Improve your Tennis: How to increase or decrease your grip size

[@EP-77o]

Wilson Feather Thin is what I use when I need to go down a size. It’s thinner than Babolat Skin Feel. And I like Babolat Excel Gel to make the grip larger.

[@aintnuttinbutathanghomeych8343]

Thanks

[@VeganViolaPlayer]

Tennis equipment is such a personal thing!

[@DeeeFoo]

What's the maximum amount of heat shrink sleeves you recommend? Like, before it starts to round off the bevels too much and make the handle too heavy?

[@tenniswarehouse]

We typically don't suggest more than one shrink sleeve per handle, if you want to maintain the shape of the pallet. Troy, TW

[@DeeeFoo]

Gotcha, thanks! It's hard to find a racquet in my preferred grip size (4 5/8), so heat shrink sleeves are the next best option, aside from just throwing additional overgrips on.

[@DamianTran]

What is a good synthetic tennis replacement grip that will increase weight without going to a leather grip?

[@tenniswarehouse]

Not certain if it will add much weight, as the leather grips are best for that, but we really like the Gamma Hi Tech Grip, for a nice feel, and is my favorite alternative to leather. Troy, TW

[@kennethlee7207]

I guess, doing anything to increase or decrease will evidently change the Static weight n Balance of the racket. Even adding an overwrap would add 5-8 grams to the handle.

[@dennisgervacio3967]

Nice TW shirts! Do you have a size chart i can use. Thanks!

[@tenniswarehouse]

@Dennis Gervacio, Our TW shirts all run true to size, you can check them out here: www.tennis-warehouse.com/Tennis_Warehouse_Mens_Apparel/catpage-MATW.html Michelle, TW

[@akin1989]

Great video. I currently have a Head MP racket with level 3 grip. I use a Wilson comfort overgrip on top of the base grip, but found the grip too big. Is it possible to use the Wilson feather as a overgrip over the base grip?

[@tenniswarehouse]

FeatherThin is a replacement grip, so we don't recommend putting that on top of the base grip, as it is a base grip. You might try first using a thin overgrip, like the Wilson Pro Overgrip Sensation. And if you don't like that then you can try replacing the stock base grip, with a Wilson FeatherThin, and then put your overgrip on top of that. Troy, TW

[@akin1989]

@@tenniswarehouse Many thanks for your advice!

[@kevinwong4775]

Hi Great video and it really helped a lot! I am trying to make my Yonex Ezone 98 to go from a Grip 1 to a Grip 2. But I am not sure will putting two overgrip instead of one on my grip 1 racquet gives me the exact feeling of a grip 2 racquet. I hope you wouldn't mind providing me with the best suggestions! Thanks and stay healthy!!

[@kevinwong4775]

It would also be ideal to minimize the increase in weight:) thanks again!

[@tenniswarehouse]

Two overgrips will usually build up about a half of a grip size. You could also try removing the stock Yonex Grip which is pretty thin, and replace it with a thicker grip, something like Prince ResiSoft, or Head Hydrosorb Comfort Replacement Grips. This should make it feel bigger, and won't be as heavy as a shrink sleeve. Troy, TW

[@kevinwong4775]

@@tenniswarehouse Thank you so much for the information Troy! Do you think that replacing the Grip 1 racquet with a leather grip+putting two overgrip over it will make it a Grip 2? Or will simply removing the Grip 1 witha leather grip be enough.

[@tenniswarehouse]

@@kevinwong4775, maybe if you use the thicker leather grip, such as the TW Private label with the 1.5mm thickness, but that would be adding more weight. Also the two replacement grips I mentioned earlier, are thicker than the leather grips. Troy, TW

[@justindantonio2561]

Hi, great video. I am trying to decrease my grip size by changing the base grip for one with less cushion. In this video, you recommended the Skin Feel, Resi Thin or Feather Thin... I was wondering which of these three is the thinnest, for the maximum grip size decrease via this method.

