Last Updated on May 7, 2023 by Robert A. Foreman
Tennis is one of the most exciting games in the present era. One of the essential items of this sport is the racquet and the grip that covers the handle. Choosing the right grip is very important when it comes to purchasing tennis kits.
Replacement grips and overgrips serve different purposes and are used in different ways. Replacement grips are thicker and are used to replace the original grip on a tennis racket. Tennis Overgrips, on the other hand, are thinner and are typically used to provide additional grip and comfort on top of the original grip.
There are built-in grips, replacement grips, overgrips that give extra coverage, etc. in a racket— this tennis overgrip vs grip affects the whole tennis experience.
Contents
- 1 Tennis overgrips Vs Replacement grips?
- 2 Tennis Overgrips
- 3 Replacement grips:
- 4 1. Babolat Syntec Pro Tennis Replacement Grip
- 5 2. Wilson Tennis Pro Overgrip
- 6 Consideration when Choosing Replacement Grips vs. Overgrips: Buying Guide
- 7 Material:
- 8 Thickness:
- 9 The grip:
- 10 Can You Use a Replacement Grip as an Overgrip?
- 11 Can You Use an Overgrip as a Replacement Grip?
- 12 Why is replacing overgrip important?
- 13 1. Enhancing Traction:
- 14 2. Preventing Blisters and Injuries
- 15 How many overgrips can I put on my racket?
- 16 How to choose the ideal overgrip for your racket?
- 17 The grip size is listed in the table below:
- 18 Pro players use Overgrips
- 19 How to change An OverGrip
- 20 How to Add a Replacement Grip to Your Tennis Racquet
- 21 Frequently Asked Questions:
- 22 What is the difference between grip and overgrip?
- 23 When should we change the overgrip of our racket?
- 24 How much does an overgrip add to grip size?
- 25 How to choose a replacement grip?
- 26 Can you use overgrips and replacement grips together?
- 27 Conclusion:
Tennis overgrips Vs Replacement grips?
Tennis players know the importance of having the right grip on their racquet. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, having the right grip can make a huge difference to your game. But which is better? Tennis overgrips or replacement grips?
Tennis Overgrips
On the other hand, an overgrips is a thinner & cheaper one that is applied on top of the replacement grip. Overgrips are also easy to replace, so you can switch them out whenever you need to without having to restring your racquet. they can help extend the life of the replacement grip by acting as a protective layer.
Replacement grips:
A replacement grip, also known as a base grip, is the primary grip that comes with the racket when you purchase it. It is typically thicker and more durable than an overgrip. Replacement grips are usually made of materials like leather, synthetic materials, or rubber, providing a solid foundation for your grip. while these grips are more expensive than overgrips and require more effort to apply, they are more durable and have a longer lifespan.
Here I’m giving two of the best grip reviews, which are also highly ranked on the biggest tennis shop platform,
1. Babolat Syntec Pro Tennis Replacement Grip
If your racquet’s grip is worn off and you’re looking for a good replacement grip, the Babolat Syntec pro tennis replacement grip is one of the best options. The awesome features and stable traits have made this product a perfect one.
A replacement grip covers the handle of the tennis racket. Usually, we replace our built-in grip with this one. The Babolat replacement grip comes with adhesive racket grip tape and offers durability.
This replacement grip is very easy to use. It’s comfortable to handle because it doesn’t weigh much. It is thin and non-slippery. Thus it offers a good traction grip.
This replacement grip is very suitable for both professional and non-professional players. The overall quality and packaging have made this product a very good one. Babolat, being a top manufacturer, has set the bar in this case.
Pros:
- easy to handle.
- Minimal thickness
- Durable
- It comes with long-lasting adhesive tape.
- Non-slippery, it offers a good grip.
- Sweat-absorbent
- It comes in multiple colors.
- It gives a tacky grip
Cons:
- Not the best in appearance
2. Wilson Tennis Pro Overgrip
As has already been stated, the Wilson Tennis Pro Overgrip is one of the best tennis grips available in the current market. It is giving other overgrip maker companies a run for their money. It’s suitable for both professional and amateur players.
The overgrips’ thin and stretchy substance gives the perfect amount of thickness and grip. Its thin layer is better for finger power and adds more wrist motion. The sticky feel is suitable for a tight hold. This is perfect for a comfortable yet powerful performance.
As the overgrips are made out of stretchy materials, which makes them incredibly durable. This gives an expensive feel to it as well.
This comes in a pack of 50 replaceable overgrips. Both sides have adhesives for easy application. The price is also reasonable for the performance it provides.
Pros:
- Stretchy
- long-lasting
- Easy application
- Excellent sweat absorption
Cons:
- Sherds and tears once ruined
- Can roll up sometimes
Consideration when Choosing Replacement Grips vs. Overgrips: Buying Guide
You can find a wide variety of tennis grips in the current market. This may be a good thing, but it also makes it harder to decide on which ones to buy.
There is no right or wrong answer to the perfect tennis overgrip vs grip for your racket. This depends on your personal experience and preferences. Professional and amateur players require different materials as well.
Before picking the right one, it’s better to understand which is better for you. So the information below will help you choose the perfect tennis grip.
Material:
Synthetic grips are inexpensive and long-lasting. It also provides maximum comfort. However, leather is an excellent option if you want better performance.
Thickness:
A thinner grip is suited toward wrist play, deception, and more finger power. At the same time, thicker grips are for arm-based players. A grip’s thickness also depends on arm size and comfort.
The grip:
While some players prefer sticky grips for a better hold, others want it dry for sweat absorption. Both are available in the current market. But some grips offer a proper balance between the two.
Can You Use a Replacement Grip as an Overgrip?
