Overgrip is an important tool for any tennis player to have in their bag and can help improve your game.
Not only does it provide comfort, but it also helps reduce sweat and slipping when playing. But not every tennis player needs the overgrip and many people are confused about the need for overgrips.
So, do you need overgrip on tennis racket?
Yes, generally you will need an overgrip on a tennis racket. Overgrip helps with improving grip, control, and overall tennis gameplay. However, it can also make the handle too thick and overgrips have to be replaced frequently.
This is only the summed-up version of the entire article. Read the article till the end to get the answer to the question!
What is an Overgrip?
A tennis overgrip is a thin, slip-resistant material that can be applied to the handle of a racket. Tennis overgrip is fairly common in professional tennis; since all professional players use overgrip!
Purpose of Tennis Overgrips:
The purpose of tennis overgrips is simple; it boosts the techniques and gameplay of the player. Like all other things, overgrips also have some pros and cons. Let’s learn about them.
Advantages of Tennis Overgrips:
Here are some advantages of the overgrips in tennis-
- When your hands get sweaty during playing tennis, overgrips can absorb some of the sweat. It helps to prevent your rackets from slipping and provides control.
You can get an extra grip and extra comfort from overgrips. It is most useful when you’re playing a long and extended match in tennis.
It will also be super helpful while you’re serving. For instance, grip dependent serves like the pancake serve will improve by using an overgrip.
- Your control over the racket will increase by using an overgrip. Eventually, your control over the tennis ball will increase along with it.
- The chances of injury to your hand will decrease by using overgrips. It helps prevent small cuts and blisters on your palm.
Disadvantages of Tennis Overgrips
Now that we know the advantages, here are some of the disadvantages of overgrips-
- The overgrip is really thin and light. For this reason, they get damaged very quickly. And, might require frequent replacements.
- If your tennis grip is already thick, overgrips can make it thicker. In such cases, instead of comfort, you might experience a bit of discomfort. Additionally, the grip strength of the tennis racket will reduce substantially.
In turn, you will lose partial control over the tennis racket and it may affect your gameplay negatively.
- Overgrips can add to the weight of the tennis racket. It can throw off the natural balance of your hand and your shots may be inaccurate.
You might be wondering, how much weight does overgrip add?
The short answer to that question is- it depends on the overgrip. At most, overgrips add 5 to 8 grams to your racket. Thin overgrips add less weight while thick overgrips add more weight. There’s not a huge difference between these two.
Overgrips come in different shapes and sizes. Also, the material of overgrips also differs greatly. In the next segment, I’ve elaborated on the types of overgrips.
What are the Different Types of Overgrip?
There are 2 types of overgrips available in the market. Read the discussion below to know the information.
Tacky Overgrip:
This type of overgrip is meant for people who don’t sweat. The tacky overgrip is quite grippy and it can help players take more control.
However, the tacky overgrip is not that absorbent. As a result, players who sweat have difficulties playing with tacky overgrips.
Absorbent Overgrip:
This grip is created and made for people who sweat a lot. Absorbent overgrips absorb the sweat and provide grip and prevent racket slipping.
The only downside of this overgrip is, it’s not durable. Since it’s always absorbing water and sweat, it does not replace it often.
A common misconception is that replacement grips are a type of overgrip. Yet, there is a difference between overgrip and replacement grip.
A replacement grip is the default grip provided with the tennis racket while overgrips are an extra layer. The overgrip goes over the tennis grip and it’s very thin.
On the contrary, the tennis grips are thick and meant to last for a long time. Replacement of both grips is necessary with time.
Furthermore, replacement/tennis grips can be cleaned whereas overgrips should be replaced. Tennis grips also require replacing but they last long. That’s why it’s helpful to know when to replace tennis grip.
How to Add an Overgrip?
Adding an overgrip on your tennis racket is an easy thing to do. If you follow some steps correctly, you can successfully add an overgrip to your racket. I’ve given the steps for applying an overgrip below, check it out.
