I use a Wilson Profile 95 with a leather grip and no over wraps on it, and the grip size is 4 1/2 and I have an eastern grip. I have been using the same racquets for over 30 years my guy. Great job on the video my friend.
I use my tfight iso 305 and an eastern grip with the Wilson leather replacement grip and I have been playing the leather grip for 2 months and haven’t had issues at all. I love the feel and it’s not so tacky so I can get to my one handed backhand easily and once you get used to it it just kinda works. I’ll be playing for my high school this season for age reference.
Just Bought a matches set of the 2024 pure strike 100 for my kid in 4-1/4. She’s between SW and Eastern grip for the FH. String tension fairly low, between 45-49 depending on temps. 3 weeks into the new racquets, she started complaining about wrist pain and pain in the hand and knuckles in general. Checked her grip size (finger gap test) and turns out, her finger tips were touching her palm, finger nails (more like claws lol) digging into the skin. Death-grip central…! Great! Just dropped some coin on these racquets and spent extra on getting them weight matches and here we are…lol! So, I ended up modifying the grip by using the plastic heat shrink wrap and was able to build up 1X size. It actually helped her a bunch! No more pain, no more racquet twisting out of her grip when hitting off center shots… BUT (!) adding the grip build-up, it has changed the balance from 7PT HL to 10 points… Was thinking of adding some lead on the loop to balance it out but the racquet is already 341 grams (and 10PT HL) so now way, I want my 15yr old swinging a hammer on the court. Long story short: make sure you pick the correct grip size from the get go otherwise the work around solution will present its own issues and might now work for ya. Gonna suck it up and buy a new set of racquets in 4-3/8. (Hopefully I can trade the old ones..) Regarding the leather grips: my kid tried it but the bevels were too “pronounced” and caused some issues there. Plus, we live in south east Florida with temps in the 90’s and humidity like, 150%… 😂 and dealing with grip slipping out of hand is a common problem down here. Over-grip (Wilson perforated the best one thus far) will only last about 90min best case scenario so I am not sure how a leather grip would hold up the long run.
I put the leather grip on and use it as is, no overgrip. Right now I use a Head Radical MP and a Pro. The Orange/Silver version. I used to play with the Head Arthur Ashe in the early 80s and it had a leather grip. I started on wood racquets in the 70s and they had leather.
I'm sneaking up on 78 this year. Back when my dad taught me to play as a kid (Kramer forehand, Budge backhand), I remember using a 5" Kramer racket with gut strings, strung at least at 60 pounds. My how times have changed. The real eye opener for me was many, many years ago, when I watched a "retired" Vijay Amritraj in an exhibition match. I noticed that the ball was strangely quiet coming off his racket. I don't remember the racket or string type, but I remember him telling me that the tension was something like 35 pounds, and he had pin point accuracy. I've strung my oversize rackets loose ever since.
Great vid. Answered most of my questions I asked in your smaller grip video. I have been using 4 1/4 since Nadal and Federer became famous but recently got tennis elbow. So, I'm going back to 4 3/8 and a softer racquet. I play with a western FH and 1HBH so the bigger grip should help some. I also went down a size but overgrip everything.
I agree with some of you Guys. I started playing at the age of 15/16 in the mid 70's. There was no over grip. But gauze tap was the thing to absorb sweat. I used leather tape today with a Wilson over grip. Using leather for weight. With no adhesive, I used glue to keep it on the frame. Back in the 70's, Jack Kramer racket were too expensive. $50-$70 was like $200-$300 today. Today, I play with Volkl C10, Wilson Ncode 95, Head Speed MP, Dunlop Revelation 200G. Those were the days.
I use leather without an over-grip. I've gone back and forth a few times, but finally settled on leather. I put an over-grip on the racket (to make the grip a tad larger and to make the racket a bit more comfortable). Then I put on a leather grip, pulling it very tight as mentioned. It lets me feel the bevels and change grips more easily, it rarely slips in my hand (my hands don't sweat), and it doesn't dry out my skin as much as I found with over-grips (to the point where the skin on my thumb and fingers dried, cracked, and bleed)...
