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HEAD Hydrosorb

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Gamma Sports Ultra Cushion

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8 Best Tennis Replacement Grips

When trying to work out what tennis racket grip to buy, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of choice.

It’s also very easy to simply pick one of the shelf and assume that it will be a perfect fit for your racket and your game style. You may get lucky and get something that suits you. Or you may be left with a grip that feels lumpy, bump and uncomfortable in your hand.

That’s why it’s important to be aware of the subtle distinctions between the different grips out there on the market so that when it comes time to hand over your money, you know what your getting is worth it.

So sit back and let us walk you through some of the best tennis replacement grips currently available.

Replacement VS Overgrips: What’s the Difference?

Before we get into the nitty-grippy details (see what we did there?!), it’s important to clarify the difference between a regular replacement grip and an overgrip. If you purchase one over the other accidentally, you may be setting yourself up for a painful blister or two later on down the line.

A regular grip is the one that usually comes already on your racket and is wrapped tightly around the wooden handle itself.

You can then decide whether or not to apply an overgrip over the top of a regular grip.

There are a few reasons why some choose to this. The need for a thicker racket handle, sweaty palms, or even the original grip beginning to wear away slightly can all motivate a player to add an overgrip to their rackets.

With that all out of the way, it’s time for those details! Let’s get into them.

1. Gamma Ultra Cushion - Editors Choice

best tennis replacement grip

Gamma began operations as a racket string manufacturer back in the 70’s and have recently started producing modern-day grips as well.

As the name would suggest, this particular creation sets out to help cushion powerful shot vibrations. If you’re looking to create a racket that dampens the impact of incoming attacking play, this could be a solid option for you.

This grip actually comes in two variations. The standard textured version is the more typical of the two but there’s also a contoured option that is advertised as a good choice for players looking for more control on their swings.

These grips provide some solid padding, coming in at 1.99mm in terms of thickness and 27mm in width. A good level of overall comfort is offered and should help in the middle of those extended baseline rallies.

Both these synthetic grips will suit all-court players and provide a generally high standard when it comes to dealing with those hard, fast volleys up at the net.

2. HEAD Hydrosorb Tour Replacement Grip

A US based company, the Tourna project began in 1972 as a grip manufacturer and the fact that they still serve (pun inetended!) the same purpose almost 50 years later is a testament to just how good their products are.

This Pro Gel grip is designed primarily to help player’s suffering from the dreaded tennis elbow or any general muscular arm pain.

At 2mm thick, this grip provides a nice, spongy, sticky texture that player’s with sweaty hands can use with ease.

The gel in this products title is in reference to the shock absorbing substance the coats the underside of the grip and helps it stick to the handle. It doesn’t just act as a glue though. It helps soak up those irritating vibrations and direct them away from the arm of the player for a more comfortable hitting experience.

With the combination of bevelled edges and adhesive tape, Tourna have created a grip here that aims to provide a quick, easy option for players looking to slap a grip on and get playing.

3. Tourna Pro Gel Max Cushion

best tennis replacement grip

A US based company, the Tourna project began in 1972 as a grip manufacturer and the fact that they still serve (pun inetended!) the same purpose almost 50 years later is a testament to just how good their products are.

This Pro Gel grip is designed primarily to help player’s suffering from the dreaded tennis elbow or any general muscular arm pain.

At 2mm thick, this grip provides a nice, spongy, sticky texture that player’s with sweaty hands can use with ease.

The gel in this products title is in reference to the shock absorbing substance the coats the underside of the grip and helps it stick to the handle. It doesn’t just act as a glue though. It helps soak up those irritating vibrations and direct them away from the arm of the player for a more comfortable hitting experience.

With the combination of bevelled edges and adhesive tape, Tourna have created a grip here that aims to provide a quick, easy option for players looking to slap a grip on and get playing.

4. Head Leather Tour Replacement Grip – Best Leather Replacement Grip

best tennis replacement grip

Another HEAD entry but a very different material this time with a 100% authentic crisp leather grip.

This is a blunt, uncomplicated option for players looking for a grip that will prove usable over an extended period of time. Durability is the word often used to describe leather grips and this creation from HEAD is no different.

Leather offers an unmatched level of feel and stability behind your shots. At 1.55mm thick, there’s no fancy new tech in this grip. It’s all about getting the job done in as quick and efficiently a way as possible.

A simplistic, no nonsense design that provides a solid level of cushion for those heavy baseline shots, this grip should attract players with a few years of experience. If you’ve never tried a leather grip, this is a very good starting point.

