Tennis overgrips

Grip or overgrip?

The grip comes pre-installed on the racket handle, and the overgrip goes on top: it is the thin layer that is changed often. Babolat, the only brand that publishes the millimeters, measures its Syntec Pro grip at 1.9 mm and its VS Original overgrip at 0.43 mm, both 110 centimeters: the grip is more than four times thicker than the overgrip.

Each layer has its own lifespan. Babolat recommends changing the base grip once a year, adjusting for playing style, weather, and match frequency, and gives the signs that it is time: it loses grip, crumbles, loses texture and color, or starts to cause discomfort when holding the racket. The overgrip lasts much less, and that is its purpose: it wears out so the grip does not.

How much does an overgrip increase the handle size?

Approximately half a handle size, according to the British Lawn Tennis Association (LTA): the overgrip is what allows you to fine-tune between one size and the next. We explain how to find your size in tennis rackets. And if you are between two sizes, Babolat advises sticking with the smaller one, because a small handle can be enlarged with an overgrip, but a large one cannot be reduced without removing the handle.

Which overgrip should I choose: dry or tacky?

If your hand sweats, dry; if you want more grip, tacky. It is the difference that really counts when choosing: the dry one absorbs sweat and the tacky one provides more traction when holding the racket. Babolat lists it on its product sheets as two separate fields: grip and absorption.

That absorption, rated from 1 to 5, is also a Babolat scale and not an industry standard: the other brands do not publish technical sheets, so a 4 out of 5 from them has no equivalent to compare it with.

Between perforated and smooth, Head, in its padel guide, acknowledges that perforated seems to grip a bit more and lasts less. How much less no manufacturer publishes.

And a padel overgrip on your racket? Some brands, like Wilson, make it to the length of the padel racket, and on a tennis racket it may be too short. For the racket, choose a tennis one.

How often should an overgrip be changed?

At least, a new one every two months: it is the only frequency published by a manufacturer, and it comes from a padel guide: signed by Valeria Pavón, former world number 1, for Head. The product is the same, and we have not found any brand that gives another figure for tennis. The guide also mentions that there are advanced players who use one per match, and several in a hot day.

When the grip wears out, the racket slips and you end up gripping the handle too tightly, and Head warns that this way you lose your natural game and risk injury. Changing it in time also protects the grip underneath. And a detail published by Head: black and white overgrips do not contain pigments, breathe better, and last longer than colored ones.

Since it is a consumable, it is better to buy it in bulk: in this collection it goes from a blister pack of three to a jar of several dozen units, and with the jar the price per unit drops significantly.

How do you put on an overgrip?

From the bottom, next to the cap, rolling it tightly upwards and overlapping each turn: this is what the coach guides agree on. Remove the paper that protects the adhesive, at the narrow end, roll it and close it with the tape that comes in the package. The same guides insist on tightening it especially at the bottom: if it is loose there, wrinkles and bubbles will form.

The overlap determines the thickness. Head, in its padel guide, explains it like this: the more each turn overlaps, the thicker the handle will be, for a large hand; if it barely overlaps, it will be thin. And if it doesn't fit well, unroll it and put it on again.

Complete your equipment

If what you are looking for is the layer underneath, the one that comes from the factory, it is a tennis grip. And if you are assembling the entire racket, you have tennis rackets, tennis strings, vibration dampeners and tennis balls.

Do you also play padel? The padel overgrips have their own collection, although a tennis one will work for your padel racket.

Are you between dry and tacky? Tell us how you play and we will recommend one.

Guide updated in September 2026.