Lin Dan's "broken" racket grip...

**Blitzzards** · 08-31-2009, 02:47 AM

Just use some thick double sided tape and paste it on the part of the handle where you want to thicken (in taneepak's case, the middle part where your middle and ring finger will grip onto). Once set just grip the handle as usual using your grap of choice. You'll see the hump once the handle is covered properly.

**Amin Khalili** · 08-31-2009, 03:34 AM

Where is this idea come from?If Im not mistaken , Taufik Hidayat also use this "broken" grip too isnt it?

**Shifty** · 09-01-2009, 05:21 AM

It forces you to only grip the lower end of the racquet. This is meant to increase your power. If you grip any higher, you'll get some nasty splinters

I noticed that Lin Dan did used to grip his racquet quite high. During 2004 Thomas Cup against Peter Gade, he held his racquet past the half way mark. I guess this change has helped him?

**DxHuman** · 09-13-2009, 06:46 PM

By putting less overgrip the grip is lighter, therefore making the the racket more head-heavy, thus more power?

**Blitzzards** · 09-13-2009, 08:13 PM

This gripping method also balances off the racquet's balance point offset created by the dense and relatively heavy towel grip. The less grip you have on your handle the overall lighter your racquet will be and the more head heavy your racquet will feel.

On a side note you can have a full grip with layers of tape on the frame to counter the balance point offset, but then the overall weight of your racquet will be much heavier, which is not a good thing for especially the head heavy Armortecs.

**epermana** · 09-14-2009, 09:13 AM

I see his grip as a mean to force himself to hold the racket at the lowest point to create greatest moment, not to increase head-heaviness. After all, with your grip as the pivotting point, anything applied above it will result in a "head-heavier" racket i.e. considering a (hand) grip at the lowest end possible, a racket with full towel grip will be head-heavier than one with just half towel grip but I reckon it is extremely insignificant.

I believe it was the athletic tape applied around the frame that contributes to the head-heaviness, not the grip.

**Blitzzards** · 09-14-2009, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by epermana

I see his grip as a mean to force himself to hold the racket at the lowest point to create greatest moment, not to increase head-heaviness. After all, with your grip as the pivotting point, anything applied above it will result in a "head-heavier" racket i.e. considering a (hand) grip at the lowest end possible, a racket with full towel grip will be head-heavier than one with just half towel grip but I reckon it is extremely insignificant.

I believe it was the athletic tape applied around the frame that contributes to the head-heaviness, not the grip.

Yup, totally agree. Although having a full towel grip all the up to the cone will make the racquet more head light, albeit theoretically only.

I tried the 'towel grip' mod on my AT700s and a full towel grip vs a half-way up towel grip can create a difference of 6mm to 8mm in balance point shift. The amount of extra weight added into the racquet by the 'unnecessary' length of towel grip is actually quite a lot. Adding more weight to the grip while also adding tape to the frame to balance off the theoretical balance point is actually counter productive as it results in a heavier racquet overall (I recently opened a topic on this under racquet recommendations).

Note: This is going a bit off topic but at least we have another theory to discuss on.

**MetalOrange** · 09-14-2009, 12:00 PM

It is simply an anatomic grip Lin is comfortable with. Of course he added the thumb grip atop that anatomic grip.

**dorysan** · 10-05-2009, 06:47 AM

Im playing with the same grip.
gives me reach, power and control.
And give me lighter and heavy-head racket

**blabbo** · 01-02-2010, 11:34 PM

i'm preeeettty sure he does this to make his racquet more head heavy.
He must like the head heavy feel because if it was to train himself to hold a racquet or anything, there is no need to grip like this.

afterall, in singles there is not many quick, snappy rallies.

**taneepak** · 01-03-2010, 01:28 AM

I have slightly modified "Lin Dan's" grip. I now use 1" thin bandages to wrap around the handle, with almost no overlap. I then cut a thin grip into two pcs and then use just one pc to wrap it over the bandage in the middle of the handle, leaving about 1" at the butt end and 2" at the cone end as is with their bandage. The thin grip in the center's thickness can be varied by the amount of overlap to suit you.
The bandages make the racquets look cheap but who cares. Almost all of those who, initially shocked at the sight of my grips, tried them out said they like it.

**taneepak** · 01-03-2010, 01:31 AM

To clarify the 1" thin bandages refer to 1" wide bandages, not 1" thick. Some of these bandages are tacky, some not. The tacky ones are better as they are paper thin and they have good grip.

**taneepak** · 01-03-2010, 06:59 PM

Instead of leaving the top and bottom parts of the handle bare ala Lin Dan, you can use 3M Nexcare athletic wrap. Wrap the Nexcare over the wooden handle with no overlap, then apply a thin grip of your choice over the middle section of the handle, varying the thickness with overlapping.
I find the 3M athletic wrap ideal as it is non slip and also breathable.

**lilyaks** · 03-02-2010, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by jhirata

Well, you've got to try it on your own to see if it suits your liking or not.

Holding the racquet as low as possible would obviously help you produce more power than holding the racquet by the cone. Some basic physics, T=FD. Same force, more distance from the pivot ( balance point ? ) = more torque = we strike the shuttle harder.

In my case, the BP lowered down to 295mm because I had to wrap the towel grip over an overgrip ( over the wooden handle ). Without that overgrip underneath the towel grip, I would get a swelling on my thumb.

its true - if you ever shake lin dan's hand, his fingers feel like sand paper.

**lilyaks** · 03-02-2010, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by dorysan

Im playing with the same grip.
gives me reach, power and control.
And give me lighter and heavy-head racket

how did you grip it like that (im talking precise, detailed, scientif method LOL)

**Flexsis** · 03-02-2010, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by lilyaks

its true - if you ever shake lin dan's hand, his fingers feel like sand paper.

You can see his fingers are really dry in games xD

**OliverHH** · 03-17-2010, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by taneepak

I have slightly modified "Lin Dan's" grip. I now use 1" thin bandages to wrap around the handle, with almost no overlap. I then cut a thin grip into two pcs and then use just one pc to wrap it over the bandage in the middle of the handle, leaving about 1" at the butt end and 2" at the cone end as is with their bandage. The thin grip in the center's thickness can be varied by the amount of overlap to suit you.
The bandages make the racquets look cheap but who cares. Almost all of those who, initially shocked at the sight of my grips, tried them out said they like it.

Could you post a picture so we can see it?