While some players may wonder if a replacement grip can be used as an overgrip, it is important to note that these two types of grips are designed for different purposes. A replacement grip is typically thicker and more durable than an overgrip. It is intended to be the primary grip of the racket and is usually applied directly to the handle, replacing the original grip.
Using a replacement grip as an overgrip may result in a thicker handle, which can alter the balance and feel of the racket. Additionally, the replacement grip may not provide the same level of tackiness and sweat absorption as a specialized overgrip. This can impact the player’s ability to maintain a secure grip on the racket, especially during long matches or in hot and humid conditions.
Can You Use an Overgrip as a Replacement Grip?
Now, let’s answer the question that brought you here – can you use an overgrip as a replacement grip?
The short answer is no. Overgrips are not designed to be used as a replacement grip, and they won’t provide the same level of performance and comfort as a replacement grip.
Overgrips are thin and made to be used on top of your existing grip. They are not thick enough to provide the necessary cushioning and shock absorption that a replacement grip can provide. Additionally, overgrips tend to wear out faster than replacement grips, which means you’ll need to replace them more frequently.
Using an overgrip as a replacement grip may also affect the weight and balance of your racquet. Overgrips are lighter than replacement grips, and adding more layers of overgrip to compensate for the lack of cushioning can change the balance of your racquet.
Why is replacing overgrip important?
Frequent use of overgrip reduces its previous momentum significantly. Therefore, at least periodic replacement of the overgrip is vital for better delivery. Here are some important reasons to understand the necessity of replacing overgrip:
1. Enhancing Traction:
The primary reason behind using overgrips is to enhance traction and prevent the racquet from slipping. As the grip on your racquet ages, it loses its stickiness and becomes slipperier. Therefore, replacing overgrips once a player notices them wearing out is vital to utilize the benefit of an overgrip fully. Overgrips boost traction in two ways:
- Texture: Most overgrips feature a ridged texture in the surface that is convenient for increased traction.
- Tack: Other overgrips offer a sticky feel to enhance traction by preventing slipping effects.
2. Preventing Blisters and Injuries
Holding racquets for a longer time without any overgrip can develop Blisters in the players’ palms. The soft cushioned overgrip on the tennis racquet prevents blisters and other types of injuries in the hands. A blister may not appear to be a serious problem. However, injuries caused by slippery racquets can be severe that can also lead to elbow and shoulder injuries
How many overgrips can I put on my racket?
Typically, recommended to use one overgrip on a racket. If you find that one overgrip is not enough to provide the grip you need, then you should not use more than two overgrip options you can consider. Using multiple overgrips can make the handle of the racket too thick, which can affect your grip and make it harder to control the racket.
How to choose the ideal overgrip for your racket?
Knowing the diameter or thickness of the tennis racket is necessary for selecting the appropriate grip size. The circumference of a tennis racket’s handle can be measured in inches or millimeters, which correlates to grip size.
There is sometimes a misunderstanding about the grip size of a racket. This is owing to the fact that Europe and the United States utilize different size measurements. UU.
Grip sizes 0–5 are used in Europe, and grip sizes 0–10 are used in the United States. UU grip sizes range from 4 to 4 5/8 inches.
The grip size is listed in the table below:
Circumference in mm | US overgrip size: | Overgrip size in Europe: |
115-117 mm | 4 5/8 | 5 |
112-114 mm | 4 4/8 or 4/12 | 4 |
109-111 mm | 4 3/8 | 3 |
106-108 mm | 4 2/8 or 4 1/4 | two |
103-105 mm | 4 1/8 | one |
100-102 mm | 4 | 0 |
Pro players use Overgrips
A list of some of the top pros and the overgrips they employ can be seen below:
- Wilson Pro Overgrip – Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic
- Tourna Grip – Andy Murray, Dominic Thiem
- Yonex Supergrap – Stan Wawrinka
- Babolat VS Overgrip – Rafael Nadal
How to change An OverGrip
How to Add a Replacement Grip to Your Tennis Racquet
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the difference between grip and overgrip?
In tennis, a grip is the first layer that wraps the handle on a racket. On the other hand, a tennis overgrip is a soft, padded ribbon, similar to a piece of fabric. This is often wrapped around the hilt of a racket. A replacement grip forms the base for your hands’ protection while an overgrip provides extra grip and sweat absorption.
When should we change the overgrip of our racket?
It merely depends on the sweating of your hand and the frequency of play. But it is advised to change the overgrip at least once a month.
How much does an overgrip add to grip size?
An overgrip adds approximately 1/16 of an inch to the grip size. This amount is fairly insignificant and will not make a noticeable difference in the overall size of the grip
How to choose a replacement grip?
Every person has their own personalized experience with tennis rackets. When looking for a replacement grip, players should consider its material, weight, length, thickness, and tackiness.
Can you use overgrips and replacement grips together?
Yes, you can use overgrips and replacement grips together, but it may make the handle too thick, which may not be ideal for some players.
Conclusion:
Tennis overgrip vs grip plays a vital role when it comes to playing tennis. Holding a racquet perfectly and maintaining your playing style largely depends on the grip. You may find it confusing while choosing a good grip for your racket.
But Babolat’s Syntec pro tennis replacement grip and Wilson’s tennis pro overgrip won’t disappoint you, that’s for sure. Their amazing features and long-lasting qualities have made them the finest of all.
Don’t waste your time looking at thousands of options. Just choose these two without any hesitation.
Source Page:
https://tennisracquets.com/pages/difference-between-overgrip-and-replacement-grip
Hello, I am Robert A. Foreman. I have had experience in Tennis for a long time since 2016. I know the exact problems that a beginner faces and know the solutions also. I have shared all my knowledge about Tennis and Badminton on my website. Feel free to read them and know more important things and facts about Tennis and Badminton. follow me Twitter