Towel grips are never cheap. They usually cost between S$2 to S$2.50 in Singapore. That's about US$1.50 each. I'm quite sure they cost even more in most countries. This is how you can make your own towel grips in 5 easy steps. The advantages? Plenty. A huge towel cost less than S$6 (~US$3.50). You'll also need about 3 rolls of double-sided tape costing S$1.50 each (~US$0.90) and a sharp cutter S$2 (~US$1.50). I use a roller cutter. Cost me a little bit more but makes the process much faster. All that should be able to make you about 30 grips. Total cost: S$13 (less than US$8) That's around S$0.40 each (around US$0.25 each). Plus you can choose whatever colours and designs that you want. Step 1: Spread the towel on a table. Make sure that you place some newspapers or cardboard below so that you don't damage the table. Step 2: Mount the double-sided tape (about 2.5 to 3 cm width) on one side of the towel as shown in the 2nd photo. Ensure that the length is at least 90 cm (for long handles). If your double-sided tape is too narrow, you may mount 2 parallel rows (as I've done in the 3rd photo). Step 3: Carefully cut out towel (4th photo) and trim the edges with a scissors. Step 4: You've got a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) towel grip! Fix the grip on your racket handle as shown in the photo. Step 5: Send money by Paypal or Wire Transfer to me if satisfied.
Great!!! Just wondering, if a grip is getting dirty, can you just peel off the tape and wash it? Once it's dried, just re-apply tape back on, and re-use it. If it's ok, then, we can make 60-90 grips out of your package, assume a piece of towel could be used for 2-3 times.
omg!!! i created my own towel grip too, not a month ago, and i wanted to post how I made MY towel grip... this is such a coincidence.... so i want to post how I made my towel grip... 1.) cut out towel long enough to cover ur racket grip. 2.) put not double tape on the other side of the towel, but i use hockey tape... it usually sticks better on towel, and it's thin and light, and easy to get ur hands on, especially for canadian hockey manias out there 3.) wrap the grip around the racket grip. 4.) Use some hockey tape at the end to enclose ur grip, just like putting adhesive tape at the end when we grip yonex super grap.. i tried to use adhesive tape on towel at the end, but it doesn't stick very well, but hockey tape sure does!!! and this way, u don't have to ruin the original grip beneath! it works very well for me!
I am a bit confused... Is hockey tape 1 side or 2 side? If 1 side, why you put it on the other side of the towel? If 2 side, how you use it as a finishing tape at the cone? Now, you know, I only played a bit street hockey in my life, so, no idea about all the fancy equipment in hockey.
Well, I understand that towel grips in some countries are very expensive, such as in the US, Canada, and UK....etc. So, you will save some money by doing homemade grips. However, in Taiwan, a roll of towel grips (good for 15-20 rackets) is only $250NT, which is about $7-8 USD.....so we don't have to do all these....
I don't think making your own towel grips is so bad. Not only do you get more than those rolls, but i'vef neverused a roll of towel grips that i really liked. Tried a few. I persoanlly like the yonex towel grip better than those. But if im able to pick out my own towel....then i'm starting it tomorrow Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles... here i come!!
New_Guy04 has an interesting method. the towel is stretchable and cannot be wrapped like a synthetic grip as it will be very loose or very stretched out. the normal way to go around it is to tape it on the handle with double side tape. New_Guy04's method is to instead find some other stiffer material, the hockey tape, glue it on the towel as a stronger backing. now we can wrap the towel grip on the handle like we do with a synthetic, and without the mess of having to deal with tape sticking to the handle afterwards... nice!
This reminds me, I remember last time I went to metrotown and i saw this Store has TOWELS on sale. HAHAHA like 10 for 10$ or somthing! Now mayb i should go back and buy a bunch! yeah this will definally Safe myself some cash, cuz i was about to buy one of those big rolls on towel grip for $20 CND =D Thx a Bunch!
One thing that is very cool by doing your own towel grip is that you have more choice of colour and design. I just put a towel grip with hearts picture (from a towel my girlfriend left at my house) on my cab21. I also put a pink towel grip over my Ti-10^^
Look nice. I guess the hockey tape has rough surface? I mean, since u metioned "don't overlap too much", if the tape's surface is very smooth, then, i can see the grip will getting loose very easily.
no, hockey tape isn't very slippery, so that's why i used it instead of electiric tape. if anyone knows a tape with a rougher surface than hockey tape, plz post here, since i like to upgrade.
aside from stickiness, the stiffness of the tape is also important. if the tape stretches over time, it will become loose.
Cool guys! I see more and more people subscribing to the idea of homemade towel grips. Soon the towel grip companies may have to close down... Hmmm... I may try to make some modifications to incorporate New_Guy04's ideas. As for the double sided tape making a mess on the racket handle when you peel the grip off, I forgot to mention this part: I usually wrap electrical insulation tape over the handle first. Then I'll wrap the towel grip over the insulation tape. The electrical insulation tape is very cheap and super thin so it won't increase the size of the grip.
When taking off the grip, will the double sided tape leave a sticky disgusting residue like usual towel grips? or does it come off nice and easy with no residue?
Yup, that residue left behind is a major pain in the posterior I hate it, its the only negative thing about towel grip (well apart from the fact it hardens)