Why does Babolat sell their racquets with…

[Moveforwardalways]

the synthetic (rubber?) ring around the upper end of the grip? What is that for anyway? Why do other companies not include this?

 

[gold325]

Prince has that as well... I just remove them and drop the 2 grams or so...

 

[mpournaras]

You can use it to tie off overgrips up top without tape. Or to tuck the extra corner of the overgrip under (like with tourna) on the fly

 

[toby55555]

Could be used in place of sticky tape for holding the end of an overgrip.

 

[n8dawg6]

the wife uses them to tidy up the aesthetic of the overgrip. i had never even noticed it.

 

[eah123]

It’s called an overgrip band, and used to keep the end of the overgrip from peeling away.

 

[speedysteve]

Volkl & Pro Kennex have them too.
Great idea. I dislike the single use throw away tape.

 

[ryushen21]

It's a balance/swing weight fine-tuning band.

 

[Ronaldo]

Like the one on top of the Head Prestige Classic

 

[Hulger]

Babolat rackets appeal to those who need, um, extra stiffness. They just assume you can use some help at home as well.

 

[esm]

It seems LAF uses it to guide her right hand for her THBH. Thought that was a good idea.
I personally hate it as I felt it is too sticky for my liking and I have the colour coding system using the grip finishing tape for my multiple racquets. Sad I know… lol

 

[PrinceMoron]

It is to hide the cortex

 

[Dartagnan64]

I have those on all my Prince frames. They cover the over grip tape and give a nicer look to the frame. Nothing wrong with aesthetics.

Prince has that as well... I just remove them and drop the 2 grams or so...

They don't weigh 2 gms. Maybe 0.5 gm. Far lighter than a vibration dampener.

 

[Bambooman]

It's a great idea for tidying up the abomination of a typical wrap finish. I like to cut a piece of bike inner tube for the same purpose.

 

[gold325]

They don't weigh 2 gms. Maybe 0.5 gm. Far lighter than a vibration dampener.

Babolat one from 2018 Pure Drive Wimbledon - 2.0 gm
Prince one from Prince Phantom 100 - 1.5 gm

Doesnt matter (to me) but fun to know and I just checked on a scale.

 

[Bambooman]

I like how everyone fancies that their feel is so fine tuned that mere thickness of paint is discernable to their delicate touch.

 

[avocadoz]

I love Wilson’s pro overgrip but hate the tape as it’s not very sticky. The elastic band helps keep the overgrip tape in place.

 

[Steve Huff]

It's a balance/swing weight fine-tuning band.

Shouldn't say this. There are too many people on these boards that will believe you.

 

[ryushen21]

Shouldn't say this. There are too many people on these boards that will believe you.

Well that's no fun

 

[jmacdaununder2]

It's a balance/swing weight fine-tuning band.

So wristband is for macro tuning and this is for micro tuning - got it.

 

[Curtennis]

First I grip the racquet then with my other hand I drag the band around my grip on the racquet. This allows me to relax my muscles and whip through contact easier cause the racquet is essentially rubber banded on me

 

[ryushen21]

So wristband is for macro tuning and this is for micro tuning - got it.

That's the spirit!

 

[USMC-615]

Grip bands...just makes the grip/overgrip a little cleaner, nicer looking, on top of finishing tape.

..and some damn funny responses above!

 

[A_Instead]

They serve multi purposes..
I move mine to the bottom of the grip to enhance the girth of the butt. Then apply the overgrip..

 

[Zoolander]

You mean why does Babolat sell their black rubber bands with a racquet attached? Because im buying the bands and the racquet is just an extra.

I move mine to the bottom.........to enhance the girth of the butt.

Kinky, but some like big butts, and i cannot lie......

 

[Dartagnan64]

Babolat one from 2018 Pure Drive Wimbledon - 2.0 gm
Prince one from Prince Phantom 100 - 1.5 gm

Doesnt matter (to me) but fun to know and I just checked on a scale.

Just put my Prince 93P one onto the scale and it didn't even register. 0 gm. I guess I need a finer tuned scale.

