Buying guide
How to choose a grip
The grip is the small detail that quietly shapes your comfort and control, and it is cheap to change. There are two kinds: replacement grips, which sit directly on the handle, and overgrips, which are thin wraps applied on top to fine-tune thickness and feel. Towel grips soak up sweat well but wear quickly, while synthetic (PU) grips are tackier and longer-lasting.
In short: Choose your grip by feel and sweatiness, using an overgrip to adjust handle thickness, and replace it as soon as it turns slick or worn.
What actually matters
The specs worth understanding — and why.
Grip type (overgrip vs replacement)
Typical: Overgrip (~0.6mm) | Replacement/base grip (1.1-1.8mm)
Overgrips let you fine-tune feel and tack cheaply and are swapped every few sessions; replacement grips set the base handle size and cushioning and are changed far less often. Choosing the wrong one means either no base padding or an awkwardly thick handle.
Material (synthetic PU vs towel/cotton)
Typical: Synthetic PU | 100% cotton towel
PU is smooth, tacky, thin and durable but can get slick once saturated with sweat; cotton towel is highly absorbent and grippy when wet but wears faster, is thicker, and gets heavy/dirty. This is the single biggest factor for sweaty-handed players.
Thickness
Typical: 0.6mm (thin overgrip) | 1.35mm (towel) | 1.6-1.7mm (cushioned replacement)
Thinner grips (0.6mm overgrips) give a closer, more responsive feel and finger control favoured by attacking/net players; thicker grips (1.3-1.8mm) build up handle size and absorb shock, helping comfort and joint/wrist issues but reducing fine feel.
Tackiness
Typical: Low | Medium | High (tacky PU)
High tack locks the hand in place for powerful smashing and is preferred by players who hold relatively loosely; very tacky grips can feel sticky/draggy for players who reposition fingers constantly (e.g., deceptive net play).
Sweat absorption
Typical: Low (smooth PU) | Medium (absorbent PU) | High (cotton towel)
Players with sweaty hands need high absorption (towel/cotton or absorbent PU) to avoid the racket slipping mid-rally; low-absorption tacky PU works for dry hands or players who towel off and replace overgrips often.
Length / width
Typical: Overgrip ~1050-1200mm x 24-27mm | Towel single ~660mm x 32mm | Reel 10-11m
A standard single overgrip (~1050-1200mm) wraps one full badminton handle; towel grips are often shorter per piece (~660mm) or sold on long reels you cut. Reels are cheaper per wrap for frequent changers.
Pack format / cost per wrap
Typical: Single | 3-pack | 12-pack | reel (10-11m towel / ~27m foam)
Grips are consumables; players who change every session benefit from multi-packs or reels for lower cost-per-wrap, while a single is fine for casual play.
Match it to how you play
Find the line that sounds like you.
Player has heavily sweaty hands (humid climate, high perspiration), any skill level
→ Cotton towel grip (Yonex AC402 1.35mm single, or Li-Ning GC200R 0.6mm thin-towel 10m reel)
Cotton towelling wicks and holds far more sweat than PU and stays grippy when soaked, where smooth PU turns slick. Accept that towel grips wear faster (durability ~3/5) and need changing more often.
Player wants a thinner, more responsive feel than the factory grip and tighter finger control (net/deception specialists, smaller hands)
→ Thin synthetic PU overgrip 0.6mm (Yonex Super Grap AC102, Victor GR262) applied OVER or in place of the stock grip
At 0.6mm a PU overgrip adds minimal bulk, keeps the handle slim for fast finger repositioning, and is cheap to swap when tack fades.
Player has comfort needs, wrist/elbow/finger joint issues, or wants shock absorption (older players, recreational, recovering from injury)
→ Cushioned thick overgrip 1.6mm (Yonex Hi-Soft Grap AC420, 24mm x 1120mm) or build base thickness with a 0.4mm foam cushion wrap (AC380/AC381) under a thin overgrip
Thicker cushioned material dampens impact vibration and enlarges the handle, reducing the gripping force needed and easing strain on joints.
Player prefers a sticky, locked-in hold for power hitting (attacking singles/doubles smashers) and has dry-to-moderate hands
→ Tacky PU overgrip (Yonex Super Grap Pure AC108 firm tacky 0.6mm, Victor GR262 anti-slip 0.6mm)
High-tack PU grabs the palm so the racket does not twist on hard smashes, and a firm (less spongy) tacky grip transmits more feedback for precise placement.
Larger/stronger players or those who find stock handles too small (often correlates with bigger hands; strength proxy: men's frames, advanced power players)
→ Add a 0.4mm foam cushion wrap base (AC380/AC381) then a 0.6mm overgrip, OR use a thicker 1.6-1.7mm grip (AC420 or Li-Ning GP18), to increase effective handle size by ~1-2mm
A handle that is too thin forces over-gripping and loses power and control; building diameter up restores a secure, relaxed hold. Each 0.4mm wrap adds roughly 0.8mm to handle diameter.
Budget-conscious or high-frequency changers (tournament/club players changing grips every 1-2 sessions)
→ Multi-pack thin PU overgrip (Yonex AC102 12-pack, ~$23, i.e. ~$1.90/wrap) or a 10m towel reel (Li-Ning GC200R, Yonex AC402-2EX)
Cost-per-wrap drops sharply in 12-packs and reels, which suits a consumable that is replaced often; reels also let you cut custom lengths.
Beginner / casual recreational player unsure of preference
→ Standard tacky-but-absorbent thin PU overgrip 0.6mm (Yonex Super Grap AC102)
It is the most forgiving all-rounder: enough tack to hold, enough absorption for moderate sweat, thin and cheap so the player can experiment before committing to towel or cushioned options.