Your grip is the only part of the racket you actually touch, and it is the fastest-wearing surface in your kit. Sweaty summer sessions in Australia destroy grips quickly, and a smooth, hardened grip does not just cost you control — it changes how tightly you squeeze, which taxes your forearm and elbow. Replacing one takes ten minutes and costs less than a court hire fee.
Know your three grip types
- Replacement grip. The thick, cushioned base grip fitted at the factory. Replace it when it hardens, or swap it for a firmer or softer feel. It wraps over the bare handle.
- Overgrip. A thin, tacky layer wrapped over the replacement grip. This is the workhorse: cheap, quick to change, and designed to be swapped every few weeks. Most serious players keep a box at home.
- Towel grip. Cotton terry material that absorbs heavy sweat, popular with players whose hands soak standard grips. Needs frequent replacement.
When to replace
- Overgrip: every 2–4 playing weeks, or immediately after any session where it feels slick. If the finish is peeling or the surface shines, it is done.
- Replacement grip: every 6–12 months, or when the cushioning has flattened and the surface no longer recovers after squeezing.
- Any grip: when it starts to smell. That is bacteria living in the material, and no amount of hand sanitiser fixes a grip that is past its life.
Wrapping a replacement or overgrip, step by step
- Remove the old grip completely, including adhesive residue. Check the cone at the top of the handle is secure.
- Start at the butt end. Many grips have an tapered edge — secure it on the base of the handle.
- Wrap upward, overlapping each turn by roughly 3–4mm and keeping even tension. Angling the overlap too far creates ridges; too little leaves gaps.
- Keep the tension consistent the whole way — uneven stretching is what makes grips feel lumpy.
- At the cone, cut the excess at an angle, secure the finishing tape diagonally around the top, and slide the collar back into place.
Pro tip: wrap in the direction that matches your dominant hand's natural rotation — right-handers typically wrap so the edges roll against the palm closing over the handle, which stops the layers bunching mid-rally.
What to buy
You will find grips and all the small essentials — grip tape, dampeners, wristbands — in our badminton accessories collection. Pair a fresh grip with a restrung frame: our string and tension guide covers how often to do that, and our bags collection includes thermal protection to keep your gear out of hot cars, which cooks both strings and grips.
Small maintenance, big difference — a fresh grip and fresh strings will do more for your Tuesday-night doubles than a new racket ever could.