Hello, this morning before going to badminton, I took out my racket and was checking for scratches/marks when i sensed a funny odour. I smelled my overgrip and it was terrible. I washed it with a wet towel and the smell was partially gone. After that, I went to play badminton for around 2hours and i smelled it again and it was back stronger than before :o! I have a VERY sweaty hand. Is there any way of getting rid of the smell? I'm afraid that any sprays would destroy the grip. Anyone else experience this problem? My hand sweats outside of badminton as well...

Thank you for your replies ^^:D.

Your case is so similiar to my friend's ..... But i tink his is much worse as the stench spreads throughout his bag ....

Why don't you just change the grip? If you sweat a lot and you've been using the same overgrip for a really long time, then of course it will start to smell.

Why don't you just change the grip? If you sweat a lot and you've been using the same overgrip for a really long time, then of course it will start to smell.
The overgrip is around 1 week old. I don't think that is considered old?

I think water might actually be bad, unless you scrubbed out the smell.

The smell is from bacteria waste, so unless your wet towling scraped out the waste (and the bacteria) wetting it might just make it more conveinient for the bacteria to breed since most stinky kinds of bacteria like humid environments.

Maybe get one of those thermo bags with a 'fishnet' at the handle so that after use, the grip can dry off? Sealed thermo bags probably keep that moisture from drying, which helps the bacteria to multiply.

I don't know how bad a sweating case you have, but next time you put on replacement grip or overgrip, maybe a single wrap of saran wrap under the grip would help protect the wooden handle of your racket too from rotting or mold due to moisture, though this is not something i've ever heard anyone use-- just came up with the thought now.

better close this thread asap or the smell might seep into and out of my pc :eek: :D

lol... Try a different brand grip next time? :S

What grip are you using at the moment?

lol... Try a different brand grip next time? :S

What grip are you using at the moment?
I'm using a Yonex overgrip. I'm not sure what the model is but its white (not towel grip).

I think water might actually be bad, unless you scrubbed out the smell.

The smell is from bacteria waste, so unless your wet towling scraped out the waste (and the bacteria) wetting it might just make it more conveinient for the bacteria to breed since most stinky kinds of bacteria like humid environments.

Maybe get one of those thermo bags with a 'fishnet' at the handle so that after use, the grip can dry off? Sealed thermo bags probably keep that moisture from drying, which helps the bacteria to multiply.

I don't know how bad a sweating case you have, but next time you put on replacement grip or overgrip, maybe a single wrap of saran wrap under the grip would help protect the wooden handle of your racket too from rotting or mold due to moisture, though this is not something i've ever heard anyone use-- just came up with the thought now.
Before I put it in the bag, I dry it at the air vent and then put it in. Still stinks...:( I've read somewhere that a wristband helps prevent sweaty hands? Can anyone confirm that?

I can. I used to use wristband, but it only helped alittle, so I stopped using it.

I can. I used to use wristband, but it only helped alittle, so I stopped using it.
Thank you. Then has anyone tried spraying febreeze or any other disinfectant deodourizer things on their overgrip?

Maybe the damage is already done. If it stays smelly i would think you have to replace the overgrip and make sure u get rid of any fungus/bacteria that may have grown under it. I like jinryu's idea of putting some seran wrap under it. Maybe, the bacteria is growing in the porous holes in the grip? Oh, try using some alcohol rub to kill bacteria and fungus, get a bottle at walmart/shoppers for a buck and drench it if you have to lol.

Maybe the damage is already done. If it stays smelly i would think you have to replace the overgrip and make sure u get rid of any fungus/bacteria that may have grown under it. I like jinryu's idea of putting some seran wrap under it. Maybe, the bacteria is growing in the porous holes in the grip? Oh, try using some alcohol rub to kill bacteria and fungus, get a bottle at walmart/shoppers for a buck and drench it if you have to lol.
Drench? I was under the impression that it would destroy the grip. But thank you for your suggestion ^^ Ill be sure to try it (without drenching it ;)). I'm not sure if putting seran wrap is the best idea as I doubt that the sweat would seap it that far. It was wrapped thick. Does anyone have any alternative suggestions?

