Overgrip versus replacement grip: which one you actually need
Notes from the counter at Mason's Tennis in New York, NY.
They are two different layers
A replacement grip is the base layer that sits directly on the handle bevels. An overgrip is a thin tacky wrap applied on top of it and changed frequently.
Removing a replacement grip and putting an overgrip straight on the bare handle makes the grip too thin and loses the bevel definition you use to find your grip without looking.
Change frequency is the giveaway
Overgrips are consumable — many club players change them every few sessions and tournament players every match. Replacement grips last months.
If you find yourself changing something weekly, it should be an overgrip.
Effect on handle size
Each overgrip adds roughly a sixteenth of an inch to the handle. Two overgrips is effectively a half grip size increase, which changes how the racket turns in your hand on off-centre hits.
If a racket suddenly feels different, count the layers before blaming the strings.
Tacky versus dry
Tacky grips stick to the palm and suit dry hands and cooler conditions. Dry-feel grips absorb moisture and suit humid days and heavy sweaters.
Most players own both and switch by season rather than having one favourite.
Wrapping direction matters
Wrap from the butt cap upward, overlapping about an eighth of an inch, pulling with light even tension. Right handers wrap anticlockwise viewed from the butt; left handers the opposite.
Wrapping the wrong way means the edge lifts as your hand rotates through the stroke.
When to replace the base grip
If the handle feels hard through the overgrip, or the base grip has compressed into ridges, replace it. A worn base grip transmits more shock to the arm.
It is a cheap job that most players leave far too long.
Where this sits in the shop
Mason's Tennis groups its stock into 4 categories, so most of what is discussed above lives in one or two of them:
- Court and Garage Accessories — 3 items
- Grips and Overgrips — 10 items
- Hair Accessories and Gifts — 11 items
- Towels and Sweatbands — 3 items
Browsing by category is usually quicker than searching, because the groups follow how the goods are actually used rather than how a supplier lists them.
The largest group at the moment is Court and Garage Accessories with 3 items, and the smallest is Towels and Sweatbands with 3. Those counts move as stock comes in and goes out, so they are worth checking rather than assuming.
From our shelves
A few items currently in stock that relate to this article:
- ADV MaxTac Tennis Overgrip, Tacky Moisture-Wicking Grip (Orange, 12-Pack) | Ultra tacky surface, wicks moisture, razor thin so grip size barely changes
- VitalCozy 4 Pcs Tennis Towel with Clip Funny Embroidered | 16 x 24 Inch, Hand Sweat Towels with Carabiner Clip, Tennis Gift for Women Men Team Sports Players Gym Court Accessories
- AUHOKY 18/12/6Pcs Mini Tennis Racket Keychain Key Ring, Fashionable Alloy Tennis Ball Split Ring for Sport Team(6 Colors)
- Evoonlyn Tennis Hair Clip Stainless Tennis Hair Barrettes for Women 4-PACK Sports Hairclips Tennis Gifts for Girls Players, Matches, Training & Daily Wear (Green)
Across the whole catalogue prices currently run from $1.11 to $27.44, with most of the range clustered around the middle of that span. Stock and prices on the product pages are live, so they are the figures to trust rather than anything quoted in an article.
Ordering, delivery and returns
Free US shipping on orders over $59; a flat $5.50 below that. Orders are picked and packed at the New York store on business days, and a tracking number follows by email once the carrier scans the parcel.
If something is not right, there are 30 days from delivery to send it back unused and in its packaging. The full detail is on the Shipping Policy and Returns and Refunds pages, and the FAQ covers the questions that come up most.
How we decide what to stock
Mason's Tennis carries tennis grips, towels and court accessories, and the range is deliberately narrower than a warehouse catalogue. A line earns its place by being asked for repeatedly at the counter in New York and by coming back without complaints — not by having the widest margin.
When something stops meeting that bar it comes off the shelf rather than being discounted until it moves. That is why the catalogue on this site changes slowly and why the specification tables on the product pages quote the maker rather than our own marketing.
Quick answers
How often should an overgrip be changed?
Club players usually change every few sessions; if you play in humidity or sweat heavily, every session is normal. It is the cheapest thing you can do for your grip.
What is the difference between tacky and dry grips?
Tacky grips stick to the hand and suit dry conditions. Dry-feel grips wick moisture and suit sweaty hands. We stock both, and each listing states which finish it is.
Related reading
Other notes from the same shelf that pick up where this one stops:
- Why your grip slips, and the fixes that work
- Vibration dampeners: what they do and do not do
- Choosing a tennis towel that survives the season
Coming to the store
Mason's Tennis is at 56 E 53rd St, New York, NY 10022. Opening hours are Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00 | Sat 11:00-18:00 | Sun 12:00-18:00, and it is worth calling ahead on +1 212-755-5805 if you are travelling specifically for one item, because stock on the shop floor and stock listed online are the same pool.
Anything discussed in this article can be looked at in person before buying. If you would rather order online, the same stock ships from this address — nothing is drop-shipped from a third party warehouse, which is why the despatch address on your parcel matches the shop.
Ask us directly
If this has not answered your question, the counter is open Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00 | Sat 11:00-18:00 | Sun 12:00-18:00. Call +1 212-755-5805 or use the contact page — a person reads it, and you will get an answer within a business day.