Racquet Repair [Deteriorating, Dirty, Disgusting Grips]

Are you a racquet stringer or a player who has a racquet with a deteriorating, dirty, disgusting grip?
If you have one of one these, you know how messy they can be. I'll show you how to get down and dirty by removing a grip and cleaning it to the original pallet.
Here's a list of supplies and tools that I use.
Gloves
(2) Rags
Cardboard or old newspaper
91% Isopropyl alcohol (spray bottle preferred)
Goof Off (preferred) or Goo Gone
Windex
Orange Fast hand cleaner
Awl
Box Cutter
Heat gun (with scraper attachment)
Check out the International Alliance of Racquet Technicians, their community of passionate racquet stringers, and what they have to offer!
gssalliance.com/
If you're a Premium IART Member, check out Tim Strawn's interesting and useful video on Removing a Problem Grip.
gssalliance.co...
If you're interested in learning how I turned an Old Dirty Racquet to an Old Brand New Racquet, here's a article and video I posted on the IART website for Premium members.
gssalliance.co...
For information about becoming a Master Racquet Technician or Certified Stringer, go to the United States Racquet Stringers Association - racquettech.com/
For more information about private stringing lessons, either in-person or by FaceTime, go to my website - amstringing.co...
REFERENCES
AM Stringing - amstringing.com/
Email - [e-mail]
#amstringing #tennis #tennisstringing #tennisstringer #tennisstrings #stringing #stringer #tennisplayer #tennisracket #tennisracquet #tenniscourt #tenniscoach #tennispro #tennisfan #tennislover #tennisvideo #tennisaddict #prince #princetennis #hawaiitennis

[@TennisTalkUSA]

Ah the infamous black shmoo from rotting grips. Great video as always.

[@AMstringing]

Yep, I have to keep them separated from other racquets when I get one of these to string. That stuff gets all over the place. Thanks!

[@HerbBaird]

I was gifted 33 frames from a shuttered pro shop a few years ago. All were older frames, and all of them had crumbling grips. I spent days getting them all cleaned up, replacing the grips, and fresh strings. My hands had black stains for about a week. Those old grips will stain anything they come into contact with. I donated all of the racquets, plus several pair of new shoes to a youth program. The shoes were in good shape for being around 20 years old. I got a box of replacement grips as well, but they all just crumbled apart as soon as you touched them. I have had several people give me old frames with rotted grips and tell me they don't want it replaced.

[@AMstringing]

Aloha Herb, I've donated a lot of my old demos and used racquets given to me by my clients to underprivileged youth programs around town also. By the time I clean them and restring them, they're almost as good as new! I make it point to clean 4 or 5 at a time. I figure if my hands are getting dirty, better to make the most of it. Do you wrap those rotted grips with something while you're stringing the racquet? I would probably wrap those with plastic wrap, so I wouldn't have to deal with touching it or having come in contact with anything else!

[@HerbBaird]

I have a roll of 6" shrink wrap that I wrap around rotten grips if they don't want me to change them. It is thin but tight and will hold the grip together. They can remove it if they want or put an over grip over it.

[@robertjacobson941]

It is a dirty job! I've used all the shown methods except the heat gun to remove old grips and the underlying sticky tape. One homemade tool I've found usefull is an old hard plastic toothbrush that has the handle filed to a sharp chisel edge to use as a scraper. My least favorite double sided tape is the paper tape. It bonds well to the pallet and has to be removed one sticky shred at a time. Another problem is the duct tape put over the bumper for protection. It takes elbow grease and goof-off to clean the mess it leaves. Sometimes it takes longer to clean up a frame than it does to string it.

[@AMstringing]

Aloha Robert, YES, I know what you mean about duct tape on the bumper . . . that one is a nightmare! DOUBLE YES, I know what you mean about how long it takes to clean some of those dirty frames. I know a couple stringers that charge extra for that service. Here's another one . . . how about those matte finish racquets that no matter how much you clean them, still remain sticky and end up attracting more dirt as the player uses them. With some elbow grease, I've actually stripped off the matte finish and turned some frames into a glossy finish! I think I should have charged extra for those!!

[@robertjacobson941]

I prefer the glossy finishes for cleanliness and touch in the hand. I strung a pair of Vcore pro 97's with the green matte paint that required a soap and water scrubbing to remove the sweaty grime. The dirt was gone but the tacky finish remained as well as the smell. The owner's cologne or after-shave had been absorbed into the paint and it was ...unpleasant. I clean frames just for my own comfort--I've never had a comment or thanks for any extra work on frame; cleaning, tubing, power pads or new grip tape and in fact, most people don't even look at the new strings.

[@HanzSygnal]

Googled images of your club; what a dream! If I'm ever in that area I will visit your shop and rap w you about Prince rackets (phantom 100X is awesome)

[@AMstringing]

Aloha HanzSygnal, Thanks for checking out the resort and club . . . and yes, I try not to take it for granted! When you visit, you'll be able to check out some of my Prince relics including the Classic, Mono, and the Limited Edition Bryan Brothers gold racquet. The Phantom 100X (305) is my best-selling racquet in the Phantom line.

[@malagabee]

Good demo. A thorough job. Maybe give the heat and chemical a little more time to work before scrapping….

[@eddiechen2128]

" just crumbled apart as soon as you touched them", I have same problem of removing the original synthetic grip from a new, unused racquets that goes back 25 plus years. This is the reason I prefer leather over synthetic. BTW, your forearm brings back memories. I Just got back to Tennis last year, haven't touch a racquet for about 20 years.

[@AMstringing]

Aloha Eddie, Nice to hear you're back into tennis! Funny, I had to watch the video again to see what you meant about my forearm. . . I didn't know it looks so veiny!

[@huypham3602]

Pulled my childhood stick from 25 years ago out during the vid. I had to do all of this and was wondering what the heck happened to the grip lol.

[@AMstringing]

Aloha Huy, I hope you didn't get it all over the place and on your clothes. It's shocking when you don't know what to expect and how to deal with it!

[@huypham3602]

@@AMstringing that’s exactly what happened. First took it to the court to hit and my hands were black. Went home to change the grip and the stuff was flying everywhere! Lesson learned. Great video!

[@ac55699]

Great vid mate. Just wondering why there is sticky tape underneath the grip?

[@AMstringing]

Aloha Andy, Thanks! The double-stick tape is applied under the grip to keep in place and to avoid slippage during use.

[@ac55699]

@@AMstringing thx for the reply. I guess looking back, that might have been a stupid question. I was just thinking it might be unnecessary to put double sided tape but can see the merit of it. Thx mate!!