Here's the best-value few quid you'll ever spend on padel. A fresh overgrip makes your racket feel new, sorts out a slippery handle, and can even improve your grip size and control. Yet loads of players never touch them. Let's fix that.
Base grip vs overgrip — what's the difference?
Your racket comes with a base grip already wrapped on the handle. An overgrip is a thin, cheap strip you wrap over the top. You leave the base grip alone and just replace the overgrip when it wears out. Think of it like the disposable, refreshable layer between your hand and the racket.
Why bother?
- Sweat and slip. A worn grip gets slick, and a racket twisting in your hand wrecks your control. A fresh overgrip fixes it instantly.
- Feel. That tacky, secure connection to the racket genuinely helps your shots — and your confidence.
- Hygiene. Grips get grubby. Overgrips are cheap to swap, so your handle stays fresh.
- Sizing. More on this below — overgrips let you fine-tune how thick the handle feels.
Dry vs tacky — which should you pick?
Two families of overgrip:
- Tacky grips are grippier and give a "stuck-on" feel — great in cooler conditions or if you like a very secure hold.
- Dry / absorbent grips soak up sweat and stay comfortable when your hands run hot. If you sweat a lot, go dry.
It's personal — many players keep both and switch by the weather. They're cheap enough to experiment.
How often should you change them?
When it feels slick, looks worn, or stops doing its job. Heavy players might change every few sessions; casual players every few weeks. Keep a spare or two in your bag so you can re-grip on the spot.
Pro tip: build up your grip size
If your handle feels too thin — your fingers dig into your palm, or the racket twists — you can add a second overgrip to build it up to a more comfortable thickness. Too-thin grips are a common cause of a tired, achy forearm, so this small tweak can genuinely help. Wrap firmly, overlapping about a third each turn, from the butt up.
Cheap, quick, and it makes every racket feel better. There's no reason not to.
