Wilson Leather Grip vs. Babolat Leather Grip

[zorg]

I have never really worried about grips before so I'm sorry if these seem like stupid questions...

First, I have heard both opinions, but what is thinner, a leather grip or a synthetic grip?

Also, could someone possibly tell me the thickness and weight of the Wilson leather grip, babolat leather grip, and wilson pro hybrid? Thanks a lot.

 

[kevoT]

I think the thickness all depends on the model you are using, as they all vary in thickness. that's all I know.... except that the babolat leather grip weighs 0.85 oz./24g. The others might know the other info, but maybe you should try google too.

 

[kevoT]

or the company websites.

 

[DELPO]

Don't get the wilson leather, it bleeds like crazy!

 

[hrstrat57]

I have never really worried about grips before so I'm sorry if these seem like stupid questions...

First, I have heard both opinions, but what is thinner, a leather grip or a synthetic grip?

Also, could someone possibly tell me the thickness and weight of the Wilson leather grip, babolat leather grip, and wilson pro hybrid? Thanks a lot.

I think the TW website specs them out if I am not mistaken....if not you call they can check.....

Love the babolat btw....on most of my frames and I never need overgrip

 

[Jaewonnie]

On the TW site, TW leather is simply the best (no question). Babolat leather is 1.7mm btw. Dunno about Wilson.
In terms of quality, TW is better.
In terms of bevel definition, TW is better.
In terms of soft/hardness, TW is harder than Babolat.
In terms of heft/plow added to the frame, TW > Babolat

^ Above comparisons are only TW leather against Babolat cuz I havent tried Wilson.

The only reason why you'd pick Babolat is because of a softer leather feel and less heft/plow added to the frame. Babolat is much lighter feeling than TW.

 

[hrstrat57]

Just looked at an unopened Bablolat package.....

24.0 g
1.7mm
.07 in

I think a lot of synthetics are around 19/20 g which is why I normally offset the change to leather with about 5 ttl grams of lead tape at 3/9.

Just IMO of course YMMV

Again, the Babolat are fabulous! I have used TW quite a bit as well but I struggle with those when it is hot...they get a bit slick, again I never use an overgrip.
Other than that TW leather are very good and come in different thickness and width....

 

[Jaewonnie]

Just looked at an unopened Bablolat package.....

24.0 g
1.7mm
.07 in

I think a lot of synthetics are around 19/20 g which is why I normally offset the change to leather with about 5 ttl grams of lead tape at 3/9.

Just IMO of course YMMV

Again, the Babolat are fabulous! I have used TW quite a bit as well but I struggle with those when it is hot...they get a bit slick, again I never use an overgrip.
Other than that TW leather are very good and come in different thickness and width....

yea thats something I forgot to mention. Babolat leather has some tack to it.

 

[zorg]

But I heard that the Wilson pro hybrid is pretty thin. How does it compare to a Wilson leather grip? And if I don't use an overgrip with the Wilson pro hybrid but do with the leather grip, will the pro hybrid be thinner?

 

[zorg]

Doesn't anyone know? I really need to know by tomorrow because I am going back to college soon so I need to be set with my equipment. Maybe I should just describe my situation and it will be easier to help...I have a new BLX90 that is 4 3/8. The size is perfect for me, but its a bit big with an overgrip. I don't like to use a leather grip without an overgrip, so I am considering either just using a Pro Hybrid with no overgrip or a thinner leather grip. Will the pro hybrid be as thick as my current wilson leather grip is now, thinner, or thicker? And what is the thinnest leather grip I can get so I can use an overgrip?

 

[Jaewonnie]

Doesn't anyone know? I really need to know by tomorrow because I am going back to college soon so I need to be set with my equipment. Maybe I should just describe my situation and it will be easier to help...I have a new BLX90 that is 4 3/8. The size is perfect for me, but its a bit big with an overgrip. I don't like to use a leather grip without an overgrip, so I am considering either just using a Pro Hybrid with no overgrip or a thinner leather grip. Will the pro hybrid be as thick as my current wilson leather grip is now, thinner, or thicker? And what is the thinnest leather grip I can get so I can use an overgrip?

This is out of very vague memory but I went to sport chek once to check out some stuff. Saw some rackets with the pro hybrid gripped on it and I recall it to be as thick or thicker than regular synthetic grips.

