leather grip weight vs synthetic

xtreme tennis

xtreme tennis

Rookie
my TW leather 25mm x 1300mm x 1.5mm= 33 grs
Volkl synt. grip=14 grs
I have an extra 19 grs!, . I dont have any problem with synt. but would like to add feel!this week I will try
 
JT_2eighty

JT_2eighty

Hall of Fame
So, with Volkl Leather at ~30, Becker at 34, and 'some' TW leathers coming in from 30-33, is it safe to assume Becker is the heaviest?

I recently tried a Black Volkl Leather, and untrimmed weight was 28.2g

Anyone try Pro Supex's Leather grip?

Also, fwiw, here are some of my measurements over the years, all measurements are without backing tape/film coverings, these are weights of just what goes on my racquets:

Base grips:
Head Hydrosorb replacement: 13g (trimmed)
Dunlop Hydramax Comfort Repl: 17.4g (untrim)
Wilson Pro Hybrid replacement: 20.4g (untrim)
Wilson True Grip replacement: 20.6g (untrim)
Volkl Black Leather untrimmed: 28.2g

OGs:
Tournagrip regular overgrip: 4.8g
Gamma DermaGrip OG (black): 5.1g
Yonex Supergrap OG (black): 5.5g
Dunlop Hydramax overgrip: 6.4g
Gamma Supreme overgrip: 6.8g (black)
Pro Supex H-model overgrip: 7.8g (white) [also thickest at 0.7mm]
Dunlop Osmo-dry overgrip: 7.9g

--all OG's untrimmed, and all weights: OG & Replacements are only including the finishing tape that they were packaged with.
 
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Hooked

Hooked

Rookie
Size and weight of a Wilson PS 85 leather grip?

OK leather experts. I just received a PS85 that had the original grip replaced with a synthetic. I want to replace it with a leather grip that will be as close to the original grip in terms of size and weight as possible. I notice there are several version of the TW grip. What is closest replacement for the original grip of a Wilson PS 85 St. Vincents with bumper guard? Thanks in advance.
 
C

Casco

Semi-Pro
Do a search on the unstrung weight of the racquet. Then weigh your racquet, unstrung and without the grip. The difference in weight will be the grip weight. Then order the TW leather grip, remove the backing from the adhesive, carefully trim incrementally until you match the weight. Then cross your fingers and hope you've got the right length. Anything from 40 inches to 43 will work, depending on how much you overlap and stretch the new grip.
 
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Hooked

Hooked

Rookie
Fairway leather replacement grip specs

Found this data from a UK seller for the replacement Fairway leather grip:

48" x 15/16". Chamfered. Rolled edge. Tapered. Branded Fairway in gold. 1.5/1.6mm substance. Weight 25g.

So it looks like the TW 1.5mm thick ones are the way to go. I went with the 22mm version even though the 25mm version is closer to the original spec.
 
xtreme tennis

xtreme tennis

Rookie
head finest calfskin (trimmed on a xl) 29 grms
1001088copia.jpg
 
tennistomcat

tennistomcat

Semi-Pro
Posting info for my most recent grip changes. I swapped out the stock yonex synthetic grip on my Vcore 100S with a gamma leather grip to add more weight to the handle - didn't like it so tried to switch back without increasing the grip size. It's hard to do since Yonex replacement grips are probably the thinnest I have ever seen & they are hard to find in stores in the US

posting in case these numbers help out anyone

Yonex stock synthetic grip: 12g

Prince Resithin replacement grip: 14g (grip size was increased about 1/2-3/4 of a size)

Yonex Hi Soft supergrap (closest thing I could find to the stock grip - is very thin - had to buy in a badminton shop): 11g

Gamma leather grip: 23g (it increased the grip size 1 full size)

Anyone know what the stock synthetic grip on the Vcores is & where I can get a hold of them? I couldn't find anything that resembled the stock white grip in the Yonex catalog. Can't seem to find yonex replacement grips in any tennis store. It seemed like tennis warehouse had carried some in the past but it's been a while.

The hi soft supergrap is 1 mm more narrow & has a shiny, tackier feel than the stock grip - if you have a large grip size, you may not have enough length to cover the pallet all the way.
 
E

Edo

Rookie
i just replaced the hybrid pro grip on my ps 6.1 95 with a wilson leather grip and it added 1gr (trimmed, with tape).
 
D

Dover

New User
If I replaced the original Babolat Syntec grip with a Babolat leather grip onto a Aero Storm GT, given there are no other changes to the existing racquet. What effects would I likely see?

Starting Specs...
strung weight - 11.4 oz
balance - 3 pts HL
swingweight - 334
 
Hooked

Hooked

Rookie
Dover said:
If I replaced the original Babolat Syntec grip with a Babolat leather grip onto a Aero Storm GT, given there are no other changes to the existing racquet. What effects would I likely see?

Starting Specs...
strung weight - 11.4 oz
balance - 3 pts HL
swingweight - 334
Click to expand...