I'm 57. I started playing with a 4 1/2 medium frame wood Slazenger with a leather grip. I still play with the same grip size. I've tried 3/8 and 1/4. Depending on how I change my grip on the racquet each size has value. I also prefer a certain grip shape. I still prefer the more square wood racquet shape. Fairway leather was the best and I used wood shavings in my pocket to dry my grip and hand. It also makes the grip tacky and prevents it from absorbing sweat. Now for convenience I use Wilson over grip over leather. Currently using two matched Pro Staff RF97 autographs version 1 grip 4 1/2
I had a leather grip racket "slazenger" when young. may be a 26 inch. Asked my friends if can replace grips with new types, they said you need lot of stuff. Remember not approaching it at all. Used some overgrip
Well, I am quite old, but not too old. I learned with a wooden stick, but only for two or three years. And I use a semi western grip, as well as a OHB. Bit at the same time I feed balls for my kids, so I need to "play" with continental grip as well. So everything is a well balanced compromise to suit them all. At the end I got stuck to leather (for weight and feel) at L3 grip size, but Yonex L3, which is actually a little bigger. Topped with an overgrip on my Regna 98.
In high school, I played with a 4 3/4 leather grip on my Jack Kramer. It played well although I now play with a 4 3/8 with a full-sized grip on top (a tad above 4 1/2 for final size)
I have always used a leather grip on all my racquets, many Wilsons and lots of Princes. Grip size is 1/4. But when I moved to the UK from Hong Kong, I found the grip too slippery in the winters, and causing my skin on my thumb split. I started putting Dunlop over grips upon your recommendation😂. Thank you Harry!
I have big hands (though I cannot palm a basketball!) and when I started playing in high school in 1970 I used a 4 3/4” grip, no overgrip as there was no such thing then as Harry noted. Now it’s hard to find a 4 5/8” grip. I now use a 4 1/2” and with a thin overgrip it feels right. Happy to see Harry bring out a Jack Kramer wood racquet, I played with Pro Staffs long ago.
Regarding Harry’s question; I do not purposefully put on a leather grip if the racquet did not come with one because I know I’m going to add an overgrip anyway to get the grip size up to what I prefer. I am currently playing with the Wilson Clash Pro.
I have and currently use a leather grip because the racquets came with them . One that I currently use , has no overgrip because of the comfort and feel that it affords with pallet shape and 4 1/4 " grip size . The other with a 0.33 thickness overgrip for aesthetic concerns . Today's leather grip does not rip the flesh off like early leather grips did . There is a difference in feel , even with a super thin overgrip . So , on one racquet it is used for aesthetics and as a counterweight . If it was unnecessary by design to add the neccesary weight , I would not morally use one . The current racquets are both the Dunlop CX 200 tour 18x20 2021 editions . I use the overgrip over the red and black one and none on the limited black edition. My first racquet was the Dunlop Black Max 1983 edition with an over sized leather grip in 1985 . Age is 52 currently .
4 5/8 with an over grip. Semi western forehand and one handed backhand with a fair share of S & V played with a relatively heavy frame, I am concerned that many manufacturers have dropped the grip 5 and that moving down to a 4 with lots of over grips may make the handle feel a bit round. Also going to a 4 with day 1 over grip I feel could be problematic for arm health:
My experience is that a smaller grip is needed as I move from continental to western (on the forehand). A very small grip makes volleying harder. Feels like there isn't enough racquet behind the volley, if the grip is too small.
Also, a leather grip gives the racquet a feeling of 'precision' compared to a cushy grip. I have found that a cushioned grip creates a 'play', and feel based shots like deep angles, precision volleys, slice serves etc. A leather grip is much better. Using a leather grip also seems to help reduce grip pressure as compared to a regular cushioned grip.
