Which is the best grip for your badminton racket? Does the quality of the racket grip matter when it comes to sports like badminton or tennis? And more importantly, does grip affect your game or not?
Each sport has various aspects and associated teams, and it is of the utmost importance to be familiar with each important factor. For example, in the case of badminton, the quality of the shoes or the racket is just as important as physical health, and the same goes for tennis. Additionally, the rackets being used have several essential facets that can be the defining factor in the quality of their performance, such as strings, grips, shape, and more.
It may surprise you, but grip, fists o grips it is one of the critical parts of the racket. After all, the correct grip does wonders for maximizing your performance and it also helps absorb sweat and ensures you stay comfortable throughout the match.
Therefore, it is essential that you use the correct grip. However, keep in mind that there is no best grip, but you must choose the one that best suits you. In this article, we bring you several tips that will help you choose the best badminton grip for your racket. Let us begin.
The best grip for your racket
There are generally three types of badminton grips used for rackets:
spare grip
The name of Replacement Grip (spare grip) self explanatory; This grip is used as a replacement grip for the original grip, which is attached to the badminton racket.
Replacement grips are slightly thicker. They are usually made of PU or polyurethane, as PU is good at absorbing shock and sweat. In addition, it provides comfort by acting as a cushion between the fingers and the handle of the racket.
Overgrip
Los Overgrips they are somewhat similar to the replacement ones, but these are thinner and cheaper than the latter. They wrap over a replacement grip or stock grip to provide a thicker handle. Like the replacement grips, they are made of PU.
Towel Grip
Los Towel Grip they are made of cotton, which again is a good sweat absorber, but they can be very thick and heavy and need to be changed often if your hands get sweaty.
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Different styles of play
However, before buying a grip, make sure you know your style of play, especially in the case of badminton, as it is essential to find the best grip for your racket. Therefore, the following section will help you find your badminton playing style.
control game
Control play involves engaging the opponent in long rallies by using dropshots and clearances instead of hitting. People who engage in this style of play must have excellent wrist action. Also, they shouldn’t hold the racket too tightly, as holding it too tightly can result in an overly powerful swing.
Therefore, a finer grip it is the best for this type of players, since a thin grip offers better control over the racket.
power play
Power play is all about using powerful, consecutive shots and waiting for a weak return from your opponent. Power players need to grip the shaft of the racket tightly to generate enough power for hard smashes. Therefore, a thicker grip It’s perfect for people who are into the power game.
Tips for finding the best grip for a badminton racket
Now, let’s talk about the ways that will help you find the best badminton grip.
power players
As mentioned above, power players expect a weak return from the opponent to score points. Therefore, the skills involved in this style of play are the smashes as well as jump smashes and drives, which means players need to generate enough power.
Players need a good grip on their rackets, which suggests that they should use thicker grips, as these make it easier to hold the racket when smashing. If you don’t get a grip G3 / G4 / G5 according to your preferences, then the external grip it is the only option. In general, powerful players should use thicker grips.
When it comes to weight, power players should make sure the racket head is heavier than the racket handle as it offers fluid momentum. In short, head-heavy rackets that have a balance point of 295mm or more.
Here are some grip recommendations that you can put into practice if you are a power player:
- Replacement grip over the original grip
- Remove the original Grip, apply a cushioning wrap and then apply a grip.
- When the palm of the hand is too large, these types of players can use either an overgrip or a replacement grip on top of the original grip if they feel the grip is thinner.
control players
Control play is all about using proper technique rather than just focusing on power to win the match. Players who prefer this style of play are called striking players, and they make use of various plays such as punts, drop shots, net shots, and tricks.
In general, hitting players need to grip the racket less tightly than power players. Therefore, they must choose a finer grip. Because a thinner grip ensures that the fingers are flexible to move as well as players have a better grip technique.
As for the weight, the weight of the handle should be heavier than that of the head, for better control. In short, head light or even balance rackets.
Here are some recommendations for striking players:
- Overgrip on the original grip
- Just the towel grip
- For larger palms, opt for an overgrip on top of the original grip.
Here are some of the best grips, overgrips, and towel grips that you can put to use right away:
- Grips Head Pro Cushion
- Carlton AG647 Contour Grips
- Yonex Super Grap Overgrip
- Lining GC001 Cotton Towel Grip
- Carlton AG 643 Bubble Grip
Bonus Tip: The tips mentioned above will help you find the best grip for your racket, but you should enjoy your playing sessions. Therefore, you can always change the grip, according to your preferences.
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conclusion
The grip of the racket is as important as any other aspect of badminton. Not only will the perfect grip improve your game tenfold, but it will also help prevent injury.
For this reason, manufacturers offer a wide variety of grips to suit each style of play and the preferences of the players. For example, some players like to hold the racket tighter, so they like thicker grips, while others don’t hold the racket too tightly, so they want a relatively thinner grip. Some players sweat a lot, so they prefer absorbent PU grips, while those who don’t want sticky grips.
In general, the importance of the best grip for your badminton racket is unprecedented. At the same time, there is no best grip. It all depends on your style of play and your preferences. Please tell us in the comment box below what badminton grip you prefer to use and why.
