Why use leather grips?
- Thread starter Bencia
- Start date
Sixpointone
Professional
To me the word or term "Best" is very subjective.
I myself use a Leather Replacement Grip as my Base Grip, with an Overgrip over it.
That way I get the Bevel Definition of Leather and the Tack of the Overgrip.
I myself use a Leather Replacement Grip as my Base Grip, with an Overgrip over it.
That way I get the Bevel Definition of Leather and the Tack of the Overgrip.
-Kap-
Rookie
I think that you're confusing full racquet grips with over grips. Grips are thick and are wrapped around the bare racquet handle, while over grips are thin and are wrapped around an existing grip (to give extra cushioning, absorbency, etc.).
I don't know offhand of any over grips that are made of leather, but there are a number of leather grips available, and a number of reasons why people prefer them. A sticky was posted about it here.
You'll find that there are also a number of players who prefer using a leather grip with a synthetic over grip like the ones you've mentioned.
I don't know offhand of any over grips that are made of leather, but there are a number of leather grips available, and a number of reasons why people prefer them. A sticky was posted about it here.
You'll find that there are also a number of players who prefer using a leather grip with a synthetic over grip like the ones you've mentioned.
hoodjem
G.O.A.T.
I'm thinking that is a good question.
I used to like the Fairway leather grips on my trusty PS 6.0 85, so I thought I would try and recreate that grip on my present racquet.
I recently got two TW leather grips (the thinner one and the thicker one), and a Wilson leather grip. I put them all on (I have four of the same racquet), and within a half-hour I started getting three blisters on my racquet hand: one on the bottom digit of my ring finger, one on my base of my thumb, and one on the heel of my hand.
I find this amazing considering that this season I have been playing using the stock grips (Wilson Micro-Dry Touch) for months, hours at a time with no blisters.
Also, three fingers of my racquet hand felt a little numb, though this went away after several more more days of playing. Leather just seems too hard for me at present. I think I am going to go back to the Wilson Micro-Dry Touch grips. They provide nice cusioning, very good tackiness, fairly good feel for the bevels, good ridges and valleys, and no blisters.
Is leather truly worth it?
I used to like the Fairway leather grips on my trusty PS 6.0 85, so I thought I would try and recreate that grip on my present racquet.
I recently got two TW leather grips (the thinner one and the thicker one), and a Wilson leather grip. I put them all on (I have four of the same racquet), and within a half-hour I started getting three blisters on my racquet hand: one on the bottom digit of my ring finger, one on my base of my thumb, and one on the heel of my hand.
I find this amazing considering that this season I have been playing using the stock grips (Wilson Micro-Dry Touch) for months, hours at a time with no blisters.
Also, three fingers of my racquet hand felt a little numb, though this went away after several more more days of playing. Leather just seems too hard for me at present. I think I am going to go back to the Wilson Micro-Dry Touch grips. They provide nice cusioning, very good tackiness, fairly good feel for the bevels, good ridges and valleys, and no blisters.
Is leather truly worth it?
tennis_hand
Hall of Fame
seriously not many out there play without an overgrip on top of the leather grip; otherwise u are looking for trouble with blisters. I thought this is nobrainer because the moment you grab the leather grip, u'll feel it is harsh for the skin and spells discomfort.
if u don't mind the hard feeling, by all means use the leather grip.
but for some of us like me who likes softer and more comfortable feeling of the hand, we use synthetic grips or overgrip on top of the synthetic grips. and the bevels are still clear with 1 overgrip.
if u don't mind the hard feeling, by all means use the leather grip.
but for some of us like me who likes softer and more comfortable feeling of the hand, we use synthetic grips or overgrip on top of the synthetic grips. and the bevels are still clear with 1 overgrip.
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louis netman
Hall of Fame
Some of us were weaned on leather. Can't beat the firm feel. Many, like me, use OG on top of the leather. Also adds some mass to the handle...
After reading too many posts about the virtues of leather, I switched my grips to leather and used my normal wilson white overgrip.
Why I switched:
(1) supposed better feel
(2) more wieght on the handle, so heavier, more headlight racquet set up.
What I found in reality:
(1) blasters because the grip is stiffer
(2) less feel of the bevels because my wilson leather is a lot thicker, and rounds off the edges
(3) the overgrip needs to be changed constantly because (1) the dye from the leather bleeds through and (2) the overgrip does not hold on well to the leather, so often, I reach into my bag to find that the overgrip has pulled off the end and unravelled.
Why I switched:
(1) supposed better feel
(2) more wieght on the handle, so heavier, more headlight racquet set up.
