For tennis players, using the best tennis overgrips are not just for aesthetics. They are designed to wrap around the original racket grip, and have been around as early as the 1930s. They were created to absorb sweat, provide extra cushioning, protect the hands and enhance a player’s overall performance.
The importance of tennis overgrips are widely known in the pro tennis world. In fact, many tennis players have their own specific way of wrapping overgrips onto their rackets. Some even pay to have their overgrips custom-molded for uniform handling at every game. It makes so much sense to prioritize tennis overgrips, particularly since the overgrips are the only thing that separates your hand and the racket.
Even if you only play tennis recreationally, including the wrapping of tennis overgrips into your pre-game routine would do so much good for your overall health. If your racket’s grip is all rugged and slippery, it will put a lot of stress on your wrist. This also happens if the overgrips are too large or too small.
Overgrips come in various forms, from those designed with a tacky surface to the more popular dry absorbent version. You can buy tennis overgrips in different colors, textures, perforations, or materials.
If you’re shopping around for the best tennis overgrips in the market today, you don’t have to look so far. Here’s 10 I’d gladly recommend any day (in no particular order):
Table of Contents
Top 10 Tennis Overgrips:
Gamma Supreme Overgrip
Key Features:
- Comes in 7 colors
- Moisture Management technology
- With excellent absorbency and tackiness
The Gamma Supreme Overgrip was designed to absorb sweat significantly, while keeping a thin and tacky grip. Gamma definitely worked on the consistency, since most overgrips change from dry to slick in just a couple of hours of use.
With the Gamma Supreme Overgrip, the grip remains consistent with no texture change or loss of tackiness during prolonged duration of play.
Although it was developed for tennis rackets, these Gamma Supreme overgrips can also be used for dumbbell handles and even other mundane tasks like preventing RV doors to slide.
And why not? it’s high-quality, affordable and produces consistent grip with every pack. Plus, the smallest pack includes 3 overgrips and if you want more savings, buy bulk with the 15-pack, 30-pack or 60-pack.
Pros
- Comfy cushioned-like feel
- Durable and long-lasting
- Very tacky, but not sticky
Cons
- Always sold out
Wilson Pro Tennis Overgrip
Key Features:
- Set of 12 grips from a trusted brand
- Polyurethane construction
- Chosen by many pro tennis players
As its name suggest, the Wilson Pro Tennis Overgrip is a favorite among touring pros and one of the best tennis overgrips on the market. These overgrips may be super-thin and super-stretchy, but they do not “melt” in humid or hot environments like other brands. Instead, the Wilson Pro Tennis Overgrip sticks to the handle as though it came with the racket without any hint of fraying, and breaking down.
Because of its polyurethane construction, this Wilson overgrip is highly comfortable on the hand and provides enough tackiness even for players with sweaty hands.
Pros
- Comes with tape for no-fuss application
- Includes reusable waterproof bag to store all your grips
- Long enough to wrap the grip properly
- Prevents blisters and accidental slip out of the hand
Cons
- •Only available in white
Wilson Pro Tennis Racquet Over Grip
Key Features:
- Brightly-colored high-quality overgrips from Wilson
- Pre-cut length enough to cover most rackets
- Each overgrip lasts up to 4 months
If you’re looking for some color in your life or just don’t want an all-white overgrip, this Wilson Pro Tennis Racquet Over Grip comes in four pastel colors (orange, green, pink and yellow), silver, and a camouflage version perfect for changing it up.
Don’t be fooled by the cuteness of its design though. These overgrips still come from Wilson and are made from microfiber substrate polyurethane material that are responsible for their durability, absorbency and tackiness.
Pros
- Dependable overgrip no matter the weather conditions
- Regrip any tennis racket under 5 minutes
- Economical 3-pack set
Cons
- Colored variants are slightly less tacky compared to white Wilson overgrips
Wilson Ultra Wrap Tennis Overgrip
Key features:
- All-black to cover up dirt
- Makes any kind of handle grippy
- Durable, leather-like construction
The Wilson Ultra Wrap Tennis Overgrip offers nothing fancy with this model, but if you want something durably and long-lasting, this classic 3-pack set of black overgrips would do the trick.
For first-timers, it is best to ask someone from the store to install it on your tennis racket, since Wilson’s “Ultra Wrap” overgrip is on the tight side. You’d likely need to practice regripping several times to fit the whole length properly.
Aside from this, the Wilson “Ultra Wrap” overgrips perform well and provide just enough comfort and grip to tennis players. If you’re after something more softer to touch, go with an overgrip that’s slightly thicker than this.
