Overgrip vs Replacement Grip: Which Does Your Racket Need?

Half the grip questions we get start with the wrong purchase. A player wanted a fresh, tacky feel, bought a replacement grip and wrestled the old one off the handle, when all they needed was a thin overgrip wrapped over the top. The two products do different jobs, and once you know which is which you will stop overpaying and over-fiddling.

Here is the short version. The base grip lives directly on the bare handle and stays there for months. The overgrip wraps over that base grip and gets swapped out often. Most players only ever need to replace the overgrip.

The base grip: what comes on your racket

Every new racket arrives with a grip already fitted to the handle. That is the base grip. The thicker grips you buy to renew it are sold as replacement grips, because they replace that bottom layer. It is the cushioned part, usually a synthetic PU or a towelling wrap, and it is what gives the handle its shape and size. You only deal with the base grip when it has gone hard, flat or slippery, when you want to switch from a synthetic feel to towelling, or when you want to change the handle size. Fitting one means taking the old grip off and wrapping the new one straight onto the bare handle.

The overgrip: the thin layer you actually replace

An overgrip is much thinner and goes over the top of whatever grip is already on the handle. Its job is grip and sweat: it adds tack so the racket does not twist in your hand, and it soaks up moisture during a session. Because it is cheap and quick to wrap, it is the part you refresh regularly. The Yonex Super Grap is the classic example, a tacky, absorbent overgrip that comes three to a pack in assorted colours for £5.49, so you can keep a couple of spares in the bag.

Which one do you need?

If your handle feels slippery, looks grubby or has lost its tack but is otherwise sound, you need an overgrip. That covers the large majority of grip refreshes. If the grip underneath has gone hard and thin, or the handle feels too small or too large for your hand, that is a base grip job. A quick test: press your thumb into the handle. If there is still a little give and cushion, the base grip is fine and a fresh overgrip will sort you out.

Do you take the old grip off first?

For an overgrip, no, and this is the bit that trips people up. You leave the base grip exactly where it is and wrap the overgrip straight over it. Strip the racket back and put an overgrip on its own and you get a thin, hard, uncomfortable handle, because an overgrip is not built to be the only layer. The one time you remove a grip is when you are replacing the base grip itself.

When to re-wrap

Go by feel rather than the calendar. Re-wrap the overgrip when it stops feeling tacky, starts to slide in your hand, or looks worn and discoloured. If you play a lot or sweat heavily you will get through overgrips far quicker than someone who plays once a week, which is exactly why they come in multipacks. The base grip underneath lasts far longer and only needs replacing once it has lost its cushion. Keeping a fresh overgrip on is the cheapest way to make an old racket feel sharp again.

A quick word on grip size

Grips also change how thick the handle feels. Each overgrip adds a small amount, so wrapping two can build the handle up a touch if it feels slightly too thin. For a bigger change in size, a thicker base grip is the better route. If you are not sure, start with a single overgrip and see how the handle sits in your hand before adding more.

If a fresh, tacky handle is all you are after, an overgrip is almost always the answer. You can pick up the Yonex Super Grap three-pack for £5.49 with fast UK delivery, or browse the full grips range at Setra Sports.

Related reading: How to Get the Right Badminton Grip Size and HEAD Overgrip 6 Pack: Dry or Sticky?