Thank you for your replies ^^:D

I can. I used to use wristband, but it only helped alittle, so I stopped using it.
Wristband doesn't technically prevent sweaty hands directly-- it depends where you sweat from. If the sweat is actually produced in your palms, there's not much you can do. But if the sweat on your hands is actually ending up there because it's dripping from your arms (don't laugh, i've seem some people with some prettttty sweaty armpits!) or if it's the result of you wiping your face, that's how the sweatband will help reduce sweat on your grip overal. So for some people (people whose sweaty hands are the result of sweat from somewhere other than hands) it is more effective than for others (who are sweatind directly from their hands). So it may or may not work for you.

On a side note, to take it from the sweat root directly, do you wear shorts and a t-shirt to play? It sound stupid, but if you normally wear sweatpants or long sleeved shirts, switch to somethin cooler. And if you're already down to t-shirt and shorts, go topless :rolleyes:. No seriuosly, maybe you could try sleevless shirts or those special sweat-wicking fabrics. If you reduce your overal body temperature, then you will sweat less overal as well, "simple" huh?

As to other ideas to keeping your grip fresh smelling... hm. Use someone else's racket? :D Sorry, can't be of more help!

Wristband doesn't technically prevent sweaty hands directly-- it depends where you sweat from. If the sweat is actually produced in your palms, there's not much you can do. But if the sweat on your hands is actually ending up there because it's dripping from your arms (don't laugh, i've seem some people with some prettttty sweaty armpits!) or if it's the result of you wiping your face, that's how the sweatband will help reduce sweat on your grip overal. So for some people (people whose sweaty hands are the result of sweat from somewhere other than hands) it is more effective than for others (who are sweatind directly from their hands). So it may or may not work for you.

On a side note, to take it from the sweat root directly, do you wear shorts and a t-shirt to play? It sound stupid, but if you normally wear sweatpants or long sleeved shirts, switch to somethin cooler. And if you're already down to t-shirt and shorts, go topless :rolleyes:. No seriuosly, maybe you could try sleevless shirts or those special sweat-wicking fabrics. If you reduce your overal body temperature, then you will sweat less overal as well, "simple" huh?

As to other ideas to keeping your grip fresh smelling... hm. Use someone else's racket? :D Sorry, can't be of more help!
Keke. I DONT SWEAT FROM MY ARMPITS DOWN TO MY HAND!! having said that, I'm already down to my t-shirt n shorts which ventellate nicely and I don't think that I can go topless at the Y... Thank you for your help! Currently, I'm just leaving it out in the air and the smell is less provocative. I plan to leave it out in the sulight tomorrow and see if that will help ^^;;.

Thank you for your replies !~

Overgrips aren't that expensive..only like $2/$3 a piece.

I used to Yonex overgrips, but I found them to last shorter than I'd like, so try other brands.

Overgrips aren't that expensive..only like $2/$3 a piece.

I used to Yonex overgrips, but I found them to last shorter than I'd like, so try other brands.
I would very much like to replace it but I live so far away from the badminton retailers. Do they sell overgrips at Sportscheck?

I would very much like to replace it but I live so far away from the badminton retailers. Do they sell overgrips at Sportscheck?

You can give a shot. Also, you can simply use some tennis overgrip instead. Many over grip are "universal" for all racket sports. :)

Keke. I DONT SWEAT FROM MY ARMPITS DOWN TO MY HAND!! having said that, I'm already down to my t-shirt n shorts which ventellate nicely and I don't think that I can go topless at the Y... Thank you for your help! Currently, I'm just leaving it out in the air and the smell is less provocative. I plan to leave it out in the sulight tomorrow and see if that will help ^^;;.

