Last updated on October 1st, 2022
I’ve had more than a couple of students ask me the question on whether they should be double gripping their tennis racquet.
In my experience, it’s very important to grip your racquet properly since having an incorrect or sub-optimal grip can lead to technical errors and even potential injuries like golfer’s and tennis elbow.
Tennis rackets are not as generic and specific to one player like a football or basketball, so it’s understandable that there would be many different types of grips for these sports. A lot more players opt out on having just single handle racket handles with no additional protection from slipping; however if you want something extra secure then double-grips can help!
Before I explain what the differences are between these two types of grips, it’s important to remember that both serve their own purposes.
| Advantages of double overgrip | Disadvantages of double overgrip |
| Good if you sweat a lot | Less flexibility of the wrist |
| Another layer on top of the stock grip | The less total grip on the whole handle |
| More ‘cushioning’ to your hands | Switching grips quickly is more difficult |
How Many Overgrips Should You Use?
So here’s the take-home message: if you’re a player that sweats a lot and has trouble gripping your racket without it slipping, then I would recommend using double overgrips instead of just one to prevent injuries from happening! If you don’t have sweaty hands or prefer single grips because of the feel, then that’s fine too. I would say it’s more of a personal preference thing in this case.
The number of grabs a tennis player has on their racket can vary depending upon what type they feel most comfortable with. However, in most cases one already comes standard so it isn’t necessary to purchase another if you don’t want too.
However, if you’re trying to make a whip with your wrist for some added power on your shots, double overgrips will certainly help! The extra tackiness will also aid in absorbing sweat when making quick exchanges or stretching for some shots.
When playing tennis, one thing that you need to know as a batter is how important it can be for your game if they have the right racket. A good grip will allow players more power and precision while hitting balls since having slippery handles or slides off frequency makes this process much harder than before due in large part because there’s less control over where exactly those hits go.
I hope that answers the question on whether you should use double overgrips or just one.
Advantages of One Overgrip
The benefit of using a single grip is that it’s thin and nothing extra to add to the handle. This type of grip will provide cushioning and absorb sweat, but if you have sweaty hands then this can become a problem at times since the racket might slip.
You don’t want to drop your tennis racquet during a critical juncture of the game, right? So if the racket will slip out of your hand at a pivotal point, then I would recommend using two overgrips instead.
Another advantage is the ease or moving the wrist because there is less circumference to work with the racket handle when you’re in motion. I would also argue that it’s easier to move the wrist with one grip because if you’re gripping with two then your hand is “stuck” on the handle, making it difficult to switch grips (I mean, grips for different shots yes?).
Advantages of Two Overgrips
On the other hand, double grips will be a great alternative if you sweat a lot and single grips don’t do the trick for you. Additionally, these grips can add more cushion to your handle which can help prevent slipping especially when you’re making quick strokes like shortening points or sprinting across the court.
Both of these advantages can help a player make a better transition or a “whip” in the wrist when going for a shot, so if you need to whip up on your forehand then double grips will be helpful! There is also more space for extra things like overgrips which you could put on to absorb sweat or even a wristband or sweatband.
Adding to that, you can get a thicker grip with double grips. Either way, make sure you have a good fitting tennis racket handle that matches your hand size and specifications.
It’s also worth noting that these grips save the factory grip from wearing out too fast since you’re wearing them on top of another layer.
Can you use two overgrips?
Of course you can! It’s up to your preference on whether or not you want this added comfort and grip, but it all comes down to what feels comfortable for you. Just test out which one is better suited for your game.
As you can see, there are many options to choose from when it comes to the amount of overgrips you could have on your racket. It’s solely up to what works best for your game and how well you feel with either one or two grips.
Can you use an overgrip as a replacement grip?
Yes, you can use either or to replace your factory grip. Just make sure it’s the same size as the one that came pre-installed on your racket so you don’t have any added discomfort when switching grips.
Overall, having an overgrip is not necessary to feel more comfortable while playing tennis – but if you’re really dedicated to having plenty of grip on your racket, then feel free to go for double overgrips!
Caveat: you should notice that an overgrip is not the same as an ordinary grip that comes with your racquet. You should feel a difference in the feeling of the handle and in the durability that comes with it when wrapping an overgrip instead, so you should take that into consideration.
How do I increase my tennis racquet grip size?
N ow that we’ve talked about adding overgrips to your racket, let’s talk about how you can increase grip size as well.
It’s pretty simple: all you need is a cutter and the replacement grip of your choice. Just make sure it fits on top of your existing factory grip and cut the excess off. There are many replacement grips to choose from so feel free to try a few out until you find one that works for you.
Here is a useful video that shows how it’s done without any confusion:
How do I decrease my tennis racquet grip size? If for whatever reason, you want to decrease the size of your racket handle then all you need to do is cut the grip until it’s no longer visible. Instead of it, take some thinner version or model of some overgrip and use it.
What’s the purpose of having multiple tennis racket grips?
On one hand, having multiple grips gives you more options when it comes to comforts. You can choose between thinner or thicker grips depending on your playing style and preferences.
If you’re someone who tends to sweat a lot then sometimes, you might want to have extra cushioning help absorb the sweat while preventing slipping of the handle. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!
Also, you can do what’s called overgripping. Overgripping is simply the act of adding an additional layer on top of your factory grip – whether it’s a replacement grip or an overgrip, either one works well together in order to make sure that your racket handle stays secure and doesn’t slip out of your hand.
| EU Grip size | US Grip size | Palm to middle finger | Suitable for: |
| L0 | 4” | 4-6 centimeters or1.5 to 2.5 inches | Small kids |
| L1 | 4 ⅛” | 5-7 centimeters or2-3 inches | Kids and women |
| L2 | 4 ¼” | 6-8 centimeters or2.4-3.1 inches | Can fit everyone – based on hand size |
| L3 | 4 ⅜” | 7-9 centimeters or2.8-3.5 inches | Mostly men |
| L4 | 4 ½”’ | 8-10 centimeters or3.1-4 inches | Quite a large size, for people with big hands |
| L5 | 4 ⅝” | 9-11 centimeters or3.5-4.3 inches | Adults with huge hands |
Double overgrips are fine, but it’s always important to make sure that this added thickness doesn’t affect the comfortability of your racket in general. The best way to test this is just by gripping and feeling how it feels in your hands when you’re playing with either a single or double overgrip so everything feels comfortable for you.
Can Wrapping an Overgrip Affect Your Racquet Performance?
Adding extra layers to your factory grip can indeed affect the feel of your racket, but it’s nothing too drastic. This is because your tennis racquet will still be designed around the original factory grip that came with your racket – and that grip will be designed and shaped in a way so it doesn’t affect your performance with racket.
In other words, your tennis racquet’s frame is still designed to have the same string tension, balance point, weight distribution and head size with or without an overgrip added on top of it. As long as you’re comfortable with the added grip, then everything should be absolutely fine and you won’t notice a difference between having an overgrip vs not.
Final Thoughts
It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to adding an overgrip in general. You don’t want your grip slipping during a game, which is why you should be okay with adding either an overgrip or an ordinary replacement grip (depending on what feels right for you).
There isn’t really any risk of the added grip affecting your racket performance, especially if you’re focusing on comfortability of the handle itself. Just make sure everything feels right for you and you should be good to go!
Having an overgrip will not increase your tennis performance or give you any significant advantage versus someone who doesn’t have one. It can help increase your overall comfortability especially if you tend to get sweaty hands.
