how do you guys make your handlock? i dont know if its the right term but its the thing thats located at the butt of the racket handle, i see it with higher level players, compared to the ordinary butt, they have a BIGger butt i think its to prevent the racket from sliping out of their hands when they smash so hard.
I just wrap a 1/2cm wide piece of PU grip around the edge of the butt and then I wrap electrical tape around the entire butt of the racquet to secure it. Of course that's all under the towel grip. I learned that from the former National Team / Junior nationals who used to play in Club Filipino. One player's system is even simpler. He just wraps a short cut piece of towel grip around the plastic butt of the racquet before he sticks the whole towel grip over it and on the rest of the handle.
i see them when i watch tournaments and games on solar sports, look at the butt on their rackets closely, its larger than the ordinary butt its kinda flared up big time.
hey mike, am i right on the handlock? i mean is it used to prevent the racket from slipping out of your hands?
Yeah. That's the main use (but I'm no expert) It's something like this, right? (NR's racquet) or this: Not all the pros use it though (e.g. Cai Yun, Fu Haifeng, Mia Audina, etc)
I like a smaller handle butt, so I cut a foamy double-sided tape in half and tape both cut pieces overlapping one another to the edge. After that, I tape the entire handle with electrician's tape and then a thin supergrap finishes the grip.
I've never thought about making a hand lock before. Would probably help me alot when I'm holding the extreme end of the handle for the big smashes.
Wow pretty creative! I've never really thought about 'modding' my racket before. Now where do i buy NoS for rackets...
For this one, for sure Taufik as well as LinDan and I'm sure other players are using the "bigger butt handle" feature.. Check out the pics below(taken from the 2005 S'pore Open pics link), clearly show that it's one of their patented feature on their rackets, esp. Taufik, look at where he's holding his racket most of the time, even grabbing the "bigger butt handle" for his backhand shot..
Yes it is, it is done also by a lot of players in HK. If you search for a post by kwun regarding a loose grip and using the last or last two fingers to anchor your grip, you will see the usefulness of this feature..
thanks mike for hooking me up with JR's answer now my next question is what do you call it, handlock? big blurb? big butt?
dont tell anyone but the secret is this: extra grip equals extra width ... try it out, I really like it
Kim Dong Moon's knob Here's a picture of Kim Dong Moon's knob (or racquet handlock....or....). This picture is from the 2004 Olympics (finals)