Overgrips to Give You the Perfect Grip

The handle of a tennis racket usually comes with a basic grip tape wrapped around it, which softens its edges and makes it smoother overall. However, most players wrap the handle with an additional grip tape, the overgrip, to achieve a better grip tailored to their individual needs. An overgrip is a grip tape made of thin, soft material and is wrapped around the racket handle on top of the basic grip.

The primary purpose of a tennis overgrip tape is to absorb moisture and thus give the player a better grip. This comes in particularly handy if you sweat a lot or the basic grip is already quite worn out. However, the overgrip tape increases the size of your racket handle which you should keep in mind when choosing your tennis racket and overgrip.

Tennis Overgrips Come in Different Colours, Materials and Sizes

Overgrips for tennis rackets are made from various materials and are available in different thicknesses and colours. Most overgrip tapes are made of polyurethane with a specially treated surface to provide a dry and firm grip.

Some overgrips are rather sticky, such as the Wilson Pro Overgrip, a classic which is popular with professionals and amateurs alike. Other overgrip tapes are rather dry, such as the no less popular Tourna Tac overgrip. Leather overgrips are particularly non-slip and last longer, which makes up for the slightly higher price.

Using overgrips is optional, but you won’t find many tennis players who would do without them as they have a significant influence on the feel of the racket and your performance on the court.

Overgrips Offer many Advantages

Almost every tennis player wraps an overgrip tape around the handle of their racket, as it bears many advantages. An overgrip tape allows you to adjust the handle perfectly to your hand and have a better grip. In addition, overgrips provide good vibration damping to reduce the impact on your joints and tendons. Also, overgrip tapes absorb sweat effectively so that the racket always sits comfortably in your hand, also during intense matches.

Thanks to the non-slip surface, overgrips give you better stroke control and optimised handling. On the other hand, the changed size of the racket handle can alter the balance of the entire racket, which you should take into account when buying an overgrip tape. Very soft overgrips can also affect the power and precision of your strokes. It should also be noted that, the more often you play, the more often you will need to replace the overgrip on your tennis racket.

What to Keep in Mind when Choosing Tennis Overgrips

There is a wide range of overgrips to choose from, but there are certain selection criteria that should make it easier for you to make a decision if you have not already found your favourite model. Decisive criteria for the selection of overgrips are:

• Absorptive capacity
• Adhesion
• Comfort

Choosing the right overgrip is above all a matter of feel: which overgrip makes the tennis racket sit in your hand firmly and comfortably, even after hours of playing? Individual experience also plays a role here. If you easily break a sweat, you need an overgrip tape with high absorption capacity. If you are primarily looking for a high level of comfort, it is better to go for a soft overgrip as it also provides more effective protection against irritation and blisters on the hands. Which makes them the ideal choice for beginners.

How Often Do I Need to Change the Overgrip?

Due to their nature, overgrips don’t last as long as basic grips. Intense players and beginners who hold their racket very firmly, will likely need to change their overgrips more frequently, as they can start to fray after just a few hours of playing. Generally, if you play tennis for two hours a week, you should replace the overgrip tape at least every six months.

However, if the overgrip tape has slipped or started to form grooves, you should replace it immediately. Otherwise, you risk getting blisters on your hands. Fortunately, the overgrip is very easy to attach by pulling it over the basic grip of your tennis racket.

Order Tennis Overgrips at Tennis-Point

As we have an extensive range of overgrip tapes for tennis rackets, there will surely be the right one for your needs amongst it. If you already have a favourite model, you are very likely to find it as a practical pack of 12, 30, or in even larger quantities to save you time, money and effort.

However, it is worth visiting Tennis-Point regularly as you might profit from one of our many special offers or regular discount promotions. If you are not yet sure which overgrip tape is ideal for you, we recommend that you start with a smaller pack size and try out different products until you found the right one.