What I found in reality:
(1) blasters because the grip is stiffer
(2) less feel of the bevels because my wilson leather is a lot thicker, and rounds off the edges
(3) the overgrip needs to be changed constantly because (1) the dye from the leather bleeds through and (2) the overgrip does not hold on well to the leather, so often, I reach into my bag to find that the overgrip has pulled off the end and unravelled.
do you use overgrips? if so, sometimes your grip will feel mushy, and kind of round. with leather you have a firm handle with a soft overgrip, so you still get plenty of feel and feedback from the racquet. you also can really feel the bevels with leather. but as said above, most people only use leather WITH an overgrip... these days at least.
In D Zone
Hall of Fame
N6.1 Tour 90.
I like the look of the leather grip but somehow never got the hang of playing with it. Its' too slippery and it hurts my arm after an hour of play. I then added an overgrip - it felt better but the over grip just keep slipping off, had to rewind the overgrip after each game.
Finally, I decided to replace the grip with Head Hydrosorb. SHA-ZAM! The N6.1 Tour all of a sudden plays like a dream. I played the racquet straight for 3 days -No slippery grip, no stiff frame or arm pain and I noticed my game gained another notch.
WHEW! I almost gave up on the N6.1 Tour and luckily I did not! I replaced all my racquets (POG mid and Fox) that came with leather grip to synthetic.
I like the look of the leather grip but somehow never got the hang of playing with it. Its' too slippery and it hurts my arm after an hour of play. I then added an overgrip - it felt better but the over grip just keep slipping off, had to rewind the overgrip after each game.
Finally, I decided to replace the grip with Head Hydrosorb. SHA-ZAM! The N6.1 Tour all of a sudden plays like a dream. I played the racquet straight for 3 days -No slippery grip, no stiff frame or arm pain and I noticed my game gained another notch.
WHEW! I almost gave up on the N6.1 Tour and luckily I did not! I replaced all my racquets (POG mid and Fox) that came with leather grip to synthetic.
cadfael_tex
Professional
I've tried synthetic grips but I just like the feel of leather. I have a much easier time feeling the bevels on grip changes with leather. I've never had a problem with blisters or grip with leather.
rosewall4ever
Semi-Pro
Using a type of grip is subjective and depends on how one plays aswell.
Obviously if you like hitting hard your more likely to get blisters because of more abrasion. to others some hold it quite lightly and whip it to get the raquet speed therefore abrasion is not a issue. it also increases one feel as it hit with 'soft hands'
Obviously if you like hitting hard your more likely to get blisters because of more abrasion. to others some hold it quite lightly and whip it to get the raquet speed therefore abrasion is not a issue. it also increases one feel as it hit with 'soft hands'
drakulie
Talk Tennis Guru
NEWSFLASH!! THIS JUST IN>>> All the grips you mentioned suck.
Lether is the way to go. You get direct feedback to your hand. END OF STORY.
![[d]ragon](/data/avatars/m/26/26312.jpg?1574364787){kind=avatar}
Bencia
Rookie
NEWSFLASH! those grips are used by the best players in the world and chosen by the best players in the world. Leather isn't necessary.
cadfael_tex
Professional
Use what feels good. I like leather with no over probably because tournagrip came out after I started playing. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the younger set that never played with a racquet that didn't come with a synthetic on it originally 'feels good' with leather. Gross generalization but I bet the numbers will tell.
Lobbie
New User
In the past five years I have cracked four racquet heads when the racquet flew out of my hand on my serve follow through. All synthetic grips w/ OPs. I don't recall that happening back in the day when all we had were leather grips. But I do remember the blisters! Tempted to try leather again but I don't think I want to deal with those blisters.
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
Probably your grip size is too big. Used to happen to me when I changed from Head to Babolat 20 years ago and found that Babolat grips felt bigger for the same size. The problem went away when I sized down.
smboogie
Semi-Pro
I re-gripped my Pure Strikes with leather grips then overwrap them. Did this to get a slight bit more tail weight so it's a bit more headlight.
antony
Hall of Fame
Yes, you just use over grips if you didn’t
hoodjem
G.O.A.T.
Sorry. Don't like overgrips: smooths out the ridges and valleys.
SeeItHitIt
Professional
i use leather and then an overgrip. Leather is heavy and messes with balanc3 and overall weight a bit,mifnyou care about that. It’s the most precise feel if you like bevels and that translates through an OG too. I usually only use enough leather for my forehand grip plus about an inch, snipping the rest off.