Thank you for your replies !~

Hey maybe u can try those tennis racket grip...sure those tennis players sweat more than people like us....it should be "hazardous smell proof" with this kind of sign http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/images/icons/icon4.gif

You can give a shot. Also, you can simply use some tennis overgrip instead. Many over grip are "universal" for all racket sports. :)
Kool. I guess I'll go check on Sportscheck either today or tomorrow and check if they have any tennis or badminton grips ^^. I mixed a hand sanitizer with water and wiped my grip with it. It was a little successful except it still smells and now its mixed with the smell of the hand sanitizer:p- extra nasty. Guess i'm gonna go shopping for new grips ^^
Thank you for your replies^^:D

Kool. I guess I'll go check on Sportscheck either today or tomorrow and check if they have any tennis or badminton grips ^^. I mixed a hand sanitizer with water and wiped my grip with it. It was a little successful except it still smells and now its mixed with the smell of the hand sanitizer:p- extra nasty. Guess i'm gonna go shopping for new grips ^^
Thank you for your replies^^:D
Since your in Mississauga, and I assume you goto the Y near Sq1, there's the SportChek by the bus station there...they sell grips.

Not a lot to choose from...but I bought a 3-pack for $9.99 (i think it was for racquet ball racquets.)

As for your sweat...I assume you bring a towel with you by the court side. I need to lift the sweat from my body in between play, because of my skin condition.

I'm not one to sweat much...but would something like Guard do the trick on your hands?

Since your in Mississauga, and I assume you goto the Y near Sq1, there's the SportChek by the bus station there...they sell grips.

Not a lot to choose from...but I bought a 3-pack for $9.99 (i think it was for racquet ball racquets.)

As for your sweat...I assume you bring a towel with you by the court side. I need to lift the sweat from my body in between play, because of my skin condition.

I'm not one to sweat much...but would something like Guard do the trick on your hands?
Cool thanks! But 9.99 is quite expensive. Isn't Yonex Super Grap 3.99 for 3 grips? The weird thing about me is that I don't really sweat from anywhere else but my hands excessively. So usually its just the wipe on the shorts sorta thing.

Thank you for your replies ^^:D

P.S. Do you go to the Y?:p

Cool thanks! But 9.99 is quite expensive. Isn't Yonex Super Grap 3.99 for 3 grips? The weird thing about me is that I don't really sweat from anywhere else but my hands excessively. So usually its just the wipe on the shorts sorta thing.

Thank you for your replies ^^:D

P.S. Do you go to the Y?:p
Just started going to the Y (just went yesterday, trying to get the family going there on Sundays...will probably be there on the Good Friday).

Why not try out that grip? Use it once...maybe it will do the trick for you. Also try bringing a drying towel...it should be able to absorb the sweat better than your shorts.

Just started going to the Y (just went yesterday, trying to get the family going there on Sundays...will probably be there on the Good Friday).

Why not try out that grip? Use it once...maybe it will do the trick for you. Also try bringing a drying towel...it should be able to absorb the sweat better than your shorts.
Lets hope that grip does do the trick for me ^^. I'll go buy it today and report back to as how well it had worked. I hope to see you at the Y! (we probably already saw each other ;)

Well, I found a few light blue tennis grips down at my basement! I took off my overgrip and smelled my original grip. I spotted the source of the problem. I took my hand sanitizer and rubbed it on the grip and there was no trace of the smell. I put the overgrip back on and applied it again. The smell is completely gone. Let this be a lesson to everyone- before, putting on your overgip, dry out your original grip and make it bacteria free!:D (I put on another layer of tenis grip cause it looked pretty cool).

Thank you for your replies^^:D

lol good job in your new discovery :)

Hmm one question, where did you find Super Grap for $3.99?
Everywhere I go is $8....

lol good job in your new discovery :)

Hmm one question, where did you find Super Grap for $3.99?
Everywhere I go is $8....
I dunno if it was a special but at Yo's they sold white Super Grap forr 3.99 per pack (3 grips in a pack).

By the way. Assuming I cleared all the bacteria from underneath the overgrip. would the bacteria most likely grow under or over the grip when exposed to sweat again? Its quite a hastle to unwrap the grip, apply the sanitizer and put the grip back on after each play.:p

Thank you for your replies^^:D

Apply sanitizer in your hands so it smells nice instead XD


I went to Yo's recently.... And it's $8 lol