You will likely add 2-8 grams to the handle. This will shift the balance to be a touch more head light. Maybe enough to go from 3 to 4 points HL but not more than that. You may feel that the racquet is slightly heavier and more maneuverable but the change should not feel radically different than what you are used to.

What will be much more noticeable will be the slickness of the leather grip in comparison to the Syntec grip. I have a few Bab sticks with the Syntec grip and several others with leather grips and I like the feel of the bevels with the leather grips but prefer the tackiness and comfort of a Syntec type grip. All my sticks are overgripped, but I would be fine playing the Syntec gripped racquets without one if need be. I just wouldn't want to play my leather gripped sticks without an overgrip. Too slick for me.
 
D

Dover

New User
After reading back through the pages and reading other various websites dealing with balance, I believe this is about what I would come up with...

strung weight - 11.7 oz
balance - 6 pts HL
swingweight - ???
 
Hooked

Hooked

Rookie
Dover said:
After reading back through the pages and reading other various websites dealing with balance, I believe this is about what I would come up with...

strung weight - 11.7 oz
balance - 6 pts HL
swingweight - ???
Click to expand...

I don't believe you will add that much weight. The Syntec grip is pretty close to a leather grip in weight. Perhaps if you replace the grip and add an overgrip you will see this much weight added but in my expereince just replacing the grip won't add quite as much weight as you are quoting here.
 
D

Dover

New User
Hooked said:
I don't believe you will add that much weight. The Syntec grip is pretty close to a leather grip in weight. Perhaps if you replace the grip and add an overgrip you will see this much weight added but in my expereince just replacing the grip won't add quite as much weight as you are quoting here.
Click to expand...

I'm just going by what other people have said, using a swingweight calculator and doing some math.

The Babolat leather grip is supposedly 25 grams - per the package.
The Babolat syntec grip is supposedly 17 grams - per the package.
That would be a difference of 8 grams or .282 ounces. So my 11.4 oz becomes around 11.7. Using the tennis-warehouse swingweight calculator I estimated a swingweight around 315 and the balance point of somewhere in the 6-7 pts HL range given where the 8 grams would be located on the racquet.
 
Andreas1965

Andreas1965

Rookie
Dunlop Tour Leather Grip: 30 g untrimmed, with the adhesive.

VERY high quality, soft, easy to wrap. The dark color looks great.
 
robbo1970

robbo1970

Hall of Fame
rst said:
which one of the leather grips is the thickest?
Click to expand...

My research has found it to be the Wilson at 1.8mm.

I am adding one to my racket as it replicates the width of the synth grip but at 22g it will not affect the static weight too much, maybe 6g but it will add a couple of HL points that should improve racket head speed.....in theory :)

If you like the feel of leather and that bevel definition and solid feel in the hand (I use an overgrip as well for traction) I really cannot see any downside to adding a leather grip. I think the extra weight is minimal really, but the addition of a couple of HL points more or less erradicates that.
 
djNEiGht

djNEiGht

Legend
On my main racquets (London) I am using BB Leather and lead on hoop (5/7-3/9). The other racquets I have are PB10 MP/Head Leather ( no lead) and nCode 95/TW 1.5 (lead at 5/7) and a Mizuno Turbo Pro/BB Leather (Babolat bumper guard tape fr 3 to 9).

I'm looking to go the same thickness but want to drop the weight. Trying to set up a couple racquets with the same balance (will fix w lead as needed) and drop the over all weight.

Suggestions please on similar thickness as BB Leather/TW leather but lighter. I really enjoy the sharp bevels and don't want to play with a non leather grip.

Thanks :)
 
R

retrograde

Rookie
New & untrimmed grips in my inventory:

Dunlop Hydramax Tour - 21g
Wilson K (Kontrol) Grip - 18g
Wilson Cushion Air Contour - 20g
Wilson Shock Shield Hybrid - 27g
 
djNEiGht

djNEiGht

Legend
revisiting the thread and basically the same request.

I've taken off the lead at 3/9 & 5/7 but still have the BB Leather (which is basically Volkl). I have counter balanced at 12 on one racquet and 2/10 on another. Both are def lighter but still want to drop the weight.

Any suggestions on light leather grips? The local store said that Gamma was the lightest and I should also consider Babolat Skin Feel.

I have a stock racquet (synthetic grip) and have balanced my leather gripped racquet to match it. I don't want to make the racquet lighter (is Babolat Skin Feel lighter than a stock grip?) but really like the feel of the bevels ( i play with an OG) and I like the stock balance.

Your thoughts.
 
Relinquis

Relinquis

Hall of Fame
is babolat skin feel (synthetic) will allow you to feel the bevels very well. i used it to replace the grip on a friend's racquet and it is very thin for a replacement grip. feels lighter and much thinner than the dunlop hydramax comfort grip he had on there.

the babolat leather also allows you to feel the bevels well. I use it. it's nice and sticky/tacky when my hands get sweaty. It's 24 grams according to the packaging. heavier than a standard non-leather grip.
 
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djNEiGht

djNEiGht

Legend
@relinquis

Thank you.

