Applying towel grips

Discussion in 'Grip' started by shot3gun, Apr 19, 2009.

  1. shot3gun

    shot3gun Regular Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2008
    Messages:
    196
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Canada
    Do you guys apply towel grips like an overgrip or like a replacement grip? Would the towel grip have a 'cushiony' effect if it is used like a replacement grip?
     
  2. paulstevo

    paulstevo Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2009
    Messages:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    Occupation:
    Electrical Engineer
    Location:
    Liverpool
    I have recently started using towel grips and i use it over the grip the racket comes with..so yes as an overgrip for me..
    Really liking it at the moment..
     
  3. Danstevens

    Danstevens Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2008
    Messages:
    1,197
    Likes Received:
    6
    Occupation:
    Student
    Location:
    Nottingham, UK
    I have tried the way that Paul says but found it too thick for my liking. Whenever I use towel grips, I use them straight on to the wood handle. I'd say they were more communicative that most grips but still offer a little cushioning.

    My advice to you, try both methods, see which one you prefer.
     
  4. Distanc3

    Distanc3 Regular Member

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2006
    Messages:
    582
    Likes Received:
    0
    Occupation:
    stringer for community centers
    Location:
    vancouver
    towel grip will ruin your factory grip =(
     
  5. paulstevo

    paulstevo Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2009
    Messages:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    Occupation:
    Electrical Engineer
    Location:
    Liverpool
    You may be right but factory grip is no good for me..
     
  6. chewablemorphin

    chewablemorphin Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2006
    Messages:
    282
    Likes Received:
    2
    Occupation:
    Lifeguard, and a little bit of autobody
    Location:
    canada
    I used mine as an overgrip.
     
  7. ray_mond

    ray_mond Regular Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2007
    Messages:
    140
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Toronto
    its ideal that you wrap at least a layer of electrical or hockey tape before you apply the towel grip.. as your sweat will accumulate and maybe eventually rot away the wood underneath..

    rotten wood = no good = snap.. :(
     
  8. takumifujiwara

    takumifujiwara Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2005
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    0
    Occupation:
    Full-time uni student
    Location:
    Australia
    Electrical Tape? Would sellotape do instead?
     
  9. ray_mond

    ray_mond Regular Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2007
    Messages:
    140
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Toronto
    the purpose of electrical or hockey tape is to cover the wood, with a semi waterproof ability.. sellotape isnt too tacky and waterproof if i remember correctly..

    i know people who use towel grips without the tape underneath, but its a risk you take. i sweat quite a bit, and i can tell you, my grips are soaked by the end of practise
     
  10. venkatesh

    venkatesh Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2008
    Messages:
    1,108
    Likes Received:
    2
    Occupation:
    editor
    Location:
    manila
    Great advice. I have been using towel grips as an over grip for quite some time now. It's really comfortable and suitable for me. However, like what the others said, it destroys the factory grip, and the sweat rots the wood. Good job ray_mond. I'll buy and electric tape ASAP. Thanks :)
     
  11. takumifujiwara

    takumifujiwara Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2005
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    0
    Occupation:
    Full-time uni student
    Location:
    Australia
    All electrical tapes have the same thickness right?

    If I apply electrical tape on to the wood and the apply a replacement grip on it, would the electrical tape increase the thickness by soo much that it affects game play?
     
  12. venkatesh

    venkatesh Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2008
    Messages:
    1,108
    Likes Received:
    2
    Occupation:
    editor
    Location:
    manila
    If you're going to apply an electric tape, make sure it's angled diagonally so the consumed tape length would be short, maximizing the spaces the tape could cover on the handle. (Tip: cut the end of the tape diagonally, giving about 60-degree angle so that the wrapping would be directed downward.) The shorter the electric tape used, the less thickness it would give to the grip. Approximately give only a few centimeters of allowance when sticking and overlapping the tape. I hope this helps :)
     
  13. noppy

    noppy Regular Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2008
    Messages:
    442
    Likes Received:
    0
    Occupation:
    student
    Location:
    Bangor,Gloucestershire, Scotla
    i use sellotape and electric tape. I always put electric tape on the cone though this is cus sellotape holds so much stronger and pulls the paint off. But i prefer sellotape on the handle because it lets the grip off so much easier and there isnt any sticky residue left, which i find with the electric tape.
     
  14. DonnyGan

    DonnyGan Regular Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2009
    Messages:
    225
    Likes Received:
    0
    Occupation:
    Logistics
    Location:
    Singapore, Tampines
    i'm thinking of experimenting with industrial vinyl tape. it's stretchable & almost identical to the tape supplied to secure the grip.

    if it works, i will post some pics here. :eek:
     
  15. Danstevens

    Danstevens Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2008
    Messages:
    1,197
    Likes Received:
    6
    Occupation:
    Student
    Location:
    Nottingham, UK
    Good point, I forgot to add that.
     
  16. krisss

    krisss Regular Member

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2008
    Messages:
    1,051
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    ? ?The Moon? ?
    I just wanted to add that some companies have actually stopped producing towel grips because they can be quite bad for correct grips in badminton.

    Once you play with the grip a lot the grip takes the mold of your hand , so when changing grips you find it harder.

    Something like that I think :D.

    Just wanted to add that :D
     
  17. Danstevens

    Danstevens Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2008
    Messages:
    1,197
    Likes Received:
    6
    Occupation:
    Student
    Location:
    Nottingham, UK
    That's another good point. I guess I just don't play with towel grips enough to notice these things. PU Super grip FTW!
     
  18. ray_mond

    ray_mond Regular Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2007
    Messages:
    140
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Toronto
    haha no problem. electrical tape is extremely thin, and i think its actually thinner than paper when stretched out. I dont think there would be significant grip size change.
     
  19. jaymz

    jaymz Regular Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2007
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Philippines
    The electric tape also serve as the barrier between the adhesive and the wood. Sometimes, the adhesive of any replacement grip is too sticky to the extent that when the grip is replaced after several days or weeks, bits of the grip will be left sticking to the wood. It has to be scraped off the wood. The electric tape eases out the process of replacing a grip.

    Btw, here's what I do to save money on using towel grips. I purposely buy bath towels like this:
    [​IMG]

    Once they are worn out and/or I don't want to use them anymore, I cut them into strips. See the ribbed pattern of the towel, that's where I cut along. I use a double-sided tape for the adhesive on one side of the strips I cut. That's all you need for a towel grip.:)

    Just imagine how many towel grips you can make out of one bath towel (much more if the ribbings are vertical :cool:). In my place, even if I buy a brand new bath towel only to be used for making towel grips, I can still save a lot than buying single towel grips.:cool:
     
    #19 jaymz, Apr 20, 2009
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2009
  20. jaymz

    jaymz Regular Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2007
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Philippines
    I can make two grips out of one "lane" I cut along the entire length of the bath towel. So it doesn't matter if the ribbings are in vertical or horizontal. And even if I can only make one grip out of one "lane" cut horizontally, that would still be around 15+ grips (depending on the width of each "lane").
     

Share This Page