How you choose your grip size

Do you buy new rackets a size smaller than you need to allow for leather/over grips?

  • Yes

    Votes: 9 27.3%
  • No

    Votes: 24 72.7%

  • Total voters
    33

Mark-Touch

Legend
One would think that after playing tennis for decades I would know what grip size I should look for when
buying a new racket, but that's not the case now. :)

I was demoing a racket today and for the second time I found myself a little confused about its grip size.

When I pull a new racket off the shelf I know 4 3/8" is my grip size.
BUT... after I get the racket home, replace the grip with a leather grip, and eventually add an over grip
my grip size has gone up my 1.5 sizes!
I never gave that much thought until now.

This demo is a 4 1/4 grip size. But when I started playing with it, it felt comfortable.
After hitting for around 30 minutes or so I looked at the grip carefully and sure enough,
it had an over grip over the original grip.

So what I was feeling was a 4 3/8" grip, not a 4 1/4" grip.

So since I always change to leather grip and use over grips, I think it makes sense to buy a 4 1/4" racket!

Your opinions, suggestions?
 

Djinn

Semi-Pro
IMO, there’s no such thing as the “correct” grip size for anyone. It’s more of a spectrum as it is with racquet specs, strings, and tension. I don’t think there’s a wrong grip size for anyone unless they go to the extreme ends of the grip size spectrum. Just use the grip size that feels best to you. In general, if you want more free wrist movement, go for a smaller grip size; if you want more stability, go for a larger grip size.
 

Mark-Touch

Legend
IMO, there’s no such thing as the “correct” grip size for anyone. It’s more of a spectrum as it is with racquet specs, strings, and tension. I don’t think there’s a wrong grip size for anyone unless they go to the extreme ends of the grip size spectrum. Just use the grip size that feels best to you. In general, if you want more free wrist movement, go for a smaller grip size; if you want more stability, go for a larger grip size.
I agree with all the points you are making.

But still, everyone is more comfortable (they get used to a certain grip size) whether or not it is the "correct" grip size for them.
That can't be denied.

Having said that. Let's assume you know which grip size you are most comfortable with (grip size off the shelf).
Let's say that is 4 3/8" just as an example.
When you go shopping for a new racket do you look for a racket with a 4 3/8" grip size, knowing you will be replacing the original
grip with a leather grip and possibly even adding an over grip in short order?

Thus changing the racket, for all practical purposes, into a 4 4/8" + racket.
 

Chairman3

Hall of Fame
I find the opposite
I use the Fairway leather grips and after 2-3 times use (and then a little each time after) the grip has molded to the handle shape and actually compressed a bit.

I've actually thought of going up to a 4-1/2 to allow for this as I like my grip to be right between or nearer to 4-1/2 after overgrip is added. But it doesn't compress that much, so I stick with 4-3/8.
I also like my grips slightly larger than smaller, just feels more comfortable.
 

Youngheart

Semi-Pro
Mark, I think we're two ships passing each other in the dead of night! By that I mean that
I take the opposite approach. One of the best feeling grips that I have, is a Wilson that I
bought in 5/8 size. I took off the big puffy factory grip, and just put only two thin overgrips.
Now the size is 1/2, and the bevels have an outstanding feel. I know exactly where my hand is.

If you get a small 1/4 grip, and add a few layers to make it into a proper 3/8 size, the feel of
the bevels will be rounded and more difficult to notice when you go from forehand to backhand.
By the way, I prefer the European size naming of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Suppose you have a grip that
is halfway between 4 3/8 and 4 1/2. In the European way, you could simply think of it as 3.5 !!
 

Mark-Touch

Legend
Mark, I think we're two ships passing each other in the dead of night! By that I mean that
I take the opposite approach. One of the best feeling grips that I have, is a Wilson that I
bought in 5/8 size. I took off the big puffy factory grip, and just put only two thin overgrips.
Now the size is 1/2, and the bevels have an outstanding feel. I know exactly where my hand is.

If you get a small 1/4 grip, and add a few layers to make it into a proper 3/8 size, the feel of
the bevels will be rounded and more difficult to notice when you go from forehand to backhand.
By the way, I prefer the European size naming of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Suppose you have a grip that
is halfway between 4 3/8 and 4 1/2. In the European way, you could simply think of it as 3.5 !!

You also make good, logical points.
I see this not a black and white situation. :)

I've bought a ton of rackets over the years and after all is said and done, after I have
added my leather grip (which in my case always adds bulk and weight) and inevitably
an over grip, my grip size (which I never thought about until now) is no longer 4 3/8".

