LaserFibre Grip Choices?

[Federer's#1]

I'm going to get a LaserFibre grip to decrease my grip size from 4 1/2 to 4 3/8. Should I get the "LaserFibre Original TourtFit Reducer Grip" or "LaserFibre TourtFit Reducer TwinTone Grip"? What's the difference and what will shrink the grip the most?

Thanks

 

[Il Mostro]

The Twin Tone Reducer Grip is brand new. It is the thinnest LF offers and was designed specifically to reduce by one size *with* the inclusion of an over-grip. The Tour Fit reducer grip reduces by one size sans over-grip. Be sure to lay a layer of double sided masking tape or a layer of painters tape underneath the Twin Tone or you will sorry when you try to remove it. I will add that the regular Twin Tone also reduces grip size a bit, but not a full size.

 

[Federer's#1]

Thanks! That helps a lot

 

[john whilesmith]

Just be careful dealing with the Laserfibre store in Rhode Island. I placed an order for string which they did not fulfil for 3 weeks. My emails and phone calls went unanswered until I finally managed to get someone to answer the phone. They then proceeded to send the wrong string but packaged as the string I requested. It took me another 3 weeks to get them to correct the order and send the string I had originally requested. When I opened the first package to begin a string-job, I found that instead of 40' of string I had 2 20' packages and had to string 2-piece. I personally will never deal with them again.

 

[Il Mostro]

I buy string and grips on a regular basis. Never had anything but great service. I deal with them regularly and have never had a problem.

 

[dadozen]

The Twin Tone Reducer Grip is brand new. It is the thinnest LF offers and was designed specifically to reduce by one size *with* the inclusion of an over-grip. The Tour Fit reducer grip reduces by one size sans over-grip. Be sure to lay a layer of double sided masking tape or a layer of painters tape underneath the Twin Tone or you will sorry when you try to remove it. I will add that the regular Twin Tone also reduces grip size a bit, but not a full size.

So the TwinTone is thinner than the regular Reducer grips? I tried the regular ones and it didn't work well for me.

And why do you say to add a double sided masking tape otherwise we'd be sorry when removing? does it get glued all over the handle?

Thanks for the info!

 

[Il Mostro]

So the TwinTone is thinner than the regular Reducer grips? I tried the regular ones and it didn't work well for me.

And why do you say to add a double sided masking tape otherwise we'd be sorry when removing? does it get glued all over the handle?

Thanks for the info!

Yes, they are thinner as they are designed to go -1 with an over-grip applied on top of the grip. I have found the Tour Fit Reducer Grip to drop size effectively. If it did not work for you, perhaps you did not wrap it tightly enough. I have quite a few vintage racquets in larger sizes and the LF reducer grips have worked out well for me.

The Twin Tone is actually two very thin grips sewn together side by side (to create its shape & feel) then attached to a cushioned backing. When removed, the thin top layer separates from the backing which is a PITA to remove. Placing a thin tape underneath allows for removal of the tape, backing and top layer in one fell swoop. You will kick yourself if you skip this step.

 

[dadozen]

Yes, they are thinner as they are designed to go -1 with an over-grip applied on top of the grip. I have found the Tour Fit Reducer Grip to drop size effectively. If it did not work for you, perhaps you did not wrap it tightly enough. I have quite a few vintage racquets in larger sizes and the LF reducer grips have worked out well for me.

The Twin Tone is actually two very thin grips sewn together side by side (to create its shape & feel) then attached to a cushioned backing. When removed, the thin top layer separates from the backing which is a PITA to remove. Placing a thin tape underneath allows for removal of the tape, backing and top layer in one fell swoop. You will kick yourself if you skip this step.

Thanks a lot Il Mostro. Actually, I tried the Reducer grip many times, stretching the hell out of it, then wrapping an OG on top of it. Even then it didn't work.

I'll get some Twintones then. Do they feel harsh on the hands, being that thin? I actually found that the Reducer, if stretched, felt like leather, since it has much less cushioning than a regular replacement grip.

And I'll make sure to follow your advice

 

[Carlito]

I ordered from regular reducers from them but they sent me the twin tone. I was going to return them then I realized I haven't been charged yet. I called the order in when the order system was down and It has been almost 3 weeks and no charge yet. I took over 2 weeks for them to come to my door so I thought they just lost the order. Now I dont want them anymore but it looks like they were free.

