Jake Arvidson
Get an Overgrip
Section / Genre: Gear / Reviews
The overgrip is the exact point where your racquet becomes an extension of your arm. It should provide you with confidence, not only in the physical maintenance of that connection between body and racquet, but also in the way you feel on the court. The overgrip you use should agree with your palm, and you should enjoy how it looks as you unsheathe your racquet from its bag. So don’t just scoop up whatever overgrip is closest to the register at your local tennis shop—consider the wide range of offerings available, and all the key variables. You can roam Portland’s public courts and find players using everything from premium, Japanese-made Kimony overgrips to repurposed bike tubes.
The two overgrips that best represent the ends of the spectrum are Tourna Grip and Yonex Wet Super Grap. The former is dry, the latter is wet. Comparing them side by side is a good way to provide some insight into overgrips more generally, so you understand what factors to consider when getting an overgrip for yourself.
But remember: there is no right answer. As Portland Tennis Center pro Nick Livingston explains: “I often go through multiple overgrips in a long hitting session. As someone with extremely sweaty hands, I choose a white Wilson Pro Comfort or a white Yonex Wet Super Grap. The reason for the color,” Livingston continues, “is so I can distinguish what racquet in my bag I have hit with the most based on how absolutely filthy it is.” Why does Livingston prefer the wet, tacky overgrips over, say, the more practical Tourna Grip? “My hands are far beyond your average sweaty person’s,” he elaborates. And if you utilize the Full Western grip on your forehand, as Livingston famously does, there’s this added complication of going with a dry overgrip: “Eventually, your sweaty hand pulls your forehand grip so far western that you are defying physics when the ball actually goes over the net. My hands sweat so much that they begin to prune as if I was taking a bath,” Livingston laments. “When the rough Tourna Grip rubs into my wet calluses, it completely tears them, until my soggy hand is bleeding.”
With that graphic description out of the way, let’s move on to our head-to-head overgrip comparison.
Durability
Tourna Grip frays quickly and often rips, especially in hot and humid conditions. Expect to re-apply it frequently. Depending on the player’s perspiration levels, Yonex Wet Super Grap can withstand many hours of hitting without the need to peel the plastic on a fresh one. The wetter overgrip has the clear edge on longevity.
Value
A reel of 30 Tourna Grip overgrips is $44.30, or $1.48 per overgrip. A 30-pack of Yonex Wet Super Grap is $51, or $1.70 per overgrip (both via Tennis Warehouse). The drier overgrip is slightly more affordable.
Absorbency
Not only is Tourna Grip extremely absorbent, many players believe the overgrip’s performance improves as it takes in more and more sweat. Yonex Wet Super Grap also offers high-level absorbency, but it declines sharply in performance as it takes in more moisture. The dry overgrip wins again.
Style
Tourna Grip rose to fame on the backs of ‘90s pro tour superstars such as Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. But the style consideration lies less in the association with the pros who used it, and more in its signature color. There is no mistaking that beautiful blue, the moment you spot it draped around a racquet handle. As for Yonex Wet Super Grap’s standard color, white: well, there’s some history there. Vitas Gerulaitis used to wrap his leather base grip with white medical gauze. But white overgrip really took flight with Roger Federer, and quickly thereafter, the rest of the Big Three. White overgrip is clean, minimal, elegant. At least until the court dust and sweat start turning it yellow. It’s a matter of personal taste.
Wetness
The unique feel of Tourna Grip is unmatched by any other options on the market. It is firm, slightly rough, and has a very dry feel. But the famously dry feel of Tourna Grip does not equate to it slipping out of your hand. Wet Super Grap is moderately plush, smooth to the touch, and ultimately kind of sticky feeling. Some variables can’t be quantified—whether you prefer a dry overgrip or a wet one is something a player must find out for themselves.
This story originally appeared in the Portland Tennis Courterly’s Wet Issue. To purchase a copy, visit our online store.