What’s the Right Type of Grip for My Padel Racquet?

Finding the right type of grip for your padel racquet is crucial for both your performance and comfort. The wrong grip will have your racquet slipping around and could even cause calluses if a poor quality or worn out grip is used. With a suitable grip, you’ll have more precise control over the racquet and avoid it slipping in your hand, so it’s always worth taking the time to find the best option for your needs.

While an overgrip is an additional option for your racquet, its performance and safety benefits make it a worthwhile investment for any player. Of course, with so many options available, finding the best grip for your padel racquet is often easier said than done. So, if you’re looking for a new padel racquet grip but are unsure what’s best for your needs, be sure to check out our handy guide below!

Overgrip vs Replacement Grip

Before we delve into the best types of padel racquet grips, it helps to understand the two main options available:

Replacement Grip

Also known as an undergrip or base grip, every padel racquet comes with one of these as new, which is a factory standard. This grip type is designed to absorb vibrations when playing with the racquet, reducing fatigue and stress on the hand, wrist, and arm.

The replacement grip also has a standard grip size, which can be removed to replace it if necessary. If you don’t like the feel or when it gets worn out. Many players prefer to add another layer using an overgrip, which, as the name suggests, is placed over the original grip.

Overgrip

Many of the standard grips featured on racquets lack the thickness that some players need for comfortable handling, which is where an overgrip comes into play.

An overgrip is an additional layer that is placed over the base grip to increase thickness for more comfort and precision. Rather than replacing the entire undergrip, you can use an overgrip to improve handling for a much cheaper price. It’s also easy to try out different overgrips to find the right size for your play style and comfort requirements. They wear out quicker, but can be replaced quickly and cost effectively.

Choosing the Right Grip

If you want a simple and effective way to increase the comfort, performance, and safety of your padel racquet, then we recommend using a padel specific overgrip. Here are some things to keep an out for when choosing a new overgrip:

Thickness

The best thickness for an overgrip varies from player to player. For instance, women and junior players tend to have smaller hands and benefit from a thinner overgrip, typically a thin single layer over the top of the base grip.

Men may require slightly thicker overgrips, ranging from one to two grips that overlap on the original grip. If you have larger hands, consider using two overlapping overgrips, while men with more average-sized hands may benefit from a single overlapping overgrip.

Again, it varies from person to person, so consider trying a few different thicknesses to see what works best for your needs!

Sweat Absorption

A good overgrip for your padel should be able to absorb sweat to prevent it from sliding around your hands. Make sure that the overgrip you’re buying has some basic sweat absorption. Otherwise, it may be more difficult to handle. However, it may also be a good idea to have some tackiness (stickiness) on the overgrip, especially if your hands don’t sweat much, as absorbent grips can feel slippery when using dry hands.

Tackiness

A grip’s tackiness refers to how sticky it feels, which has an impact on how effectively you grip the racquet. However, without proper absorption, a sticky grip can quickly become slippery due to sweat, which can be an issue depending on how much you perspire when playing. So, it’s generally a good idea to have an overgrip that offers both absorbency and tackiness.

Conclusion

While a padel racquet comes with an original grip, it’s usually thin and lacks the comfort and precision many players seek. So, consider adding an overgrip to your racquet to improve its thickness and handling when you play. Be mindful of the overgrip thickness, and make sure it can absorb sweat while being sticky enough to handle. That said, a replacement racquet grip can have better properties than an overgrip, and with the right one, could be the perfect thickness, so be sure to try both to see which you prefer.