The badminton grip may seem insignificant to many, but to seasoned players, it makes a world of difference. It can literally help you get a grip on your badminton game
In this article, we will be discussing the types of badminton grips available in the market and the purposes of each product.
Without further ado, lets begin!
Badminton Grip Big Three!
- Rubber Grip
- Towel Grip
- Over-Grip
1. Rubber Badminton Grip
The most common badminton grip of all, it usually comes together with a new racket when bought.
However, the original rubber badminton grip that comes together with the racket is usually of a low quality as most manufacturers expect players to replace them anyway. I also highly recommend that you change the default grip as not only does it slip easily, it also does not glue very well to the racket shaft.
Good rubber badminton grips are usually made of synthetic rubbers, such as polyurethane or PU.
Some rubber grips are more spongy than others, they also can be stretched or not during the tying process to alter the girth of the grip. For more information, refer to our grip tying guide here. (Coming Soon!)
Rubber badminton grips are great if:
- You don’t have sweaty palms
- You don’t want your grip to smell
- You like squishy things (rubber grips can be the squishiest)
- You just don’t care (most easily available hassle-free grip)
- You like furry stuff
- Your palm is a leaking tap
2. Towel Badminton Grip
Usually made with synthetic rubber fused with an outer layer of cotton or other synthetic absorbent cloths, the towel badminton grip is an excellent choice for absorbing sweat.
However, inferior variations of towel badminton grips can be thick and heavy, the cloth may also stop absorbing sweat after a while, becoming stiff and uncomfortable. Selection matters
it is a great badminton grip if:
- You like furry stuff
- You have a leaking palm
Not so great if:
- You hate furry stuff
- You don’t want your bag and grip to smell
- You like very squishy grips
3. Badminton Overgrip
Uber thin versions of the rubber badminton grips, badminton overgrips are very thin and stretchy, offering maximal customization.
As the name suggests, an overgrip is a badminton grip that is usually wrapped over replacement badminton grip or an original badminton grip (not suggested, the whole grip might just come off due to the inferior hold of the original grip on the racket shaft). Of course, wrapping it over a towel grip is just madness, don’t do it.
However, I have seen professional players that simply wrap multiple overgrips over the racket shaft.
The reason why badminton overgrips are the most customizable is that they can be wrapped multiple times to your desired thickness at the desired areas of the racket shaft. They can also be replaced at a relatively low price.
However, the thin material means that they lack the sponginess that some badminton grips can offer, it wears and tears quickly, and also requires the player to have a good understanding of how to tie grips so that they can offer the benefits that are mentioned above.
A great badminton grip if:
- You are great at tying grips yourself
- You know the exact girth you like
- You like a customizable option.
Not so good if:
- Leaky palms
- Strong love for furry stuff
Conclusion
Choosing the right badminton grip for you is only the first step in enhancing your playing experience. You also have to learn how to tie or request that the badminton grip is tied to your preferred girth at the right places.
Stay tuned for our upcoming guide on how to tie a badminton grip. Here is where you will learn how to tie the grips according to the thickness that will suit your playstyle. There we will also teach you tips on how to vary your badminton grip further, to suit your needs and comfort.
Meanwhile, check out our training services where our coaches can best advise you on not only the best badminton grip that will fit you well, and help you bring your A-game!
Until next time!