What is the most popular Grip Size on Pro Tour

tennis23

New User
I am curious, I have played with a 4 5/8 grip with overwrap for 20+ years, POG OS. However, I picked up a brandnew Wilson Kfactor in the pro shop with a 4 3/8 size and I felt great. I have trouble playing doubles with my present raquet but like it for singles and groundies.

I hear that Roger and Nadal use very small grips, and ideas/comments one whats the most popular? Or I would assume that it's a matter of preference?

Kind Regards,.
BST
 

Ripper

Hall of Fame
I am curious, I have played with a 4 5/8 grip with overwrap for 20+ years, POG OS. However, I picked up a brandnew Wilson Kfactor in the pro shop with a 4 3/8 size and I felt great. I have trouble playing doubles with my present raquet but like it for singles and groundies.

I hear that Roger and Nadal use very small grips, and ideas/comments one whats the most popular? Or I would assume that it's a matter of preference?

Kind Regards,.
BST

One thing's for sure; that old rule about having to fit a finger in the space that was left between your fingers when holding the grip, is not valid anymore. Pro's grip sizes have been getting smaller and smaller. It's not uncommon for 6+ foot tall pros (who, very probably, have large hands) these days to go as small as 4 1/4. Surely, this change is related to the way tennis has changed in the way it's played.
 

Lindros13

Semi-Pro
BST: I actually dropped my grip size after knowing this new "trend" toward smaller grip sizes to only discover that I didn't like the smaller grip (after a while)! It took me a few hitting sessions to finally realize that the smaller grip size forced me to be a little too tense on my grip, if that makes any sense. I'm now back to the 1-finger space rule (maybe a little shy of that), and I think it's still a very good rule of thumb.

When I incorrectly made the switch to a smaller grip, I felt that my strokes were very well defined and that I could simply handle the smaller grip without hurting my strokes. I just felt that the smaller grip would enable me to be a little more nimble on rare occasions when needed (flick shots, quicker hands, etc).... But again, it turned out that I just didn't like it.

If you're considering going smaller, I suggest testing it out for a few hitting sessions first.
 
I agree with everything in the previous post. I think the most popular grip size for the male pros is 4 3/8, with quite a few using either one size bigger or smaller. Good list of pro specs from Jura somewhere. I read somewhere that one of the Bryan brothers is almost the only pro now using the 4 5/8 grip size.

Smaller grips are supposed to help generate topspin. Nadal is down at 4 1/4, while Fed is at 4 3/8. Agassi apparently had a custom grip size halfway between 4 3/8 and 4 1/2!

But unless you're about to start trying to play like Nadal, or have been suffering with tennis elbow, you're probably fine as you. Several of my friends are happy playing with 4 5/8 grip size.

POG OS - great racquet by the way! Don't replace it with a small gripped Babolat just to be trendy! Your elbow will never forgive you.
 

tennis_hand

Hall of Fame
generating topspin is one thing, but the racket won't twist in his hands?
He still has to have a little gap between his ring finger and palm, otherwise he has to squeeze it very hard to prevent it from twisting.

or his hands are girl's hands.
 

D. Nelson

Semi-Pro
....here's an ADDED 'twist' ; I have a Prestige Classic 600, that I've modified the grip down to 4 1/8 (closer to 4 even!)...AND have taken 1/2 inch off the length....IT IS THE BEST PLAYING RACQUET I OWN.....period!!! I DO frame some volleys in QUICK doubles...and I DO lose a 'little' on my serve...but the control combined WITH the ease of swing/timing/comfort...is just GREAT !!! The only thing close is, maybe the Aerogel 300 and a Volkl that I've also 'modded' almost beyond recognition...Hahahaa!! It took a while for me to adjust my swing path and contact point (STILL working on it!!)...and I also used to use a big grip... By the way, I'm 5'11" and 165 pounds, if that helps to form a comparison.... The 'worst' thing is that not ALL 4 1/8 fit my hand the way 'mine' does....that's VERY frustrating; I've even taken the racquet with me into different stores to get something close... That's aNOTHER story!!
 

armand

Banned
Changing sizes could cause injury because you'll be using different muscles or using them in a different way. I never had any trouble in 15-20 years of hard hitting until I went down a grip size(from 5/8 to 1/2). Got tendonits in my bicep. I've since went back to a larger grip and no more tendonitis after healing.

And you won't even notice it for a long while. My injury appeared 2 months later.
 
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