I find your last point very interesting. The previous points you made I've heard before, but the last one has me intrigued. Does this apply even if you put an overgrip on top, or is it mainly a feature of the plain leather that doesn't compress at all? On my Prince racquet I'd have to build up the grip a little if I were to use just a leather replacement grip.
would never pay with an exposed leather grip, can get too slippery in hot or humid weather. Great to add weight to the handle, but not worth trying to play with since you can use overgrips and keep a consistent grip surface more easily.
I always use an overgrip with my leather grip. I tried it once without an overgrip and the racquet flew out of my hand while serving. Never again. Gatta have a super tacky and thin overgrip to hold on to my racquet.
The movement toward smaller grips is a terrible one based on trends that have no basis in reality. There will be more cases of tennis elbow and you will play more poorly than if you use the correct size based on the old standards.
I'm 73. Started using 4 5/8's Fairways in 1966 when I started using 1 grip for all strokes. Started using double-faced tape to hold it on when I switched to Wilson T2000 (grip was made of hard plastic & steel). Tried Tourna Grip in mid-80s. Was in tatters after 20 minutes. Didn't use an overgrip until mid-2000's. Now use Wilson overgrip with no actual grip underneath at 4 1/2.
Coach Rob: "Let me see if I can find one", he brings half a dozen. Love that guy.
I use a Wilson Profile 95 with a leather grip and no over wraps on it, and the grip size is 4 1/2 and I have an eastern grip. I have been using the same racquets for over 30 years my guy. Great job on the video my friend.
I use my tfight iso 305 and an eastern grip with the Wilson leather replacement grip and I have been playing the leather grip for 2 months and haven’t had issues at all. I love the feel and it’s not so tacky so I can get to my one handed backhand easily and once you get used to it it just kinda works. I’ll be playing for my high school this season for age reference.
Just Bought a matches set of the 2024 pure strike 100 for my kid in 4-1/4. She’s between SW and Eastern grip for the FH. String tension fairly low, between 45-49 depending on temps. 3 weeks into the new racquets, she started complaining about wrist pain and pain in the hand and knuckles in general. Checked her grip size (finger gap test) and turns out, her finger tips were touching her palm, finger nails (more like claws lol) digging into the skin. Death-grip central…! Great! Just dropped some coin on these racquets and spent extra on getting them weight matches and here we are…lol!
So, I ended up modifying the grip by using the plastic heat shrink wrap and was able to build up 1X size. It actually helped her a bunch! No more pain, no more racquet twisting out of her grip when hitting off center shots… BUT (!) adding the grip build-up, it has changed the balance from 7PT HL to 10 points… Was thinking of adding some lead on the loop to balance it out but the racquet is already 341 grams (and 10PT HL) so now way, I want my 15yr old swinging a hammer on the court. Long story short: make sure you pick the correct grip size from the get go otherwise the work around solution will present its own issues and might now work for ya. Gonna suck it up and buy a new set of racquets in 4-3/8. (Hopefully I can trade the old ones..)
Regarding the leather grips: my kid tried it but the bevels were too “pronounced” and caused some issues there. Plus, we live in south east Florida with temps in the 90’s and humidity like, 150%… 😂 and dealing with grip slipping out of hand is a common problem down here. Over-grip (Wilson perforated the best one thus far) will only last about 90min best case scenario so I am not sure how a leather grip would hold up the long run.
I put the leather grip on and use it as is, no overgrip. Right now I use a Head Radical MP and a Pro. The Orange/Silver version. I used to play with the Head Arthur Ashe in the early 80s and it had a leather grip. I started on wood racquets in the 70s and they had leather.
I'm sneaking up on 78 this year. Back when my dad taught me to play as a kid (Kramer forehand, Budge backhand), I remember using a 5" Kramer racket with gut strings, strung at least at 60 pounds. My how times have changed. The real eye opener for me was many, many years ago, when I watched a "retired" Vijay Amritraj in an exhibition match. I noticed that the ball was strangely quiet coming off his racket. I don't remember the racket or string type, but I remember him telling me that the tension was something like 35 pounds, and he had pin point accuracy. I've strung my oversize rackets loose ever since.