My concern with the Skin Feel is that it might be lighter than the stock synthetic grip and as you stated vs the dunlop hydramax it might not be the way for me. I don't mind a little weight but at the same time trying to cut down fr the original heavy set up I had.

I play with an OG for the most part. I tried playing with leather bare but just wasn't my thing.

I have the thicker TW Private label. Might check out the thinner one.
 
S

slowfox

Professional
If memory serves, Babolat Skin Feel weighed 18g out of the package. The regular TW private label leather was 28g. Of course, you'll probably cut some off when you install it to your specific grip. So that'll shave a few grams off.
 
K

kopfan

Rookie
Stock Yonex Synthetic Grip weight about 11g trimmed. Thickness is 1.55mm. Yonex do not make stock replacement grip. It is difficult to find similar thickness and trimmed weight replacement grip to maintain balance and overall static weight. Some people might experience grip size increase after swapping out stock grip with a thin replacement grip. This is due to the used stock grip had lose it cushion thickness and thin replacement are normally between 1.5mm to 1.6mm after installed. Very close to Yonex stock thickness but weight more than stock.
 
C

corners

Legend
kopfan said:
Stock Yonex Synthetic Grip weight about 11g trimmed. Thickness is 1.55mm. Yonex do not make stock replacement grip. It is difficult to find similar thickness and trimmed weight replacement grip to maintain balance and overall static weight. Some people might experience grip size increase after swapping out stock grip with a thin replacement grip. This is due to the used stock grip had lose it cushion thickness and thin replacement are normally between 1.5mm to 1.6mm after installed. Very close to Yonex stock thickness but weight more than stock.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the Yonex stock grip is kind of unique. I think they make it specifically for the addition of an overgrip. The Yonex stock + overgrip feels pretty similar to leather+overgrip, IMHO, and I think that is Yonex's intent. But TW should carry this grip so that Yonex players can replace the grip when it's compressed or otherwise shot, because as you mention, there are few options like it on the market. The Donnay stock grip is also thin and light, but is a bit squishier.
 
K

kopfan

Rookie
Using tourna pro tour now. Feel is good and size is just right with an overgrip. the grip added about 7~8g more which make the stick even more head light... Wanted to try grip that advertise as 1.3mm thin but those grip would be too thin after a few hours of compression. isn't it? It's really hard to find a grip that have good bevel feel and weight between 10~12g trimmed just like the stock grip. vcore, xi series seem to have pretty much lower quality grip and get compressed after 16 hrs of play with an overgrip. Those on rds and rids model seem to last much longer before getting compressed. Anyway, Yonex stock grip are bound to get replaced sooner than most brand.
 
ilovetennis212

ilovetennis212

Professional
Larry Baldridge said:
Leather grips can enhance the "feel" of a racquet in a number of ways. --The feel of the bevels for sure, but also the feel of the ball coming off the strings. Some leather grips can also add weight to the handle, rendering a more head-light balance. Here are some specs on grip weights and other items that may help you determine some variables that affect weight and balance:
Fairway Leather - 25g
Wilson Leather - 22g
Head Leather - 23g
Pacific leather -18g
Volkl Leather -30.4g
All of the above are untrimmed, straight from the package
Gamma Hi-Tech Perforated Replacement Grip - 19g/.67 oz [trimmed to fit]
Babolat "0" vibration dampener - 3.8g/.135 oz
Wilson Pro Feel vibration dampener - 2.5g/.090 oz
#10 rubber band - .7g/.025 oz
16g string in 18 X 20 pattern - 15.9g/.56 oz
Yonex Super Grap overwrap - 5.7g/.20 oz
Wilson Butt cap w/ removable window - 10g/.355 oz
Volkl Soft Butt Cap - 9.4g/.330 oz
Elasto Cross II - 2.3g/.082 oz.[entire contents less applicator]
Click to expand...

Thank u very much
 
ednegroni

ednegroni

Rookie
Anyone know the weight difference between Wilson Leather grip and Sublime grip?

edit: nm, just read the most recent thread in the forums :)
 
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Rozroz

Rozroz

G.O.A.T.
some numbers here claim leather grips form pacific and Babs weight less than 20g (trimmed),
yet some claim they're MORE than that (trimmed)..
so who's right?

i need a thick
BUT
still a light one.
 
Rozroz

Rozroz

G.O.A.T.
well since i got no response i ordered the Pacific x.
hope it's the lightest (although not sure a all).
 
B

Bruceh

New User
Al1978 said:
I only like leather on heavy racquets, unless the racquet was originally spec'd with leather. The added weight of leather on the sub-11.5 ounce frames I've used has always made them feel awkward.
Click to expand...
Hi I was thinking of adding leather to a 280 gram racket , why does it make it feel awkward? Thanks Bruce
 
djNEiGht

djNEiGht

Legend
Bruceh said:
Hi I was thinking of adding leather to a 280 gram racket , why does it make it feel awkward? Thanks Bruce
Click to expand...
each person might have their own experience. The leather will change the balance and on light racquets I feel something a bit more even is better.
 
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