Steps of Adding an Overgrip:
Before moving on to adding an overgrip, buy the overgrip of your choice. You can find various designs and thicknesses when looking for overgrips.
Assuming that you have the new overgrip at your disposal, let’s move on to the steps.
Step 1: Take the Overgrip out of the Package
Start off by unpacking the overgrip. If you bought a pack of overgrips, take out 1 overgrip.
Along with pulling out the overgrip, undo the small tape roll on the overgrip. It’s there so that the seal is not broken.
Step 2: Unroll the Overgrip
For this step, unroll the overgrip all the way to the end. At the very last portion of the overgrip, you should find an adhesive tab. This adhesive tab goes at the bottom of the handle of your tennis racket.
Step 3: Remove the Protective Adhesive Cover
Overgrips have two sides, a sticky side, and a non-sticky side. On the adhesive side, there’s always a protective adhesive cover.
Remove the cover to start applying the overgrip.
Step 4: Start Adding the Overgrip
To make sure you’re applying the overgrip on the correct side, look out for the brand. The branding or the logo of the overgrip should be visible on the correct side. If you can’t see any branding, flip the overgrip tab.
Additionally, move the rubber grip band all the way up. It might get in the way when applying the overgrip.
Attach the adhesive tab (from step 2) on any bottom side of the racket. Then, start applying the overgrip in a circular motion. Use your finger and thumb to keep the overgrip steady. Also, with your free hand, keep rotating the racket.
This way, the overgrip should start wrapping up around the handle of your racket. Always apply pressure on the overgrip by wrapping it tightly.
The tightness depends on you. Don’t pull too delicately; the overgrip might not stick to the handle in that case.
On the contrary, pulling too tightly will cause the overgrip to become thin and stretchy. Try to apply firm pressure on the overgrip.
Step 5: Overlap with Each Rotation
While applying the grip, overlapping should be done. Overlap 1/5th of the overgrip with each rotation around the handle. Whether it’s a tennis racket for professionals or beginners, the ratio should be the same.
Too much overlapping will make the grip thick and too less overlapping will cause the overgrip to slide off.
Step 6: Cut off the End of the Overgrip
If your overgrip is covering the entire racket handle, you’re good to go. Now it’s time to cut the overgrip tab at a 30-degree angle to smoothen out the edges. You can cut it using a scissor.
Step 7: Secure the Overgrip
Finally, wrap the cut portion around the handlebar and stick it with another adhesive tab. Use your thumb whenever you need to hold the overgrip in place.
After that, bring back the rubber band from the top and place it on top of the tab. Your overgrip is successfully applied now!
Overgrip Maintenance: Tips and Tricks
Here are some tips and tricks to make your overgrips last longer-
- Clean the overgrip with warm water and mild soap after every game. This will stop the dirt and sweat buildup and keep the overgrip tacky.
- Try to stay dry while playing tennis. This will make the overgrips absorb less sweat and last much longer.
- Before storing your tennis racket, make sure the overgrip is dry.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Do tennis rackets come with an overgrip?
No, tennis rackets do not come with an overgrip. Tennis rackets come with the default grip installed. You can apply the overgrip on your tennis racket if you wish to.
Do tennis pros use overgrips?
Yes, professional tennis players do use overgrips. Overgrips are a really important part of their tennis gear as it enhances the gameplay. They even have an extra set of overgrips in their repository, in case they need them.
How do I keep my tennis overgrip from slipping?
You can stop your tennis overgrip from slipping by replacing the overgrip. Over time, overgrips tend to loosen up and get weak. A tacky new grip will definitely stop the slipping issue. Additionally, sweaty hands can cause this problem. Keep a spare towel to dry your hands while playing tennis.
Conclusion
That’s all on the tennis overgrip aspect; do you need overgrip on tennis racket? I think you know the answer by now!
Just because professional tennis players do something doesn’t mean it will bring positive results for you. The best way to improve tennis is to practice it!
Best of luck.