Great vid. Answered most of my questions I asked in your smaller grip video. I have been using 4 1/4 since Nadal and Federer became famous but recently got tennis elbow. So, I'm going back to 4 3/8 and a softer racquet. I play with a western FH and 1HBH so the bigger grip should help some. I also went down a size but overgrip everything.
I agree with some of you Guys. I started playing at the age of 15/16 in the mid 70's. There was no over grip. But gauze tap was the thing to absorb sweat. I used leather tape today with a Wilson over grip. Using leather for weight. With no adhesive, I used glue to keep it on the frame. Back in the 70's, Jack Kramer racket were too expensive. $50-$70 was like $200-$300 today. Today, I play with Volkl C10, Wilson Ncode 95, Head Speed MP, Dunlop Revelation 200G. Those were the days.
you can get Fairway grip at TW. they come 3 different sizes, same length. it does makes it head lite.
I use leather without an over-grip. I've gone back and forth a few times, but finally settled on leather. I put an over-grip on the racket (to make the grip a tad larger and to make the racket a bit more comfortable). Then I put on a leather grip, pulling it very tight as mentioned. It lets me feel the bevels and change grips more easily, it rarely slips in my hand (my hands don't sweat), and it doesn't dry out my skin as much as I found with over-grips (to the point where the skin on my thumb and fingers dried, cracked, and bleed)...
I'm 57. I started playing with a 4 1/2 medium frame wood Slazenger with a leather grip. I still play with the same grip size. I've tried 3/8 and 1/4. Depending on how I change my grip on the racquet each size has value. I also prefer a certain grip shape. I still prefer the more square wood racquet shape. Fairway leather was the best and I used wood shavings in my pocket to dry my grip and hand. It also makes the grip tacky and prevents it from absorbing sweat. Now for convenience I use Wilson over grip over leather. Currently using two matched Pro Staff RF97 autographs version 1 grip 4 1/2
I had a leather grip racket "slazenger" when young. may be a 26 inch. Asked my friends if can replace grips with new types, they said you need lot of stuff. Remember not approaching it at all. Used some overgrip
Well, I am quite old, but not too old. I learned with a wooden stick, but only for two or three years.
And I use a semi western grip, as well as a OHB.
Bit at the same time I feed balls for my kids, so I need to "play" with continental grip as well.
So everything is a well balanced compromise to suit them all.
At the end I got stuck to leather (for weight and feel) at L3 grip size, but Yonex L3, which is actually a little bigger. Topped with an overgrip on my Regna 98.
In high school, I played with a 4 3/4 leather grip on my Jack Kramer. It played well although I now play with a 4 3/8 with a full-sized grip on top (a tad above 4 1/2 for final size)
I have always used a leather grip on all my racquets, many Wilsons and lots of Princes. Grip size is 1/4. But when I moved to the UK from Hong Kong, I found the grip too slippery in the winters, and causing my skin on my thumb split. I started putting Dunlop over grips upon your recommendation😂. Thank you Harry!
Been using a leather grip with Turnapro over grip. I use for weight(340g) and dampening on my 24’ Yonex Vcore 98 Tour and 18’ Yonex VCore 95 16x20.
I have big hands (though I cannot palm a basketball!) and when I started playing in high school in 1970 I used a 4 3/4” grip, no overgrip as there was no such thing then as Harry noted. Now it’s hard to find a 4 5/8” grip. I now use a 4 1/2” and with a thin overgrip it feels right. Happy to see Harry bring out a Jack Kramer wood racquet, I played with Pro Staffs long ago.
Regarding Harry’s question; I do not purposefully put on a leather grip if the racquet did not come with one because I know I’m going to add an overgrip anyway to get the grip size up to what I prefer. I am currently playing with the Wilson Clash Pro.
