When you step onto the court, the only point of physical contact between you and your tennis racquet is the handle. Because of this, your tennis racquet grip is arguably one of the most critical components of your equipment. It dictates how you transfer power to the ball, how you control the angle of the racquet face, and how comfortably you can endure a gruelling match. Despite its importance, the tennis racquet grip is frequently overlooked by recreational players who spend hundreds of dollars on racquets and strings, only to neglect the few square inches of material they hold in their hands.
Whether you are a beginner looking to understand the fundamentals of how to hold your racquet or an advanced tournament player searching for the ultimate combination of moisture management and tackiness, understanding tennis racquet grips is essential. A fresh, properly sized, and correctly chosen grip will dramatically enhance your game's performance, prevent painful blisters, and reduce the risk of overuse injuries like tennis elbow.
We are going to break down everything you need to know about tennis racquet grips. We will explore the anatomy of a racquet grip, the differences of grip type, as well as grip sizing and best practice. Let’s dig in.
How to understand the anatomy of a tennis racquet grip
Before you can choose the best tennis racquet grip for your playing style, you must understand the basic anatomy of the racquet handle and the layers of grip material applied to it. The handle of a tennis racquet is not perfectly round; it is an octagonal shape consisting of eight distinct flat sides, known as bevels.
Bevels serve an important purpose. They allow players to feel the exact orientation of the racquet face without needing to look at it. When you shift your hand from a forehand grip to a backhand grip, the bevels provide tactile feedback, ensuring your strings are angled correctly to strike the ball.
Covering these bevels are two primary categories of grip materials: replacement grips and overgrips. Understanding the distinction between these two is the first step in properly maintaining your racquet.
What are Replacement Grips?
The replacement grip is the base layer that comes pre-installed directly on the handle of your tennis racquet. It is thick, cushioned, and features an adhesive backing that secures it firmly to the racquet handle. A replacement grip typically measures between 1.5mm to 2.5mm in thickness, providing the primary shock absorption and structural feel of the handle. Because they are thicker and more durable, replacement grips are not meant to be changed as frequently as overgrips. However, over time, the cushioning compresses, the material loses its structural integrity, and the surface wears down. Depending on how often you play, a replacement grip could generally be swapped out every few months to a year.
What are overgrips?
The overgrip is a thin, disposable tape that is wrapped directly over the top of the replacement grip. It is much thinner—usually between 0.4mm and 0.6mm—and generally lacks an adhesive backing along its entire length, relying instead on tension and a small piece of finishing tape at the top to stay in place. Overgrips are designed to be swapped out frequently. Touring professionals will often change their overgrip every single time they play, or even during a match. For recreational players, changing an overgrip every 10 to 15 hours of play is standard practice. The primary purpose of an overgrip is to customise the surface feel of the handle according to the player's immediate needs and environmental conditions. If you are playing in the sweltering heat of summer, you might opt for a highly absorbent, dry overgrip. If you are playing in cooler, drier conditions, a tacky overgrip might be preferable to lock your hand onto the racquet securely.
By utilizing an overgrip, you protect the more expensive replacement grip underneath from sweat, dirt, and friction, significantly extending its lifespan while ensuring you always have a fresh, optimal surface for your hand.
Understanding the Bevel System
Beyond the physical materials wrapped around the handle, the term "tennis grip" also refers to how you position your hand on the racquet bevels. The standard method for identifying these grips relies on a numbering system for the eight bevels.
Here’s a snapshot of some of the different levels of Bevels.
The Continental Grip (Bevel 2)
The Forehand Grip (Bevel 3)
The Semi-Western Forehand Grip (Bevel 4)
The Western Forehand Grip (Bevel 5)
The Continental Grip
Historically, the Continental grip was used for every shot in tennis. Today, it is primarily reserved for serves, volleys, overheads, slices, and defensive squash-shots. To find the Continental grip, place the base knuckle of your index finger and the heel pad of your hand on Bevel 2. When you hold the racquet in a Continental grip, the racquet face naturally remains neutral. This makes it the undisputed king of the net. When volleying, you do not have the time to switch your grip between a forehand and a backhand; the Continental grip allows you to hit both wings without changing your hand position.
The Eastern Forehand Grip (Bevel 3)
If you move your hand one bevel over so your index knuckle rests on Bevel 3, you arrive at the Eastern forehand grip. This was the grip of choice for legends like Pete Sampras and Roger Federer. The Eastern grip provides an incredibly versatile and flat strike on the ball. The palm of your hand is placed almost directly behind the racquet handle, it aligns perfectly with the incoming ball, making it very easy to drive completely through the shot with effortless power.
The Semi-Western Forehand Grip (Bevel 4)
Sliding the hand further under the racquet to Bevel 4 brings you to the Semi-Western grip, which is undoubtedly the most popular forehand grip in modern tennis, used by heavy topspin players like Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. In this position, the racquet face naturally points slightly downward toward the court.
The Western Forehand Grip (Bevel 5)
If you move your knuckle all the way underneath the racquet to Bevel 5, you have achieved the extreme Western grip. This grip is less common on the professional tour today but is still used by clay-court specialists who prioritise extreme, looping topspin above all else. With the Western grip, the racquet face is pointed heavily toward the ground.
What are the different grip sizes?
Even if you have mastered the various grip styles and selected the best overgrips, your performance could suffer if your racquet's grip size is incorrect. Tennis racquet grips are manufactured in a range of standard sizes, typically measured in inches for the US market and given a generic sizing number (0 through 5) in Europe and Australia.
Step 1: Check your racquet’s grip size
Look at the bottom of your racquet handle; you’ll usually see a number between 0 and 5. This refers to the European grip size scale. Sometimes the measurement is also listed in inches (US sizing). Use this as a reference point when checking your current racquet or considering a new one.
The standard adult grip sizes are:
EU 0 = US 4"
EU 1 = US 4 1/8"
EU 2 = US 4 1/4"
EU 3 = US 4 3/8"
EU 4 = US 4 1/2"
EU 5 = US 5"
Step 2: Determining Your Correct Grip Size
Hold the racquet like a handshake - turn the racquet so the side of the grip faces up. Now hold it as though you’re shaking hands. Ideally, there should be a small gap between your fingertips and your palm. If your fingers press against your palm, the grip is too small.
Use the “thumbs-up” check - place your hand on the racquet handle and extend your thumb upward, like you’re giving a thumbs-up. This helps you see how naturally your hand fits around the grip.
Test with your index finger - With your dominant hand around the grip, try sliding the index finger of your other hand into the space between your fingers and palm. Look at the gap between the tip of your longest finger and the heel pad of your thumb. You should be able to slide the index finger of your non-dominant hand snugly into that gap.
If your non dominant index finger cannot fit into the gap, or if your fingers are touching the heel pad of your thumb, the grip is too small.
If there is a large gap with plenty of wiggle room after inserting your index finger, the grip is too large.
With brands like Wilson, Slazenger and Head, you’ll find the perfect grip for your playing style. Check out our range of tennis racquets and tennis accessories at Sports Direct Australia.