How to choose your badminton grip
Overgrip or towel grip, handle size, fitting and care: everything you need to hold your racket right.
The grip is the only contact between your hand and your racket. If it slips, or if it's too thin or too thick, your whole game suffers.
Overgrip or towel grip, handle size, when to change it: I'll tell you everything.
Overgrip or towel grip?
Your racket comes with an original grip, wrapped directly on the handle. It's thin and smooth: it soon gets slippery once you start sweating.
An overgrip wraps over the top. Thin and slightly tacky, it gives you grip and takes 2 minutes to change. It's what most players use.
A towel grip, on the other hand, replaces the original grip. Thicker and really soft, it soaks up sweat. Ideal if you have sweaty hands, with a little grip powder.
Handle size: G4, G5
Yonex writes handle size with a G. The bigger the number, the thinner the handle. On rackets sold in Europe, you'll mostly find G4 and G5, and the size is often linked to the racket's weight.
- Handle
- Thicker
- Often found on
- 3U rackets (85 to 89 g)
- Who it's for
- Big hands and players who like a nice, full handle.
- Handle
- Thinner
- Often found on
- 4U rackets (80 to 84 g)
- Who it's for
- Most players: easier to turn in your fingers.
The hand test
Hold your racket normally. There should be a small gap between your fingertips and your palm.
Your fingers touch your palm
The handle is too thin for you: add an overgrip, or two, or switch to a towel grip.
You have to squeeze to close your hand
The handle is too thick: remove a layer. A thinner handle gives your wrist and fingers more finesse.
Changing your overgrip takes 2 minutes
No need to go to a shop: an overgrip goes on by hand, no tools needed. Watch the animation, then pick your colour to see how it looks on the handle.
On 100%BAD rackets, you choose your overgrip or towel grip when you order, and I fit it in the workshop.
Remove the old one
Unwind the old overgrip starting from the top. Keep the original grip underneath, unless you're fitting a towel grip.
Wrap from bottom to top
Stick the end at an angle at the bottom of the handle, then wrap it upwards, pulling slightly and overlapping each turn by about a third.
Cut and finish
At the top of the handle, cut off the excess at an angle and secure it with the finishing tape provided. Done.
When should you change your grip?
An overgrip wears out fast: if you play 2 to 3 times a week, count on changing it roughly once a month. It's the cheapest bit of maintenance and the one you feel the most.
- It's slipperyYou squeeze harder to hold your racket: it's lost its tack.
- It's smooth and shinyThe material has flattened under your fingers.
- It's tearing or coming looseEspecially at the bottom of the handle, where your hand rubs.
- It's gone dark or smells badSweat has built up: time for a new one.
My grips
Overgrip x3
To try them out, or for a player who changes now and then.
Overgrip x12
The right pack for a regular player: a year's worth of overgrips.
Overgrip x30
For clubs, families and players who change every week.
Towel grip
Soft and absorbent, for sweaty hands.
Towel grip roll
Cut it yourself to kit out several rackets.
Yonex grip powder
The perfect partner for a towel grip: your hand stays dry all match long.
FAQ
Do I need to remove the original grip to fit an overgrip?
No. The overgrip goes over the original grip. You only remove the original grip to fit a towel grip.
Overgrip or towel grip: which should I choose?
An overgrip for most players: thin, tacky, easy to change. A towel grip if your hands sweat a lot or if you want a thicker, softer handle.
My handle is too thin: what can I do?
Add a second overgrip, or switch to a towel grip, which is thicker. It's much simpler than changing rackets.
What's grip powder for?
It keeps your hand dry and stops the towel grip from slipping. A small pinch on your hand or on the grip before you play is enough.