. If it is permanently attached to the handle, it would probably be legal.
 

Anton

Legend
While serving, I have had my racquet slip out of my hands and slam into the court. This has happened about 3 times in the last couple of months. Using new overgrips, wrist bands, and grip aid products helps, but I was contemplating what the downside would be if I installed a tether like Racquetball racquets have. Last saturday I threw my new Ozone Tour on the hard courts - it was the second time I had played with it. The racquet didn't break, but has some serious chips on it.

What do you think?

Your solution:

How-to-Make-a-Flared-Tennis-Grip.jpg
 
Top