5. Tourna Pro Tour Grip

Tourna are back on our list again with this rather unique Pro Tour option!

Rather than continually pumping out very thick, beefy grips that they know will sell, Tourna have taken a bit of a risk with this product.

The most noticeable thing about this grip is how thin it is. At only 1.5mm, you’ll be able to feel all the individual bevels on the handle of your racket while holding it. If that suits you, that’s fantastic and you’ll be all good to go! The grip provides a classical feel and you’ll be able to experience the impact of individual shots as you hit through balls from the baseline.

However, this grip is specially designed so that overgrips can be applied over the top of it should you like a bit more substance to cling to as you reach out wide for that difficult defensive slice.  

Small indentations cover the surface of this grip material, allowing for quick sweat absorption.

If you pick this grip, you’re going to have options available to you. It’s cheap as well and so is always a good spare grip to take with you to important must-win matches in case of emergencies.

6. Wilson Micro Dry Replacement Grip

It’s almost surprising that we’re this far down the list and Wilson haven’t been mentioned yet! Well, worry no more. Founded aaaaaaaaaaaaaall the way back in 1917, the Illinois based sports manufacturer have continually been at the top of their game for well over a century. With all of that history and class, we should expect Wilson to be producing some iconic grip designs for the modern player.

And so we come to the Micro Dry. This foamy feeling grip is extra padded for a more comfortably relaxed swing feeling. Wilson have focused on creating a product to last. Prolonged play won’t easily wear this grip away.

The fantastic thing about this grip is how manoeuvrable it feels in the hand. Being able to spin the racket and move your hands up and down the handle is a hugely important aspect of tennis and this grip allows for that without ever feeling slippery in your palms.

This is another solid all round option for players looking for a bit more padding and at 2mm in thickness, provides a good level of vibration dampening softness for those looking to avoid the tennis elbow aches.

If you’re looking for a diverse racket grip that attempts to do a bit of everything and succeeds fairly well, then this might be the one to go for.

7. Wilson Cushion Aire Classic

You wait all day for a Wilson grip offering to come along and when they do show up, there’s two of them! This one comes in a contoured variation as well.

The first thing you’ll notice about the Cushion Aire is the very fine holes that cover it. These are known as perforations and they act a bit like a drainage system for your sweat. We know that sounds disgusting but it’s actually very handy (pun intended!) when you’re playing in hot, humid conditions.

If you play tennis regularly, you’ll know that hand blisters are a common occurrence. They’re not pleasant and should be avoided by any means necessary. The Aire Classic gets around this problem by making sure that there’s no unnecessary rubbing of your sweaty hands against the grip.

This is a slightly thinner product than the Micro Dry Wilson grip, measuring in at 1.8mm. It’s because of this that you’ll get a bit more of a classical hold on your racket than other thicker grips.

In short, this grip is the best choice from Wilson if you’re sweaty hands are threatening your game. Try out the Micro Dry to hoover up your excess droplets so that you can concentrate on playing your best. Nobody ever won a tennis match with a racket that kept slipping out of their hands!

8. Dunlop Gecko Tack Replacement Grip

Dunlop are the oldest sporting manufacturer on this list! They’ve been around since 1910! That is 111 years’ worth of practice at getting their products just right and so expectations can be high if you buy into the Dunlop brand.

With the Gecko Tack grip, Dunlop have targeted a perfect combination of comfort and tack. The result is a grip that almost feels glued to your hand even after lengthy extended rally exchanges in tight competitive sets. Up at the net, it feels glued to your hand as you swivel on your heels to repeatedly swat away volleys.

It’s never sticky or uncomfortable though.

Sitting at a relatively slim 1.19mm in thickness, this could well be a solid choice to apply as an overgrip if you’re looking for a little extra comfort around your racket handle. It’s easily one of the best thin replacement grips on the shelves currently.

Sweaty palms-wise, this is a solid choice. It may not have much of the fancy absorption tech that some other options out there have but it’ll hold off the majority of your dripping exhaustion.

The Gecko Tac is a safe, reliable option for as a grip that provides an all-round comfort with a level of tackiness that is relatively unmatched by the competition.

best tennis replacement grip

How to Choose a Replacement Grip 

Material

The material that the grip is made out of will impact how the racket feels as you swing it.

Back in the days of wooden rackets, most grips would be made out of thick shiny leather. These are still readily available to players today for those that favour a purer, more old-school feel to their rackets.

However, most modern grips are made out of a hybrid of synthetic materials with new technology woven in to make the overall playing experience more comfortable. This is especially true of overgrips.

Sweat Absorption

Depending on where you play and where you live, this is a biggy!