 

[A_Instead]

Most are 2 grams. Some are 1 gram..
Typically they dont effect balance.. but depending on rackets natural balance..

 

[gold325]

Just put my Prince 93P one onto the scale and it didn't even register. 0 gm. I guess I need a finer tuned scale.

I always weight racket with and without and subtract to get the difference. Scales are more accurate in the middle of their ranges.... They are not designed for extra low or extra high weights.

 

[A_Instead]

Hmm...my $7.99 Lidl food scale works fine..has several weight measurements as well..

 

[tennis4me]

Grip bands...just makes the grip/overgrip a little cleaner, nicer looking, with or without finishing tape.

..and some damn funny responses aobve!

I think it's because of this too.

Many racquets now don't come with this band. I like my racquets with this as well instead of some random tape with big logo from my overgrip.

 

[speedysteve]

I always weight racket with and without and subtract to get the difference. Scales are more accurate in the middle of their ranges.... They are not designed for extra low or extra high weights.

Digital Stylus pressure / Vertical Tracking Force measurer to the rescue.
Range 0-5g, to 2 decimal places

 

[JEDI MASTER]

playing with the band will add 0.125 to your NTRP rating...

 

[max]

the synthetic (rubber?) ring around the upper end of the grip? What is that for anyway? Why do other companies not include this?

these are really good to have if you use tournagrip. Send me yours. . .

 

[max]

It's a great idea for tidying up the abomination of a typical wrap finish. I like to cut a piece of bike inner tube for the same purpose.

I think the rubber band at the bottom of broccoli bunch is a good matchup.

 

[ichaseballs]

i like the bands, and wish all manufacturers put them on

 

[Dartagnan64]

I always weight racket with and without and subtract to get the difference. Scales are more accurate in the middle of their ranges.... They are not designed for extra low or extra high weights.

That's probably the secret. My scale doesn't really pick up anything until it gets to 4 gms

 

[Bambooman]

I think the rubber band at the bottom of broccoli bunch is a good matchup.

Decent but I prefer these as a dampener.

 

[Frankc]

You're right OP, should be an arm band for TE, not a grip collar.
Talked with two more good players at the rec area today - both down now for two months.... Guess what, light Bab frames...

 

[gold325]

Guess what, light Bab frames...

Which string?

 

[A_Instead]

Heavy babs also cause pain..
Key is low tension softer string..

 

[Johnny505]

It is to hide the cortex

Its to hide the gap in the Cortex when the handle breaks from the main frame

 

[speedysteve]

Some data.
Prince band is 1.774g
Volkl band is 1.100g

My digital stylus gauge is actually to 3 decimal places.

 

[ChrisG]

So people are now weighing their rubber band to the 3rd decimal. These boards are undefeated

 

[LeastExhaustingPlayer]

So people are now weighing their rubber band to the 3rd decimal. These boards are undefeated

I, for one, appreciate the accurate measurement reporting. If you do not, then move on.

 

[ChrisG]

I, for one, appreciate the accurate measurement reporting. If you do not, then move on.

trolls ain't even funny anymore ... Tempus edax rerum

 

[topspn]

Lol they have been around forever, just noticed now? Its a grip band and as others have explained it just covers the top of the OG to look tidy and can also hold it in place if you don't wan to use tape

 

[LeastExhaustingPlayer]

trolls ain't even funny anymore ... Tempus edax rerum

I serve at your leisure.

 

[jmacdaununder2]

trolls ain't even funny anymore ... Tempus edax rerum

Heyy, ya gots ta give points for trying, especially in my case...

 

[A_Instead]

Could the trap door be the next profound discovery..???
Or will it be that rubbery plastic thingy between 2 strings at the bottom of the head..??

 

[speedysteve]

So people are now weighing their rubber band to the 3rd decimal. These boards are undefeated

Indeed

As an engineer, I could see the other attempts to measure the mass were rather lacking, so I helped out.

What you do with the info is up to you
I won't lose any sleep over it, or the exact mass