How to Customize a Tennis Racket Handle
Customizing your tennis racket handle makes it more comfortable to use while you are playing. A handle that is the wrong size will tire out your hand because you have to grip it harder to hang onto the racket. A custom-fitted grip can also give you more control of your shots. Replacement grips are available in different materials to suit your needs. Whether you prefer a sticky grip to keep the racket in your hand or a sweat-absorbent grip, it is easy to customize your tennis racket handle in just a few minutes.
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Instructions
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Hold the tennis racket in your playing hand to test the grip size. You should be able to fit the index finger of your other hand between the fingertips and palm of your playing hand while it is wrapped around the racket. When in doubt, buy a racket with a handle that is too small instead of one that is too large. It is easier to build up a racket's grip than it is to shave it down.
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If the racket's grip is too large, remove the tape at the top of the handle and unwrap the grip. Depending on the type of adhesive used to attach the grip, you may be able to re-use it. Use coarse-grain sandpaper to sand the handle down slightly. Be sure to sand the handle evenly on all sides so the grip does not become lopsided.
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Re-wrap the grip without adhesive and re-test the grip. Repeat this step until the handle is shaved down enough to give you a comfortable grip on the racket. Replace the original grip by following step 3 below. You may have to purchase a replacement grip if the original grip is too damaged to re-use.
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Add an over-grip to build up the grip if it is too small. Unroll a foot of the over-grip and peel off part the backing strip that covers the adhesive. Hold the racket upside down and attach the narrow end of the grip to the butt cap on the handle. The grip should be set up so that it wraps clockwise around the handle if you play right-handed.
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Wrap the over-grip in the opposite direction if you play left-handed. Rotate the racket slowly and wrap the grip so that it overlaps the previous layer by about 1/8 inch, peeling off the backing strip as you need more over-grip material. Cut the top of the over-grip at an angle so that it forms a straight line when wrapped fully around the handle. Wrap the finishing tape (included with the grip) around the top to hold it securely in place.
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Tips & Warnings
To find your ideal grip size, measure the distance from the bottom horizontal crease of your palm to the tip of your ring finger in inches.
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Comments
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artzy65
Jul 16, 2010
Wait a minute... once you start wrapping extra tape and grips around the racquet grip, you lose the shape of the bevels. The handles are bevelled for a reason, which is to give you a firmer grip (less torque and therefore more control of the racquet) AND to give a feel for whatever grip you are using, like when you switch from a forehand grip to a backhand grip in the middle of a rally for instance. You don't want to be looking down at the handle when doing that, do you? Merely wrapping tape around will make the handle feel too smooth, like a baseball bat handle, with no sense of the bevels. I have a better way. Just remove the leather grip, then apply long strips of 'packing' tape along the length (not the wide kind, the narrow, tough kind, I use 'Dominion Tape') cut to the exact width of the bevels.... it's almost the same width as a bevel, so just line it up on one side of any...