If you regularly find yourself playing indoors, sweat will be an issue and you’ll want to make sure that your racket isn’t in danger of slipping and sliding around against the wet surface of your own sweaty palms. 

If you play outside, this can still easily be an issue as well. If you live somewhere with a hot climate, you’ll soon get used to the sweat trickling down your arms and across that brand new racket grip. Not fun!

If sweat is an issue for you, make sure to select a grip that can easily sponge up any of those irritating excess droplets that threaten to throw you off your game.

Thickness

If you’re happy with a thinner racket handle provided by a regular racket grip, that’s absolutely fine.

But if you need something with a little more give, find yourself an overgrip to pad out that handle some more. Many players even prefer a few overgrips to cushion their playing experience even further and dampen those shot vibrations.

Keep in mind that you’re on the look-out for something that fits for you long-term.

Comfort

This is arguably the most important thing to look for when trying to find the best tennis racket replacement grip. If the racket doesn’t sit properly in your hand, your entire experience playing the sport you love could be ruined.

It needs to feel natural in the palm. You need to be able to swing freely without fear for extended periods of playing time. You should feel confident enough to twist the racket in your hand to slice and serve away without worry.

Find a racket grip that feels like second nature when you’re holding it ready for play.

Tack/Sticky Feeling

You do not want to find yourself in the middle of hitting through a forehand, only to suddenly find your racket moving around in your hand.

You need a grip that’s gonna’ stick and stick well against your palms.

If you sense that the grip your racket came with is a bit too smoothly absorbent for your liking, consider picking up an overgrip with a bit more stickability to it.

It’s important to look at what the grip you’re going to buy is being advertised as. If there seems to be a focus on absorbing sweat and providing comfort, it may be the case that the manufacturers are less focused on providing that tack that you may be looking for.

Most grips come with a small bit of the material that it’s made out of pinned to the outside of the packaging. Make sure to run your finger up against it to see if it’s likely to cling to your hand or not.

Durability

Picking up a cheap grip can seem like a bargain but when you’re back at the shop a few weeks later looking for another because the one you bought has already worn away, it’ll be a far more irritating trip.

All grips have a lifespan, that’s an unavoidable fact. No grip will last forever, even the more expensive ones out there.

But some will provide a lasting comfort over an extended period of months rather than days.

Color/ Design

You might not even consider this as an important element of the selection process as all!

But if you’re someone who cares how a racket looks or how you’re going to look when holding it, this is certainly something to keep in mind.

You can’t really go wrong with a classic white or black racket grip. These are the shades that a majority of regular grips come in.

But if you’re looking to mix things up with a neon pink or a bright green, there are options out there for you! A pop of colour never hurt anybody.

How Often Should You Replace Your Grip?

As soon as you feel that your grip is showing signs of age, you should probably consider beginning that search process again.

Those signs won’t just be in terms of the general appearance of the grip itself but will be reflected in how the racket is feeling when you’re holding it.

If you go to reach up to hit a serve and find yourself without your normal sense of racket stability when doing so, that’s probably an early indication that you need to consider replacing that grip.

Aside from that, you can also decide to try new grips simply for a change of pace and to experiment. Trying new things is fun!

How to Put on a Replacement Grip

Even the best of grips can perform terribly if you don’t know what you’re doing when putting it on your racket. Thankfully, there are video walkthroughs available online and we’ll mention the key points right here for you so you can keep them in mind as you go through the application process.

  1. If you’re applying an all-new grip rather than an overgrip, remove your old and musty current grip first. Un-tape the top and unwind all the way to the bottom. It may be worthwhile getting some of the sticky griminess off the wooden handle underneath with some warm water before applying your new grip.
  2. Try to keep steady as you begin wrapping your racket. Begin from the bottom of the handle and turn the racket as you wrap the handle up towards the throat.
  3. Ideally, you’ll manage to keep the grip overlapping evenly throughout the entire process. This should lead to a comfortable hold for you at the end.
  4. As you reach the top of the racket handle around the throat, you may need cut off any excess grip before aligning it properly. Use the sticky tape that should have come with the grip to keep it in place when finished.

Final Thoughts

And there we have it, a selection of the very best tennis racket replacement grips available.

The grips we’ve discussed up above are all fantastic and should provide a solid level of overall comfort. As long as you know what you’re looking for, the right grip is out there waiting to be found.

Don’t be scared to experiment with different grip types in your quest to find the one that perfectly works for your game. Mix up the colour, change the material, and embrace all that new grips have to offer.

But if you find one that works, hold onto it.

Literally.

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