And of course between different company models there is additional variation.
But at the end of the day I always end up playing with a grip size that is bigger than I prefer!
I get used to it. But today when faced with a new demo racket (with an over grip) I realized
that maybe I've been using the wrong approach all these years because I didn't think it through
properly.

Yes, everyone loves to feel crisp bevels, but obviously it's not such a big deal with me if I have
always been adding an over grip to my rackets.

BTW, have you ever seen a pro player NOT use an over grip (thus sacrificing the bevel feel)?

So given that I will certainly be adding an over grip, why not start with a smaller grip size to
make up for it? It makes sense to me logically.
 

Youngheart

Semi-Pro
On one of your oldest rackets where the grip is just a bit too big, you could experiment by
taking all the grips off, and carefully sanding the plastic, and then put the grips back on.
Also, I think some companies might make leather grips in a thinner guage. If you stretch
that tight as you wrap it, and same with the overgrip, it might not increase the size too much.
 

Mark-Touch

Legend
On one of your oldest rackets where the grip is just a bit too big, you could experiment by
taking all the grips off, and carefully sanding the plastic, and then put the grips back on.
Also, I think some companies might make leather grips in a thinner guage. If you stretch
that tight as you wrap it, and same with the overgrip, it might not increase the size too much.

Yes I did start to work with some of my rackets a few months ago on the grip size.
I started by taking off the leather grip and replacing it with a thin base grip.
Next I added my usual over grip.

The problem with thin over grips (if you go the route I did above) is that you end up with
a final grip that is no longer 'cushiony'. The feeling can start to get harsh when you hit the ball.

So going this route you end up making a compromise.
It's better to get your 'finished grip' as comfortable as possible in addition to getting the
right size.
 

AmericanTwist

Professional
The gap I use for myself is 3-5mm between my palm and my third and fourth fingers. I've seen pros use smaller and larger grips than this however. I really like leather plus overgrip.
 

Mark-Touch

Legend
The gap I use for myself is 3-5mm between my palm and my third and fourth fingers. I've seen pros use smaller and larger grips than this however. I really like leather plus overgrip.
That's what I aim for too on most of my rackets.

But the interesting thing is that you will get that same gap if you pick up a new racket off the shelf that is one size larger than what you use.
So a stock racket with no leather grip nor over grip.

So what you are doing wittingly (or unwittingly) is using the method I am considering switching to.
That is, buying one size smaller so that when the grips are added, it will be the perfect grip size.
 
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Djinn

Semi-Pro
I agree with all the points you are making.

But still, everyone is more comfortable (they get used to a certain grip size) whether or not it is the "correct" grip size for them.
That can't be denied.

Having said that. Let's assume you know which grip size you are most comfortable with (grip size off the shelf).
Let's say that is 4 3/8" just as an example.
When you go shopping for a new racket do you look for a racket with a 4 3/8" grip size, knowing you will be replacing the original
grip with a leather grip and possibly even adding an over grip in short order?

Thus changing the racket, for all practical purposes, into a 4 4/8" + racket.

Presumably you would have given the same treatment of replacing the original grip with leather and used an overgrip with your current racquet that you are replacing as well? Which would in theory still give you a similar grip size.

However, if this your first racquet on which you are replacing the grip with leather and adding an overgrip, perhaps get a leather grip that has similar thickness to the original grip. You can look up thickness online. It most likely won’t be exact but should be close enough.

Also keep in mind that a leather grip gets “squished” down a bit after a bit of use and should therefore some down in size.
 

Grafil Injection

Hall of Fame
The inevitable manufacturing differences between bare grip sizes, and in grip and over-grip thicknesses at the sub-mm level, easily makes theoretical dimensions between brands and individual rackets incomparable. Plus, there is compression after use etc. So since most people could probably sense 1/16' or half a grip size, you can't just rely on following the specs. Solution: have a range of OGs of different thicknesses and electrical tape to tailor the grip if necessary.
 
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AmericanTwist

Professional
Leather grips only compress a little but not that much. I measure with my preferred set-up. Also another test for me is how bad callouses get. Minimal callouses = optimal size generally
 

Mark-Touch

Legend
Presumably you would have given the same treatment of replacing the original grip with leather and used an overgrip with your current racquet that you are replacing as well? Which would in theory still give you a similar grip size.
I would use the same treatment (leather grip + over grip) when I buy my next racket.
But as I mentioned to start, this has resulted in a grip that is up a size, instead of 4 3/8", it's 4 4/8".

