Three Racquets a Match: What Houston Humidity Taught Me About Tennis Grips

Pro Shop
Written by Emma Nguyen

Quick answer

If your hands sweat a lot, or you play in Houston-style heat and humidity, start with a dry overgrip like Tourna Grip, Yonex Dry Super Grap or Wilson AbsorbX. Dry grips soak up sweat instead of relying on stickiness, and Tourna says its grip actually gets tackier as it gets wet. If your hands stay pretty dry, a tacky overgrip like Wilson Pro Overgrip or Tourna Mega Tac may feel better. Overgrips wrap over your racquet’s replacement grip and are cheap to swap often. Grip feel is personal, so try a few. You’ll find all of these at My Tennis Wall in Houston Heights, and we regrip racquets in-house.

My own racquet: Tourna Grip on the handle, and yes, that’s the RTP dampener I wrote about last time.

Confession time: I used to show up to rec matches with three racquets in my bag. Not because I was breaking strings, and not because I was trying to look like a pro. It was because I sweat. A lot.

Back when I played recreational tennis, my grip would be soaked a few games in, and the racquet would start sliding around in my hand like a bar of soap. So I bought two extra racquets just so I could get through a match, swapping to a dry one every time the last one turned into a sponge. And to be fair to my hands, it wasn’t only me. This is Houston. Step on a court in August and the humidity is basically playing doubles against you.

So I’ve tried just about every grip under the sun. These days I’m a master racquet technician at My Tennis Wall, and I’ve strung hundreds of racquets, so I’ve had my hands on a lot of grips. If you’ve ever wondered which grip is right for you, here’s everything I wish someone had told me back when I was hauling three racquets to every match.

What’s the difference between a replacement grip and an overgrip?

This is the one that confuses almost everybody, so let’s start here.

  • Replacement grip: this is the base layer, the grip your racquet came with from the factory. It wraps right onto the handle and gives you most of your cushioning. When it finally wears out, you swap it for a new one (that’s why it’s called a replacement grip). They cost more than overgrips, but they last a lot longer.
  • Overgrip: a thin wrap that goes over your replacement grip. It doesn’t have much cushion of its own, so it leans on the grip underneath for comfort. What it does give you is the feel you want (dry or tacky), sweat control and a fresh surface whenever you need one. They’re cheap, so you can change them often. It also makes your handle a tiny bit bigger.

Most players keep the replacement grip on and change the overgrip. That’s what I do, and it’s what I’d suggest for most of you.

What’s the difference between dry, tacky and super tacky grips?

This is all about how the grip feels in your hand, and it’s where sweaty-handed people like me need to pay attention.

  • Dry grips feel almost like soft felt. They don’t feel sticky. They’re made to soak up sweat so your hand doesn’t slide. They’re made for players who sweat a lot or play in hot, humid weather (hi, Houston). In our shop that’s Tourna Grip, Yonex Dry Super Grap and Wilson AbsorbX.
  • Tacky grips have a slightly sticky surface that helps your fingers stay put. They’re great if your hands stay fairly dry, or if you just love that “glued on” feeling. Wilson Pro Overgrip (it’s listed in our shop as Wilson Comfort Pro Overgrip) and Yonex Wet Super Grap are two popular ones.
  • Super tacky grips take that stickiness to the max. Tourna Mega Tac is the one we carry. Tourna calls it extremely tacky and built for maximum durability.

What about cushioned and leather grips?

These are both replacement grips, so they go on the handle itself.

  • Cushioned grips have extra padding for a softer, plusher feel at contact. They’re great if you like a comfy handle or want your grip to feel slightly fuller without any other customizing. Wilson Cushion Pro is a long-time favorite.
  • Leather grips are firm and old-school. You can really feel the edges (bevels) of the handle, and they add a little weight. Traditional players and people who like a very connected feel love them. We carry Wilson Leather. If your hands sweat, you can still wrap an overgrip on top.

What’s the best grip for sweaty hands? My pick: Tourna Grip

Out of everything I tried, my favorite was the Tourna Grip, the light blue one you’ve probably seen on courts everywhere. The reason is simple: it didn’t slip out of my hand while I was playing. Tourna says it starts with a dry feel and actually gets tackier as you sweat, and that’s exactly what it felt like to me. For someone who used to need three racquets a match, that was a game changer.

Now, the honest part: it didn’t last very long. On a sweaty day I’d get through a couple of games, then switch to a fresh one. But it was the only grip that got me that far without my racquet trying to escape. And a fresh overgrip takes a lot less room in your bag than two extra racquets! If you want that same dry feel with more mileage, Tourna also makes Tourna Tuff XL, which they describe as a more durable version of Tourna Grip. We carry that one too.

How do you find the right grip for you?

Of course, grips are personal preference. What works for my sweaty hands might feel totally wrong to you. Honestly, you’re just going to have to try a few to know. A few things to think about:

  • Do your hands sweat a lot, or do you play in the heat? Start with a dry overgrip.
  • Do your hands stay dry, or do you like a sticky feel? Try a tacky one, or Mega Tac if you want maximum stick.
  • Does your handle feel hard in your hand? A cushioned replacement grip might feel better.
  • Do you like to feel the bevels? Try leather, or a thin overgrip.

Overgrips are cheap, so buy a few different ones and rotate them over a couple of weeks. You’ll figure out your favorite fast.

Where can you buy tennis grips and get your racquet regripped in Houston?

Come by the pro shop at 640 W 6th St in Houston Heights, or browse all our grips online. A few good places to start:

If your replacement grip is worn out, we can do a grip replacement for you. Pick the grip and we’ll take the old one off and put the new one on. You can drop it off with your racquet when you bring it in for stringing.

More from the pro shop:

Ask me about grips next time you’re in. I promise I won’t judge how sweaty your old one is. I’ve been there.

See you on the court,

Emma

FAQ

Should I use an overgrip or a replacement grip?

Most players keep the replacement grip on the handle and wrap an overgrip on top. The overgrip gives you the feel you want and is cheap to change. Swap out the replacement grip itself when it’s worn out or when you want a different base feel, like cushioned or leather.

Is Tourna Grip a dry or tacky grip?

It’s a dry grip. Tourna says it starts with a dry feel and gets tackier as you sweat, which is why so many players use it in hot, humid conditions.

How often should I change my overgrip?

There’s no set rule. It depends on how much your hands sweat and how often you play. Change it when it starts to fray, feels slick or looks dirty. On a really sweaty day, I’d change mine every couple of games.

Will an overgrip make my grip size bigger?

A little. An overgrip adds a thin layer over your replacement grip, so the handle feels slightly bigger. If it feels too big or too small, stop by and we’ll help you sort out your grip size.

Where can I buy tennis grips in Houston?

At the pro shop at My Tennis Wall, 640 W 6th St in Houston Heights, or online at shop.mytenniswall.com. We also do grip replacements in-house.

Emma Nguyen is a master racquet technician at My Tennis Wall in Houston Heights and has strung hundreds of racquets.

Sources: Tennis Warehouse: Best Tennis Overgrips · Tennis Warehouse Europe: Best Tennis Replacement Grips · Tourna: Grips · Tennis Warehouse Australia: Overgrips vs. replacement grips

Emma Nguyen https://www.mytenniswall.com
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The Little Dampener That Kept Me on the Court