How do you wrap your grip?

[Chia]

i am not sure if this should be in the general forum or the equipment forum.

But how do you guys wrap your overwrap grips?
-do you wrap it all the way up till it reaches the shaft. pros and cons of this
-how do you overlap it? is it spaced out a lot, or spaced out half.
-what kind over overwrap do you use? which one gives you good durability, yet has good grip.
-do you flip your grip over and reuse it to get the most out of your money?

[UkPlayer]

I don't wrap it up to the shaft. I think this is mainly a doubles thing.
I space it out half because the size I get from doing that suits me
I use a karakal PU super which I get cheap in the UK. They are reasonably durable and give me good grip.
I don't turn it over and I spend far too much on replacing grips.

[Phil]

I wrap my grips as thin as possible, because I have better control of the racquet with a thin handle. This means that my overlap is around 0.3 cm. I even removed the original grip that comes with the racquet to make it thinner, and wrapped the wood with a single layer of electrical tape to prevent anything from damaging the wood.

I usually use a Karakal Super PU grip, which lasts awhile and has good grip. Right now, I'm using the original grip off of my tennis racquet, and it seems to have good grip and durability.

The rare time I use a Yonex Grap, I flip it over to use the other side when I'm done using the first side.

Phil

[Nic]

I dont wrap it up to the shaft either. I overlap about half a cm of the grip.
I like the ProAce grip which I bought from Malaysia but I couldnt find any here. So, I use the Prince Duratred tacky grip. I am still looking around to find the grip that I like, been trying out different types but dont have any luck so far.

I like thin handle as well, but I dont remove the original grip for some reason.

by the way, do you guys have any color preference for your grip? My eye only set on certain color, either black, yellow, orange or blue.

[Cruxradio]

I use 3 wraps ontop of the base wrap
I wrap each overlapped 1/2

Wrap size has no bearing on control, but whatever works for u.

[Mag]

I use Prince Duratred or Forza's overgrips over the factory grip. They are simply the best I have found. I put on two layers if it's the DuraTred, one if it's Forza (it's thicker than normal overgrips). I overlap them to slightly less than half the width. I wrap it 3-5 cm up the shaft, it gives better feel when I choke up on the handle. I try to put the grips on quite loose; it gives the softer, more tacky feel that I prefer.

[cooler]

mag, i like prince dura-tred too but i'm quite comfortable with most grips made by major brands.

[Slanter]

I used to like a thin grip but had to make it thicker because that way you don't have to grip it so hard, this avoids getting tennis elbow. I use a Karakal Cushy Grip wrapped half width down nearly to the shaft but pulled really tight to thin it out a little. I then use Tourna Grip over this as a replacable grip.

[ZXZ]

I use Yonex Grap I try out a different colour as often as possible :D

[Xuser]

Someone told me that the way you wrap your grips depends also on left or right-handed player you are. i.e. if you start with the end of the racquet, you either go from left to right or right to left. Is this true or does it makes a difference? To me, I don't think there is a difference but that IMHO :D

[Mag]

There is a difference. If you wrap it the "wrong" way the overlaps won't be aligned with your fingers, and that feels weird.

[TDotSmAsHer]

How do you wrap a grip for Right Handers? I've never taken into consideration that it had to start a certain way... I just wrap from bottom to top. :)

[Mag]

Really, this is not a big issue. But Xuser specifically asked about it... :) If it's a very thin grip it hardly matters, but with a thicker grip you might need to consider the wrapping direction.

All factory grips (at least that I have come across) are wrapped for right-handers. The direction is perhaps best illustrated by an image (below).

This way the overlaps will align with the thumb and the finger tips.

[kwun]

on a related note, what type of do everyone prefer? the ridged type that is shown in Mag's picture, or the flat type?

i have always used the flat type and find the ridge type uncomfortable to my taste.

[Nic]

I only use the flat type. The type that shown on the picture is hard for me to move the fingers around, just like the tacky type of grip.

A lot of people in this forum said they prefer the tacky type of grip. To me, I find it is hard to play with. My hand dont sweat a lot or at all sometimes, so, I use the "dry feel" type of grip.

[Chia]

Originally posted by kwun
on a related note, what type of do everyone prefer? the ridged type that is shown in Mag's picture, or the flat type?

i have always used the flat type and find the ridge type uncomfortable to my taste.

the ridged type gave me blisters on my hand, so i use the flat ones

[Phil]

Cruxradio,

When I say that a thinner grip/handle gives me more control, I don't mean it helps me places my shots better as in that kind of control. I mean that I find it easier to move the racquet around through ranges of motion, and it is also easier for me to change finger position. A factor may be that I have small hands.

Phil

[TrunkZ69]

I use the flat grip. I like a thinner grip also. It is easier to switch from backhand to forehand. I use the Yonex grap they sell in my area. I tend to use like maybe 3/5 or 3/4 of the amount of grpi they give me. Maybe even a bit less. Depends. I really dislike the ridged grip though, it hurts. Towel grip isn't acutally that bad, but it wears out a little too quickly.

[Hugo]

I think the wrist movement is over-rated because in technical terms, the most power (on forehand shots) actually comes from forearm pronation(rotation) in an anti-clockwise direction.

Full arm movement will still get the job done powerwise(from my own XP), but it takes a bigger toll on the shoulders!

[wilfredlgf]

Originally posted by kwun
on a related note, what type of do everyone prefer? the ridged type that is shown in Mag's picture, or the flat type?

i have always used the flat type and find the ridge type uncomfortable to my taste.