I have and currently use a leather grip because the racquets came with them . One that I currently use , has no overgrip because of the comfort and feel that it affords with pallet shape and 4 1/4 " grip size .
The other with a 0.33 thickness overgrip for aesthetic concerns . Today's leather grip does not rip the flesh off like early leather grips did . There is a difference in feel , even with a super thin overgrip .
So , on one racquet it is used for aesthetics and as a counterweight . If it was unnecessary by design to add the neccesary weight , I would not morally use one . The current racquets are both the Dunlop CX 200 tour 18x20 2021 editions .
I use the overgrip over the red and black one and none on the limited black edition. My first racquet was the Dunlop Black Max 1983 edition with an over sized leather grip in 1985 . Age is 52 currently .
Like most others that use a leather grip, I also throw an overgrip on top of it.
Head Speed Pro
Black Fairway with Super Grap
I use a size 1 grip and replace the stock grip with a leather grip + overgrip.
4 5/8 with an over grip. Semi western forehand and one handed backhand with a fair share of S & V played with a relatively heavy frame,
I am concerned that many manufacturers have dropped the grip 5 and that moving down to a 4 with lots of over grips may make the handle feel a bit round. Also going to a 4 with day 1 over grip I feel could be problematic for arm health:
yes, the dropping of the 4-5/8 grips size is one of the worst things to come along in years.
I use a babolat leather grip on my Pure Areo 98 i do use an overgrip on it the leather adds a little weight to the handle. I use a 4 3/8 grip size.
My experience is that a smaller grip is needed as I move from continental to western (on the forehand). A very small grip makes volleying harder. Feels like there isn't enough racquet behind the volley, if the grip is too small.
You can still buy Fairway leather grips and I was surprised by the tackiness of them compared to a Wilson leather grip. Top notch 🎾🌪️
Also, a leather grip gives the racquet a feeling of 'precision' compared to a cushy grip. I have found that a cushioned grip creates a 'play', and feel based shots like deep angles, precision volleys, slice serves etc. A leather grip is much better. Using a leather grip also seems to help reduce grip pressure as compared to a regular cushioned grip.
I find your last point very interesting. The previous points you made I've heard before, but the last one has me intrigued.
Does this apply even if you put an overgrip on top, or is it mainly a feature of the plain leather that doesn't compress at all?
On my Prince racquet I'd have to build up the grip a little if I were to use just a leather replacement grip.
You need one of those old Bancroft leather grips with the raised leather bead
would never pay with an exposed leather grip, can get too slippery in hot or humid weather. Great to add weight to the handle, but not worth trying to play with since you can use overgrips and keep a consistent grip surface more easily.
A too thick grip can give me a forearm pain. Sometimes we believe it's the racquet or the string , but it is actually just the grip size
Much more common to have arm issues from using too small of a grip than too large. But yes, it can happen.
I always use an overgrip with my leather grip. I tried it once without an overgrip and the racquet flew out of my hand while serving. Never again. Gatta have a super tacky and thin overgrip to hold on to my racquet.
I just use leather, lasts a year and I don't have fart around with the grip all the time. One Head leather and one Wilson leather on my 2 rackets.
people should decide their grip size basis the size of their palms. If your palm (rather than palm plus fingers) is big, go for a bigger grip.
The movement toward smaller grips is a terrible one based on trends that have no basis in reality. There will be more cases of tennis elbow and you will play more poorly than if you use the correct size based on the old standards.
4 3/8. With an over grip.
I'm 73. Started using 4 5/8's Fairways in 1966 when I started using 1 grip for all strokes. Started using double-faced tape to hold it on when I switched to Wilson T2000 (grip was made of hard plastic & steel). Tried Tourna Grip in mid-80s. Was in tatters after 20 minutes. Didn't use an overgrip until mid-2000's. Now use Wilson overgrip with no actual grip underneath at 4 1/2.