[@tenniswarehouse]

They will all work well at decreasing the grip size, and when applying the grip, pulling it tightly will help make it feel even thinner. The Wilson FeatherThin seemed to work the best for me, and stretched fairly easily as I was applying it. It should give you the thinnest feel. Troy, TW

[@applesforakbar]

Do you have a video on installing the replacement grips? I can't tell if I'm starting on the right bevel. Also are you supposed to start at an angle then go straight on the buttcap, or starting straight is okay? Thanks!

[@tenniswarehouse]

@Akbar, We don't currently, but we may in the near future. We do have a video on how to wrap an overgrip, and it is a very similar concept, kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJaac6F9ZceFqZI. We usually start wrapping on one of the sides of the pallet that lay in the same direction as the string plane. You give it a full 360 degree wrap around, and then gradually start to taper towards the throat. You only want to overlap the grip a very small amount, and you can usually see how much to overlap, as most grips have a designated trim on the edges. Here are some instructions: www.tennis-warehouse.com/LC/Regripping.html. side note: although a staple gun is ideal, you do not need one. Troy, TW

[@jineshshah9400]

So if I buy a 4 1/4 and I like a 4 3/8, I get the black one and after I heat it I put the factory grip over it.

[@tenniswarehouse]

The black heat shrink sleeve will build it up one grip size, from 4 1/4" to 4 3/8", and yes you would have to remove the stock grip, and then put it back on after you heat it. Sometimes, you might need some adhesive to put the grip back on, or use a new grip out of the package, as I showed in the video on how to apply the shrink sleeve. Also, this will build the grip up, but also add weight, so if you have the option to buy a 4 3/8", then you probably should. Troy, TW

[@winstonang9793]

Possible to use a hair dryer to get the heat sleeve to shrink?

[@tenniswarehouse]

Yes, it will just take longer. Troy, TW

[@gammatnt]

yes, that will work . I use my gas stove to shrink it. I hover handle about 6 inches from the small flame. and keep rotating the handle unit it shrink.

[@kevinmaldonado5046]

Sending racquets to you? I was told we’re not allowed to do that and I was looking for customization services isn’t that the same thing?

[@meto2854]

I play with a grip 3, but I am buying a new racket and they only have the grip 2 on sale....will I be able to build it up to size 3 just by adding a few grips on it? Will there be a difference in feel? How many grips should I add to get from 2 to 3? Thank you!

[@tenniswarehouse]

I would try it with the stock grip that it comes with, and then wrap an overgrip on top to see how that feels. From there you can wrap another overgrip on top for some extra build up. One of our favorite overgrips is Yonex Super Grap, as well as Wilson Pro Overgrip. Troy, TW

[@meto2854]

@@tenniswarehouse will it change the weight or balance a lot? The overgrip I have says it weighs 18grams, so if I add two that would be adding almost 40 grams to the racquet, no?

[@tenniswarehouse]

@@meto2854 I don't think that is an overgrip. Overgrips are the wraps you put on top of the stock grip, and usually come in three packs like this: www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage-PROGC.html. Each one usually adds like 3 grams or so. Troy, TW

[@meto2854]

@@tenniswarehouse yeah I probably meant a basegrip (replacement grip?). It says you need two of those (1/16th inch each) to arrive from grip 2 to grip 3. And those are the ones that weigh 18 each. I presume you’d need a lot more overgrips to achieve that.

[@tenniswarehouse]

@@meto2854, two replacement grips will feel way too bulky, and uneven with the overlap. I would just try a couple of overgrips, that will likely be your best option, unless you want to try a shrink sleeve, but those add about 15 grams or so to the overall weight. Troy, TW

[@kconley1014]

Hi, I just bought a Yonex VCORE Pro racket in 4 1/4 instead of my normal 4 3/8 size (only size my local shop had in stock) and they did the heat shrink buildup. However, now my grip is too big and wish to reverse the process. Can a shop just use a knife and cut out the buildup to return it to stock setting? Thanks in advance for your feedback TW! -Kyle

[@tenniswarehouse]

Yes, remove the grip, and cut through the shrink sleeve, with a utility or exacto knife. Just be careful of how you cut it, and try not to dig too deep so that it doesn't cut into the pallet material underneath. After you remove it just wrap your grip back on, if there is still a sticky feel on the back then that should work, if not you might need double sided tape. Troy, TW

[@tryhardbennithorvik7757]

First1