I've been using the ridged type with the original grip off and I find that there's a degree of control to it that is not there in comparison to flat ones. Perhaps this had a lot to do with it being rather thin, with the ridges helping to keep my grip in place. It's good for control-play, but I can feel some vibration from the racquet whenever I do shots that require power.

I think I'll switch back to flat the next time the ridged one needs to be replaced.

[Wizbit]

I just had to put on a new grip on my racquet. At first I wasn't paying attention and put it the wrong way. I am right handed. After gripping the racquet, it felt a bit weird..and I realised I had to take the darn thing off. So, yes orientaion does matter. To me.

The ridged grips works really well for me in combination with Carlton racquets, but for some reason doesn't with others :confused:

It's about finding a balance that works for..thin grips give more power? pah I laugh at you.

I hate tacky grips, it's one of those annoying things like foil in your teeth, or nails on a blackboard. I like towel grips. Make sure to put plenty of fabric conditioner when you wash it ;)

[bigredlemon]

With overgrip, I usually wrap it all the way to the top of the cone. I sometimes use half an overgrip strip to wrap up the cone some more to create a nice round rubber ball there. The other half is used to wrap up the shaft. The ball fits very nicely in the top of the palm between your "love line" and "wisdom line" is in palm reading. Fingers wrapped around the shaft. There's plently of power to do everything except smash, and it's a very interesting feeling. Great for doubles, as your swing speed suddenly becomes much much faster.

Downside is that you need 2 overgrips, and people will look at you funny. Personally, i only use this grip while defending.

[cappy75]

I used to go crazy over BK grips... especially T.U.F. Re-Grip. It's pretty good when I first started playing and smashed more than I used to nowadays. The ridged form of the T.U.F. Re- Grip gives me amble support when I smash. Now, I have altered my style somewhat and found myself experimenting with other thinner grips for less weight and more flexibility.

Whenever I get new racquets, I usually strip them of their original grips and grip it with new grips. BTW, I have also began wrapping up the handles with electric tape before the grip to protect the wooden handle (as one player from BC/BF suggested).

As for how I do my grip, I found myself wrapping it as thin as I could to cover the whole handle and try to maintain a weight bias towards the head (ie. head-heavy). I play mainly doubles and prefers light and stiff racquets, so having the light racquets balanced towards the head is a compromise between manuverability (defense) and power (offense). Problem with this stingy wrapping is that I wear out the grip at a faster rate than before. Also, not much difference in terms of weight distribution, effects are more psychosomatic than anything else but like they say "whatever works...":D.

[yonexfanatic]

sry, i'll tell you how i wrap my grip.

Currently, I use just a regular overgrip and overlay the grip about halfway of it therefore providing the thickness but still semi thin feel to it...leaving it thin enough so i can keep it loose in my fingers.

There are occasions where i'll wrap the grip over the cone but i hardly do so unless i play competitive doubles a lot ..in which case i usually try to direct my focus on my singles play.

[wilfredlgf]

Ok, I've experimented with wrapping the grip all the way up to the cone for the past two weeks, and here's my comparison in feel and performance compared to 'normal' grip usage.

1. I felt as if the handle end had feels so much heavier now compared to before. The result is that the wrist needs extra strength to control.

2. I can now do better clears from the baseline, the power going up quite significantly. I believe the extra weight at the cone does affect the momentum of the swing.

3. The racquet feels more stable now when I'm doing defensive manoeveurs such as receiving smashes or when doing drives.

4. Timing goes off pretty badly. The quickness of the light-headed frame now offset by a heavier handle, somehow changes how fast I can swing.

Well, that's my experience.
I need some advice - should I continue with wrapping up all the way over the cone or go back to normal?

Somehow I felt as if by gaining some 'extras' with the added weight, I felt as if I need to readjust my style to suit it, while losing some other benefits such as quicker response.

[LazyBuddy]

Originally posted by Mag
Really, this is not a big issue. But Xuser specifically asked about it... :) If it's a very thin grip it hardly matters, but with a thicker grip you might need to consider the wrapping direction.

All factory grips (at least that I have come across) are wrapped for right-handers. The direction is perhaps best illustrated by an image (below).

This way the overlaps will align with the thumb and the finger tips.

I think "what's the thickness limit start to effect" is really depend on different ppl. One of my friends did not notice this before, and often having blister on his hand after playing. Even though, he only uses 1 layer of Yonex grap, I still recommend him to change the direction of warpping. Then, problem solved.

Personally, I only use flat overgrip. # of layers is depend on the size of the grip vs my hand. Usually 1 layer, but if necessary, 2.

[Cheung]

Wilfred,

If you use the ridged type grip, I believe that will be a thick grip. IMHO, wrapping this type of grip over the cone is more difficult.

You haven't mentioned if you are choking up the grip for your shots so difficult to analyse.

[wilfredlgf]

No, I'm using the flat type. I bought a cheap RM 5 to try out (Rhummel, I think). The ridged type is the former one that I used.

I adapt my grips depending on where I am on the court. My grip moves closer to the cone the closer I get to the net, and moves all the way to the butt-end when I'm at the back. I am experimenting with 'aggressive' badminton now ie involves a lot of drives and smashes with very little lifts to the opponent's side.

I find that while choking up feels more comfortable now with the grip up all the way to the cone, I find that's there a small lag in reflex because of the weight, most especially when I receive smashes (it's more stable though).

The other thing I can say is that there is also less vibration to the racquet which contributes a lot to the reduction of 'power-loss' in power shots. This translates to more power in clears and smashes. Still, the swing for smashes gets messed up a bit because of the weight - resulting in most of it going into the net (as of yesterday).

Maybe I need to keep at it? I'm not doing tournaments, so, there's no hurry. :)