Anyway, I decided to go with the TW leather grips. They worked out great if you like the feel and weight of leather.

 

[Toad]

I ordered from regular reducers from them but they sent me the twin tone.

I was under the assumption that the twintone was the same as the reducer grip...they did this to me as well but put a little sticker on it that said tour fit reducer grip.

I didn't think it felt that much thinner from the standard Tour Fit grip I put on my other racket. Talk about shady business practices...I am never ordering anything from them again.

Edit: clarified

 

[Il Mostro]

Nope, non-Twin tone Tour Fit has different construction. The pic is the Twin Tone Reducer Grip; note the seam running the length of the grip (actually two separate strips bonded together from the back). Tour Fit (reducer or not) is a solid, single piece. If you look at the side of the packages and compare the respective grips you will see that the reducers are thinner/ lower profile compared to the same regular grips.

The Tour Fit Twin Tone is a version of the Tour Fit line, hence the "Tour Fit Reducer Grip" label being used on the outside of the package. The package of the Tour Fit reducer reads "Tour Fit Grip"; the Twin Tone reads "Tour Fit Twin". As mentioned, both use the same outer label to differentiate the reducer versions.

I use Twin tour, Tour Fit Reducer and Pro Stock grips. They are all different and are all as-describred. Shady business practices are one thing; you not knowing what you are talking about is quite another.

Edit: As stated, I have not used the Twin Tone reducer yet. It has a very specific and different application -- reducing and still allowing for an over-grip.

 

[Toad]

Nope, non-Twin tone Tour Fit has different construction. The pic is the Twin Tone Reducer Grip; note the seam running the length of the grip (actually two strips sewn together). Tour Fit (reducer or not) is a solid, single piece. If you look at the side of the packages and compare the respective grips you will see that the reducers are thinner/ lower profile compared to the same regular grips.

I have done one better than simply looking at the profiles (which I can't tell a whole lot of difference when doing that).

I took one of my regular TourFit grips (no sticker label on the outside of the package), and a (apparently) TwinTone TourFit Reducer as indicated by the sticker label on the package. I already had a white/black one I opened which they sent to me as a "bonus" since they overcharged me on shipping by about $6 (which is obviously not a shady business practice at all).

I then cut a sliver off the edge of both grips, scanned them at 1000 ppi, imported the scanned image into AutoCad, and measured the thicknesses in spots at approximately the quarter points and center (not accounting for the spot where the TwinTone is sewn together which is clearly thinner) of both grips. I measured the thicknesses both accounting for and not accounting for the adhesive tape on the backing of the grip. A screenshot of what I did is shown below. Units are consistent.

With Tape

Excluding Tape

From this, to me at least, it is clear that both grips are approximately the same thickness. The standard TourFit is just a much more consistent thickness than the, as you have clearly indicated, Twin Tone TourFit Reducer (which again according to you should be a full grip size thinner when applied). To me, it is clear that the Twin Tone shown in the picture is a standard Twin Tone, and the TourFit Reducer Grip label is simply added to try and achieve a Placebo effect for unsuspecting customers.

If you think about this from a purely logical stance, a full grip size reduction would be 0.125" and a half grip size reduction would be 0.0625"...I took the slivers and measured the thicknesses with a ruler, and they both appeared to be right at 1/16" (0.0625") from eyeballing it. So...since the standard grip is basically a half grip size difference to begin with...how the hell is it even possible for one of them to be a full or even half grip size thinner when applied? So, I stand by my statement that this is a shady business practice and leave you with this...

Shady business practices are one thing; you not knowing what you are talking about is quite another.

 

[Il Mostro]

Bottom line is I use both Tour Fit and Tour Fit Reducers regularly. The reducer effectively reduces grips size every time I have used it. (I have not used the Twin Tour Reducer.) The Tour Fit Grips are easily detectable as being different thicknesses in their respective versions from simply viewing their folded states in the packages. The different thicknesses of backings are what create the reduction once these are on the racquet. They are distinctly different to the touch. Nice photos nonetheless.

Edit: Just to clarify. While the outer layers of both Tour Fit Grips are identical, the difference in thickness on the reducer version is achieved by application of adhesive to the grip without any backing/cushioning. On the regular version, there is a cushioned adhesive strip.

 

[Bengt]

So, I stand by my statement that this is a shady business practice

Well done and I agree. Thanks for comparing them. However, there's no better syn grip for bevel definition.