Leather Grip Recommendations?

[Toyo]

Hi all, I want to make my racket grip about a half size larger and also want to make the racket a bit head lighter and decrease the swing weight (currently at 327) a bit. I'm currently using a Yonex overgrip too.

Would swapping out the original grip for a heavier leather grip do the trick or would i need a sleeve and lead tape as well? If so, what's a thicker heavier leather grip to use? Thanks in advance!

 

[topspn]

You are not going to add 1/2 a grip size going to leather if anything the grip will be slimmer. You will however add weight to your handle perhaps as much as 12gm depending on grip replaced. Try wilson shock shield which is a heavy grip just like leather and is thicker so give you a bigger grip. SW will not change but racquet will be more head light.

 

[CopolyX]

remember it is easy to do a google search. it will dig into these threads for info.
don't understand why people cant do a simple search to gather some info
instead of just flopping down a thread , the info is out there...right in this forum.
getting old searching for rookies and newbies...
I want to help, but learn to fish!
now that I vented....

tail weighting will bring your HL down some.
but it will not effect your swing weight!

good threads for grips ( will should you the thickness out there grasshopper)
https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...pecs-weight-thickness-into-one-thread.465717/
https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/leather-grip-weight-vs-synthetic.62687/

 

[Toyo]

You are not going to add 1/2 a grip size going to leather if anything the grip will be slimmer. You will however add weight to your handle perhaps as much as 12gm depending on grip replaced. Try wilson shock shield which is a heavy grip just like leather and is thicker so give you a bigger grip. SW will not change but racquet will be more head light.

Thanks for the advice!

So, in order to bring my swing weight down from 327 to around 321, I would have to add silicone or lead tape the handle?

 

[esgee48]

No, to reduce SW from 327 to 321, you need to REMOVE mass from the frame above the pivot point. How much mass to remove depends on where you remove it. You are talking about 2 grams from 12:00.

edit: You could also choke up the handle by ~.25" and that will also reduce your effective SW by 7-10 SW units. Just put tape on the bottom of the handle so your hand knows when to stop. Or flare the handle more.

 

[golden chicken]

Thanks for the advice!

So, in order to bring my swing weight down from 327 to around 321, I would have to add silicone or lead tape the handle?

try a thinner string

 

[esgee48]

Would work if OP had stated poly strings. Problem is going from 16 to 17 may not achieve that. Going from 16 to 18 will. That's if he is using poly. If he is using Nylon, ain't going to happen. Going from poly to nylon will also reduce SW. But that was not his question or he would have asked for options including strings.

 

[CopolyX]

no strings - no grommets - to win with that will take skillz.
that will shave some off...
Think of the money you will save on restringing...

now the for serious side....
By the way, what is the stick?
What are reasons, why you think the swingweight is too much for you?

 

[Toyo]

no strings - no grommets - to win with that will take skillz.
that will shave some off...
Think of the money you will save on restringing...

now the for serious side....
By the way, what is the stick?
What are reasons, why you think the swingweight is too much for you?

Yonex AI 100 strung with YPTP 17 gauge. I could go to 18 or 19 as I'm not a string breaker.

I've changed my hitting style a bit and looking for more racket head speed and felt the light swing weights easier to maneuver. Either that or I need to hit the gym more often. I just noticed the new Ezone 100 has a swing weight of around 321, but I prefer not to spend more money and I really like the comfort of the AI

 

[Toyo]

Would work if OP had stated poly strings. Problem is going from 16 to 17 may not achieve that. Going from 16 to 18 will. That's if he is using poly. If he is using Nylon, ain't going to happen. Going from poly to nylon will also reduce SW. But that was not his question or he would have asked for options including strings.

One of my AI is strung with YPTP 17g and another with Alu Power 16 and my hitting partner and I noticed the difference in balance. I've never tried an 18 or 19 but always been curious.

 

[Toyo]

No, to reduce SW from 327 to 321, you need to REMOVE mass from the frame above the pivot point. How much mass to remove depends on where you remove it. You are talking about 2 grams from 12:00.

edit: You could also choke up the handle by ~.25" and that will also reduce your effective SW by 7-10 SW units. Just put tape on the bottom of the handle so your hand knows when to stop. Or flare the handle more.

Actually, the Yonex grip could use a little more flare

 

[CopolyX]

Yonex AI 100 strung with YPTP 17 gauge. I could go to 18 or 19 as I'm not a string breaker.

I've changed my hitting style a bit and looking for more racket head speed and felt the light swing weights easier to maneuver. Either that or I need to hit the gym more often. I just noticed the new Ezone 100 has a swing weight of around 321, but I prefer not to spend more money and I really like the comfort of the AI

yep, I hear you.
Great stick, the ezone ai 100 comes in at string about 3 points HL.
You could try adding some weight (tail weighting) temporary (sticky putty ) under the butt cap to make it more HL.
That again does not effect the swing weight, but you maybe surprised. When the frame become more head light, it could be more maneuverable for you, more whippy...worth a shot.

If again, the stick is just too much swing weight for you.
Try some light ones...
example:
Yonex EZONE 100 (285g)

 

[Toyo]

yep, I hear you.
Great stick, the ezone ai 100 comes in at string about 3 points HL.
You could try adding some weight (tail weighting) temporary (sticky putty ) under the butt cap to make it more HL.
That again does not effect the swing weight, but you maybe surprised. When the frame become more head light, it could be more maneuverable for you, more whippy...worth a shot.

If again, the stick is just too much swing weight for you.
Try some light ones...
example:
Yonex EZONE 100 (285g)

I tried the DR 100 lite a couple of months ago and although the swing weight felt good, I felt I was getting pushed around a bit but some heavier hitters. I wasn't too keen on lead tape around the hoop as it really made the beautiful black and blue paint finish look rather ugly imo

I'll try tail weighting the handle to see how it feels, but I'll also consider the new Ezone coming out soon. Too bad they didn't bring it out in black/blue.

 

[dje31]

To the OP's OQ, of the ones I've used, the thickest, heaviest leather grips have been Becker, followed closely, but not surprisingly, Volkl.

 

[Steve Huff]

I just put a Volkl grip on a guy's racket and it felt cheap and slick. I guess that really doesn't matter if you're going to put an overgrip on it anyway, but they weren't anything like the old Balmforth or VS grips of the past.

 

[Tommy Haas]

Are there any leather grips that are so thin that even using it with an overgrip on would still be thinner than a typical synthetic replacement grip without an overgrip?

 

[re_ipsa]

I use Tourna Leather grip for my pair of prostaff 6.6. So comfy and nice looking. Plus on the heavy side making your reacket extra HL