 

[hrstrat57]

Doesn't anyone know? I really need to know by tomorrow because I am going back to college soon so I need to be set with my equipment. Maybe I should just describe my situation and it will be easier to help...I have a new BLX90 that is 4 3/8. The size is perfect for me, but its a bit big with an overgrip. I don't like to use a leather grip without an overgrip, so I am considering either just using a Pro Hybrid with no overgrip or a thinner leather grip. Will the pro hybrid be as thick as my current wilson leather grip is now, thinner, or thicker? And what is the thinnest leather grip I can get so I can use an overgrip?

Ok I will bite, based on my play testing....

If you do not want to use an overgrip go with this....

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Babolat_Natural_Leather_Grip/descpageBAB-BLG.html

If you plan on using an overgrip go with this....and purchase the thinnest version

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/TW_Private_Label_Leather_Grips/descpageACZONS-TWLG.html

Either way you should be smiling.

Recco you add about 8 inches total 1/4 lead tape at 3/9 to offset the increased weight from synthetic grips.

 

[zorg]

Ok well this is a followup...I tried to take the wilson leather grip off from the BLX 90 and re wrap it tighter. So I finished, and i only cut off 1/8 inch or so. However, it got about a half of a grip size smaller. In addition I re-wrapped my overgrip, Wilson Pro, and pulled it tighter. All in all it feels right around how I want it to feel.

Is it possible that the leather grip just got a bit smaller? I have heard of this happening for leather grips but I thought it took months...

 

[DELPO]

Ok well this is a followup...I tried to take the wilson leather grip off from the BLX 90 and re wrap it tighter. So I finished, and i only cut off 1/8 inch or so. However, it got about a half of a grip size smaller. In addition I re-wrapped my overgrip, Wilson Pro, and pulled it tighter. All in all it feels right around how I want it to feel.

Is it possible that the leather grip just got a bit smaller? I have heard of this happening for leather grips but I thought it took months...

yeah if you stretched it hard enough it should have gotten a bit thinner.

 

[zorg]

Ok last post on this topic I promise...I just measured the circumference of the grip in the middle of the handle, and it was 4 5/8 (with a wilson pro overgrip on top of the leather). I am a bit confused...

I measured my nCode 90 that has a 4 1/4 grip + an overgrip, and it came out to be 4 3/8.

Whats going on here...?

 

[new_tennis_player]

But I heard that the Wilson pro hybrid is pretty thin. How does it compare to a Wilson leather grip? And if I don't use an overgrip with the Wilson pro hybrid but do with the leather grip, will the pro hybrid be thinner?

I have a wilson pro hybrid. It does look and feel a bit thinner (especially initially) compared to synth grips.

It's also a bit harder and clearly shows bevels more clearly, compared to a synth grip.

Sorry, can't compare to a leather grip, but if you like 'feel' and bevel definition, and want a slightly smaller grip, then wilson pro hybrid's a good choice.

 

[Ross K]

I thought the Bab Skin Feel grip was actually very nice... in fact nice enough for me to initially think it was leather! Anyhow it's similar to leather imo, fairly thin, and not too heavy.

 

[zorg]

And does anyone know how the balance would change on a k90 or a BLX 90 if I take the wilson leather grip off and replace it with a wilson pro hybrid?

 

[cueboyzn]

You could weigh the Pro Hybrid grip and find out how much the Wilson Leather weighs with overgrip (it is listed somewhere on these forums). The difference in weight would be an indication of what the new specs would be.

 

[ClubHoUno]

Hey

Here is my highly subjective view on leather grips:

Thickest and highest quality is Fairway Leather and Head Calf Skin. Fairway is very difficult to get and Head Calf Skin is Tour only.

TW leather is great, and comes in different sizes. But it does feel harder and more compact.

Babolat VS leather is a bit softer en feel compared to TW Leather, but is not as soft as Head Leather Tour. Head leather Tour bleeds like crazy, just like the Wilson Leather does.

Wilson Leather is my least favorite among leather grips....I just don't like it.

Head CalfSkin feels awesome but is very very difficult to get, so you should go for the Babolat VS leather in my view.

If you pull it tight (hard on your fingers) you can make it smaller/thinner. And yes it will become thinner over time , as you compress it during play.

Pro Hybrid feels a bit like leather, but still not like leather at all.

 

[3GOATs]

I love my head leather tour grip.

 

[liftordie]

I love my head leather tour grip.

Does it bleeds? Do you have the hands orange after playing?