Pros
- Traditional all-black overgrips hide dirt from sight
- No need to use adhesives; easy application
- Significantly improves racket performance
Cons
- Not as cushioned as newer Wilson overgrip models
YONEX Super GRAP Tennis Overgrip
Key Features:
- Shock-proof and sweat absorbent
- Available in all-black or all-white packs of 12 overgrips
- Just enough tackiness and cushion
The YONEX Super GRAP Tennis Overgrip may not be as popular as the Tourna or Wilson overgrips, but they do the job well. It is designed with a bit of cushion to provide comfort to your hands. YONEX packed the 12 overgrips separately, which is pretty good since you only use one (or two at most) when wrapping your tennis rackets. If you’re picky with branding, you’d love that there is no logo printed on the grip, so you can complement this with any racket or replacement grip without having to worry about mixed branding.
What’s interesting about YONEX’s Super Grap overgrips is that the black version seems to be more absorbent than the white version. However, whenever the grip is dry, the white version seems to retain tackiness a lot better than the black overgrips.
Pros
- Very long overgrip for most tennis rackets
- Affordable
- Performs well on colder climates
Cons
- White and black versions perform differently
ADV Tennis Dry Overgrip
Key Features:
- Super dry overgrip with velvety-soft comfort
- Slip-proof and tear-resistant material
- FeltTac: Dry + Comfort material
If you’re looking for a luxurious feel, the ADV Tennis Dry Overgrip will definitely pamper your hands as you play a game of tennis. They’re made from ultra-absorbent FeltTac material and reinforced PU compounds that make these overgrips virtually indestructible.
The ADV Tennis Dry Overgrip was made in partnership by pro players, who helped in designed a three-layer overgrip made of bristled cotton base, high-absorbent mid-layer cotton spin cloth, and the velvety top layer that adds extra tack.
If humidity in your area or excessive sweat has been a major issue for you as a tennis player, just try ADV’s Tennis Dry Overgrip and there’s a good chance you won’t go back to your former brand.
Pros
- Designed to perform well in all climates, even hot and humid
- Durable, tear-resistant and long-lasting
- Comes with free weatherproof pouch and lifetime satisfaction guarantee
Cons
- A bit more expensive than other brands
Head Xtreme Soft Racquet Overgrip
Key Features:
- Flat smooth material for tight grip
- Comes in bold bright colors
- Lightweight and durable Elastomer construction
Made specifically for HEAD tennis rackets, the Head Xtreme Soft Racquet Overgrip gives users extra control with every shot.
If you’re worried about sweaty palms, Head’s Extreme overgrip absorbs excess moisture and leaves you playing with a strong, dry grip for hours.
This trio-set is one of the cheapest tennis overgrips on this list, but the quality is surprising up-to-par with higher-priced brands and another reason it makes our list of the best tennis overgrips
Pros
- Super affordable
- Good grip, and it doesn’t make your original grip too thick
- Easy-to-use with backing tape included
- •Compatible with HEAD and other third-party tennis rackets
Cons
- Not ideal for sweaty hands; slippery when wet
HEAD Super Comp Racquet Overgrip
Key Features:
- Moisture-absorbing overgrip
- Comes in black, white and blue colors
- Made with elastomer material for durability
The HEAD Super Comp Racquet Overgrip is on the thin side and was created to complement or preserve the original grip of a racket. Because of this, this overgrip can easily add some depth to your racket handle without making it too bulky.
HEAD’s “Super Comp” overgrip does absorb moisture, but don’t count on it handling excessive sweating. This overgrip will only work for a single full wrap and not much advanced requirements.
Pros
- One of the cheapest overgrips in the market
- Effective if you need a thin overgrip to protect your tennis racket
- Can work with other applications (knife handles, bats, hand tools, etc.)
Cons
- Too thin for professional use
Tourna Grip Original Dry Feel Tennis Grip
Key features:
- Innovative tacky-grip tech
- Also works for badminton, squash, racquetball, and other similar sports
- Made by pros for the pros
The Tourna Grip Original Dry Feel Tennis Grip is one of the best tennis overgrips for a reason. It’s a favorite of professional tennis players simply because they work in keeping moisture from slipping and killing your momentum.
Tennis players with sweaty palms are impressed with Tourna’s overgrip because it gets tacky the more they sweat. Like other overgrips, the Tourna grip starts with a dry feel, then instead of slipping when you start to sweat, the overgrip surprisingly becomes even more secure.
