Padel overgrips

Grip or overgrip?

The grip is the layer that comes pre-installed on the racket; the overgrip is the thin tape that is wrapped over it and replaced regularly. Every racket comes from the factory with its grip, which Wilson describes as a layer wrapped around the handle that provides cushioning.

The difference is measured in millimeters, and only one brand publishes this data. Babolat lists 1.9 mm for its Syntec Pro grip and 0.43 mm for its VS Original overgrip: a grip is more than four times thicker than an overgrip. Head says it in words and agrees: the grip is thicker, heavier, and more cushioned; the overgrip is lighter and thinner.

In padel, the overgrip is not an accessory: it is the handle adjustment. Rackets come in a single size, and Head acknowledges that it is often too small for the player's hand. In tennis, rackets come in handle sizes; in padel, there are no sizes. The only way to thicken the handle is with an overgrip, and you can use more than one: Wilson states that you can add multiple overgrips until you reach your preferred thickness.

Before stacking layers, think about where the weight goes. The protector goes on the head and raises the balance; the overgrip goes on the grip and lowers it. No one publishes how many layers change the racket's performance: neither manufacturers nor laboratories.

The undergrip is the third possible layer, the least common: it goes under the grip, directly on the handle, to increase thickness and cushioning. No major brand documents it, and in Spain, the term is also used as a synonym for the base grip. If you are looking for it, check carefully what product it is.

How do you apply an overgrip?

Start at the bottom, near the cap, and wrap it tightly upward, overlapping each turn. In five steps:

1. Clean and dry handle. If any residue from the previous overgrip remains, remove it.
2. Remove the paper backing from the thin end. The package includes a closing tape: Wilson includes it as standard with its product.
3. Start by sticking it to the bottom edge and wrap it upward. Coach and store guides agree to wrap clockwise if you are right-handed and counterclockwise if you are left-handed, so that the edge of the overlap follows the direction of the hand's rotation and does not lift when tightened.
4. Keep it tight, especially at the bottom. If the bottom part does not stick to the grip, it will wrinkle and form bubbles.
5. Secure it with the tape and cut off the excess. Head recommends scissors, although softer materials can usually be torn by hand.

The overlap determines the thickness, and it does not have to be uniform. Head explains it clearly: the more overlap, the thicker it will be, for a large hand; if there is barely any overlap, it will be thin. It is customary to overlap quite a bit at the bottom, where the hand goes, and to overlap less as you move up toward the frame.

If it turns out poorly, remove it and start over. That is exactly what Head says: peel it off, unwrap it, and start again.

Which overgrip brand should you choose?

First choose the feel, dry or tacky, and then the brand: in this collection you have Wilson, Head, Dunlop, Tourna Grip, Tecnifibre, and Bullpadel. There is no common basis for comparing them by numbers, because only Babolat publishes a technical data sheet: thickness, length, tackiness, and absorption, field by field. The other brands use adjectives: Wilson describes its Pro Overgrip as super thin and elastic, and does not provide a millimeter or an absorption level.

Practical consequence: the absorption scale from 1 to 5 is Babolat's, not an industry standard. A 4 out of 5 from Babolat cannot be compared to anything from another brand, because the others do not publish that figure.

The axis that truly distinguishes one overgrip from another is not the texture: it is dry versus tacky. A dry overgrip absorbs sweat and leaves a dry hand feel; a tacky one provides grip and a firm hold sensation. Both extremes exist within the same brand.

And can a tennis overgrip be used on a padel racket? Yes. Head summarizes that there is little difference, except that tennis overgrips are usually longer and there is excess material. But it is not a category rule: Wilson does make a version with a specific padel length, while Babolat sells the same VS Original of 110 cm for both tennis and padel.

How often should an overgrip be replaced?

At least one new one every two months. This is what Head publishes in a guide signed by Valeria Pavón, former world number 1: it depends on how much you play, how much you sweat, and what overgrip you use, but you should not go below that frequency. A serious player puts one on before every match, and on a hot day, several during the same match.

And the underlying reason is not comfort, it is injury. When the grip degrades, the racket slips, and to compensate, you tighten your hold on the handle more: Head warns that this takes you out of your natural game and risks injury. The overgrip also protects the grip underneath, which is the expensive layer and the one that is almost never replaced. Wilson adds the hygiene argument: it is advisable to replace them often.

Two durability details published by Head:

• Perforated overgrips seem to grip more, but they last less than smooth ones, and Head sells both.
• Colored overgrips last less than black or white ones. Those two do not contain pigments, and without pigments, they breathe better and last longer.

That is why overgrips are bought in packs and not one by one: you have options from packs of three to packs of several dozen units. It is quite a bit cheaper per unit and removes the problem of running out.

Complete your equipment

If you are looking for the layer underneath, the one that comes with the racket from the factory, what you need is a padel grip. And if you are assembling the entire equipment, you have padel rackets, protectors, racket bags, and balls. If you also play tennis, you have the tennis overgrips in their collection.

Don't know if a dry overgrip or a tacky one will suit you better? Write to us and we will tell you which one to order.

Guide updated in September 2026.