How to apply tennis racket overgrip when a tennis racket’s grip is a crucial component that enables you to hold and maneuver the racket. You will lose control and comfort when your racket’s base grip—the grip that originally came on the handle—wears out. Applying an overgrip is a good idea because replacing a base grip is challenging and expensive.
Overgrips are placed on top of the original base grip to give the impression that the racket handle is brand new. When they become worn out, they are simply removed and changed out for a fresh overgrip. Read the guidelines below from Tennisqa to find out how to apply tennis racket overgrip!
How to apply tennis racket overgrip with 8 steps
Step 1: Remove the old overgrip from your racket
There may already be an overgrip on the base grip of your racket handle. Remove the old overgrip before installing the new overgrip if you want the diameter of your racket grip to stay the same.
- Find the piece of electrical tape holding your outdated overgrip to the racket in place. Near the V-shaped portion of the racket, at the top of the grip, is where you’ll find the tape.
- Disconnect the old overgrip from the handle’s top by removing this piece of tape.
- Remove the previous overgrip from the racket and throw it away.
Step 2: Comparing Overgrips Knowledgeably
Three subcategories of overgrip characteristics exist: comfort, tackiness, and moisture absorption.
- Comfort – How cozy is the overgrip while you’re playing the game? Do you have a comfortable, well-cushioned hand?
- Tackiness – The overgrip should feel secure and manageable, right? Can you comfortably hold the racket? Will you have control over the racket while playing the game?
- Moisture Absorption – Does the overgrip become slippery and less tacky as your hands perspire? Can the overgrip fast evaporate moisture?
When searching for an overgrip to acquire, take into account all three of these qualities.
Step 3: Pick Your Favorite Overgrip
You should take your tennis lifestyle into account while looking at overgrips and comparing their features. There are hundreds of possible overgrips, thus the following is a rough guide to choose the one that best suits your game:
For Recreational Players (1-3 times per week, friendly competition)
I would suggest an overgrip with excellent levels of comfort and tactility. Your racket will have great feel and control thanks to these features. A well-known overgrip that maximizes comfort and tackiness is the Wilson Pro Comfort Overgrip.
For Serious Players (several times per week, tournament competition)
An overgrip with moisture-absorbing qualities is practically required for tennis competitors. Regardless of tackiness or comfort, an overgrip with insufficient moisture absorption will lead your hands to slip during hard matches and hot temperatures. I would suggest Tournagrip, an overgrip used by many top players, for exceptional dryness during competitive tennis.
Between the two extremes
I would suggest the Senston Perforated Super Absorbent Overgrip for a dependable combination of all three qualities.
Even though the suggestions in this step are common options, you should experiment with a variety of overgrips to discover your preferred balance of comfort, tackiness, and moisture absorption.
Step 4: Set Up Before Overgripping
- Locate a seated area and execute the overgripping there. While learning to overgrip, you can maintain stability and balance by sitting (when you become experienced, a seated position is unnecessary). One overgrip should be taken out of the container.
- A thin plastic cover will be included on one side of the overgrip to shield the sticky surface. Remove and discard this plastic.
- The little piece of electrical tape that was included with the overgrip should be saved. At the conclusion of the procedure, this tape will be used to “finish off” your overgrip.
The side of the overgrip from which the plastic was removed should be kept in mind. Your racket handle will make touch with the sticky side of the overgrip.
Step 5: Start how to apply tennis racket overgrip
- Find the point where the overgrip tapers off to a narrower width. An adhesive sticker will be on the tapered end. Take this sticker off.
- Pick up your racket with the handle facing up, then fasten the overgrip’s sticky tip to the long bevel of the handle.
A racket handle does not have a perfect cylindrical shape. It has eight bevelled flat edges. The two opposite edges that are the widest are the long bevels. Find one of these edges and start your overgrip there. - The adhesive point must have a modest upward slant (about 30 degrees). Beginning the overgrip at a small angle will guarantee that the bulge at the end of the racket handle is wrapped smoothly without bubbling.
Step 6: Applying Your Overgrip
- Your right hand should be firmly gripping the racket handle, and your left hand should be grasping the overgrip.
- Make the first wrap around the handle’s base while keeping the racket handle facing up.
- Apply the overgrip over the racket handle once again, angling it downward from right to left. Rotations should line up so that they overlap by about 1/8 inch.
Tip: If the overlap is too thick, the overgrip won’t extend far enough to cover the full handle. - Wrap the handle with your right hand rotating it as your left hand controls the overgrip. To guarantee a snug fit, maintain continuous tension in the overgrip throughout the operation.
Step 7: Complete the applying
- Until you reach the handle’s end, keep wrapping the overgrip. When you’re done wrapping, the majority of overgrip lengths will fit nicely with the end of the handle.
- Your overlap thickness was possibly too thick if your overgrip doesn’t extend to the end. With a thinner overlap, undo your overgrip and repeat the previous action.
- If your overgrip has extra length, you can cut it off for a clean finish. Wrap the excess overgrip around your racket’s handle passing up the end as you go. Mark a circle with a pen around the overgrip at the handle’s end.
- Cut away the overgrip past your drawn line using scissors. The end of the racket handle will now exactly line up with your overgrip.
Step 8: Finish the overgrip by securing it.
Do you still have the electrical tape that came with your overgrip?
- Your overgrip’s end should be taped to the racket after you remove the adhesive backing. The overgrip won’t unravel or shift thanks to the electrical tape.
- The overgrip should be in contact with half of the tape, and the racket should be in contact with the other half. Cover the connecting point on your racket with the rubber band once the tape is in place (thick rubber bands come on all modern racket handles). The tape will be shielded from pointless friction by the rubber.
Conclusion
Above is an article that we guide you how to apply tennis racket overgrip. Hopefully, you do it successfully.