Pros
- Customizable length (control how long you wrap)
- Includes 10 red finishing tape for quick wrapping
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Mostly fit junior-sized rackets
Alien Pros Tennis Racket Grip Tape
Key Features:
- Universally compatible with other rackets
- Pre-cut overgrip tapes
- Designed to protect original grip
The Alien Pros Tennis Racket Grip Tape could definitely give tennis players a much-needed pop of color with the neon overgrips.
These are designed as multi-purpose overgrips for anything that requires extra grip, such as Pickleball paddles, knives, lightsabers, and so on.
Alien Pros made this “grip tape” with added absorbency in mind to avoid any slip, prevent injuries and make users feel continuously dry throughout a game. It does the job, but it probably won’t be enough for use in competition levels due to the lack of features.
Pros
- Easy to wrap, seal and remove (thanks to double ends tapered with adhesive)
- Great value for the money
- Smooth, dry textured grip
Cons
- Too short for standard-sized tennis racketsWeird, sponge-like feel
Buyer’s Guide:
What is a Tennis Overgrip?
When it comes to tennis rackets, “grips” could mean either a replacement grip or an overgrip. A replacement grip is used when the original grip of a racket gets too rugged or thin to use. It is designed with a thicker material and sticky backing that glue to the grip for added cushioning. Overgrip is wrapped “over the grip” to provide the tennis player with additional grip size, grip feel or special features such as:
- Tacky surface for extra grip
- Sweat absorption
- Grips with perforations or textured surface
the majority of the best tennis overgrips are inexpensive, which means you can replace a worn-out overgrip anytime without hurting your wallet.
Advantages of Overgrips:
Tennis players use overgrips for various reasons, but they are mostly used for:
- Adding comfort – Original grips are thin and hard. Anyone who has tried playing with a racket straight off the shelves will tell you how uncomfortable it is. It could even cause blisters on your fingers and palm, so adding overgrips prevent unnecessary blisters and keep your hand comfortable during and after a game.
- Prolonging the life of your grip – The wear and tear a racket goes through with every game becomes visible on the grip. You actually feel the original grip getting thinner. If you love your racket and want to extend its life, the overgrips can prevent the original grip from tearing down so quickly.
- Saving money – Replacement grips are more expensive than overgrips. This is why many people prepare for the inevitable wear of the original grips and invest in overgrips at just $1 to $3 a pop to keep the built-in grip underneath intact.
- Sweat absorption – Most tennis rackets come with ordinary grips that are not designed for sweat absorption. However, you can find various brands of overgrips specifically designed to help tennis players perform 100% even with sweaty hands.
- Customizing the grip – Overgrip adds thickness to a handle that’s too thin for your preference. You can even customize the thickness, softness, or texture of the grip you’re most comfortable using while playing tennis.
Some tennis players use overgrips to add color, design and personality to their rackets. Others don’t even use them for tennis rackets. Instead, they wrap them around door handles, knife handles, baseball bats and non-tennis rackets for games like squash or badminton.
Types of Overgrips:
When it comes to tennis overgrips, you can choose between these three types: tacky, absorbent and dry.
- Tacky Overgrip – If you need to feel totally in control of your tennis racket, this kind of overgrip is the stickiest you can find. There’s a bit of a learning curve when you’re new to tacky overgrips since the sticky feel could last an entire game (or longer), but many tacky-overgrip lovers will attest that once you pick tacky, you won’t go back to other types.
- All-around Absorbent Overgrip – Ideally used for cooler or dried climates, these all-around overgrips are perfect for tennis players who love both the stickiness of a tacky overgrip, and the efficient absorption features of the dry overgrip. The downside to these all-around overgrips is that they could get wet after a couple of uses.
- Dry Overgrip – Designed for absorbing moisture from a player’s hands, dry overgrips are perfect for people who sweat excessively while playing tennis. Because they’re made for hot conditions and sweaty palms, the grips could end up being slicker than normal and wear out quickly.
Note that overgrips may also be classified by softness, thickness, or textures (those designed with contours, perforations, ribbing, and so on).
Conclusion
There’s nothing wrong with your racket’s original grip, but if you’re serious about playing tennis, your hands would thank you for investing in quality overgrips.
The best tennis overgrips are the ones that feel best in your hands. There can’t be a single overgrip for everyone because of individual preferences, so even if I recommend you an all-around overgrip for pro tennis players, you may not like the brand if you need yours thick or super absorbent.
The good thing about overgrips is that they are relatively inexpensive, so you can shop around for different kinds of overgrips to find out which brand or type you like best.