When I played yesterday with a 4 1/4" bumped up to a 4 3/8" with its over grip, it felt very good.
I am going to go for a 4 1/4" grip for my next racket.
 

Mark-Touch

Legend
The poll results so far are interesting.
They show that most people who use leather/over grip are playing with a racket a size over their preferred grip size.

I just did some test measurements with three of my rackets:

Triad XP5 just under 4.5" (leather + over grip)
Wilson Blade 100L 4 3/8" (leather grip only) Don't usually play this way, but wanted to reduce the grip size.
Wilson Blade 98 just under 4 3/8" (no base grip, just two over grips to reduce grip size)
 

Konik_1982

Rookie
Additionally I´m almost sure (and many of my friends too) that on the new Blades V9 Wilson slightly increased the grip. As I was playing with V8´s with 4 3/8 size (always with an overgrip) I was on testing day with Wilson to check out the new V9´s and I just took some racquets in my hand, all of them with overgrip and just by the feel I took one on the court and played with it for 40 minutes thinking I have my standard 4 3/8 size....And NO - it was 4 1/4 and felt exactly how I felt with current V8´s and size bigger.

In the end I got 2 V9´s 18x20 in 4 1/4 just because I held them in my hands upfront. Otherwise I would have bought 4 3/8 like I usually do.
Not sure if this change relates to all new Wilson lines but on the Blades I have this experience.
 

Crocodile

G.O.A.T.
I’m grip 5 plus an over grip and like to buy 355-359g racquets strung all up stock.
Would prefer not to buy a 1/2 and build up if I can help it and try it avoid having to add weight if I can buy the right weight in the first place. Swing weight preference is just a smidgen under 330, say 328 and 329.
The thing that always attracted me to a grip
5 is that I always played primarily a S & V game or Serve and destroy and the grip 5 offers good wrist stability and elbow safety.
On the odd chance where I really loved the feel of a frame but it wasn’t available in a 5 I would make an exception such as the Artengo Control
Tour which I think has a very nice feel and an Angell K7 Lime or red, these racquets feel pretty nice to me.
The shape of the grip also has some sway, The Volkl C10 has a rectangular grip shape that can take some time to get used to. Favourite grip
Shape is Pro Kennex and Prince.
 

Mark-Touch

Legend
Additionally I´m almost sure (and many of my friends too) that on the new Blades V9 Wilson slightly increased the grip. As I was playing with V8´s with 4 3/8 size (always with an overgrip) I was on testing day with Wilson to check out the new V9´s and I just took some racquets in my hand, all of them with overgrip and just by the feel I took one on the court and played with it for 40 minutes thinking I have my standard 4 3/8 size....And NO - it was 4 1/4 and felt exactly how I felt with current V8´s and size bigger.

In the end I got 2 V9´s 18x20 in 4 1/4 just because I held them in my hands upfront. Otherwise I would have bought 4 3/8 like I usually do.
Not sure if this change relates to all new Wilson lines but on the Blades I have this experience.

Thanks Konik for the info. Very interesting.
 

Fxanimator1

Hall of Fame
I can take both grip 2 and 3 and it makes no difference in thickness and feel with Wilson Feather Thin (thin and soft for grip 3) and Gamma Hi-Tech (thick and firm for grip 2) grips + overgrip.
It’s a difference in weight and balance though, because a Wilson Feather Thin weighs 9 grams less than a Pro Performance one.
 

Shroud

Talk Tennis Guru
I buy 4 3/8 and build up to 5 1/2 by adding a replacement grip and 2 overgrips and some strips of a replacement grip on the even numbered bevels.
 
I just use 4 1/4.

And put an overgrip on it. I don't think too much.

My forehand is geared toward spin so I make sure I err toward sizing down.

But I don't have big hands anyway.

I'm sure if I had to a 4 3/8 it would be fine and not bother me much.
 

Guttersnipe

Rookie
Buy a metric crap tone of second hand racquets...all in different grip sizes

G2-G5, they will come with a different base grip that you can re use, take off and swap with another to find that glove like fit.

Some leathers (grips) are CHUNKY and others are kimony levels of thinness. From mixing and matching you come to find out how important the base grip/OG combo is for shock and felling at ease with your arm extender (racquet)

My favs grip shapes in particular sizes are:

Babolat G3
Tecnifibre G4
Prince G3
PK G2
Toalson G2
Yonex G3
Bridgestone G3
Dunlop G4
 
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