Padel grips and overgrips: fit the handle and replace a worn wrap

Know which part you are changing

The base grip is the main handle covering beneath your hand. A replacement grip takes the place of that covering when it is worn, damaged or unsuitable. An overgrip is a thinner, replaceable wrap normally fitted over the base grip. It changes the surface your hand touches and adds some thickness; it is not a repair for a loose handle or damaged racket.

The wrist strap or safety cord is a separate part attached to the handle. FIP requires the non-elastic cord to be worn around the wrist. A fresh overgrip does not replace it, and gripping tightly does not make it optional. In coaching, grip can also mean how you position your hand to hit a shot. This guide deals with the physical handle covering, not a change of forehand or backhand technique.

Work out whether the problem is surface, size or structure

If the racket slips when your hand gets damp and the outer wrap has become smooth, torn or unpleasant to hold, replace that outer wrap first. If the handle feels too large to hold comfortably or too small to feel secure, review the number and thickness of the layers. If the covering moves as one piece, inspect the base grip rather than putting another layer over it.

Stop using a racket with a loose handle, damaged butt cap or insecure cord attachment until the fault is resolved. A borrowed or rental racket should go back to the operator for adjustment or exchange; ask before removing its grip. On your own racket, photograph the existing setup before unwrapping so you can tell an ordinary base grip from a fitted sleeve or adjustable system. The 2024 Vertex 04 profiles, for example, describe Hesacore beneath a supplied overgrip. Peeling everything off would change more than the worn outer surface.

Change one layer at a time to find a usable thickness

Begin with a sound base grip and replace the existing worn overgrip with one fresh layer. Hold the racket in your normal playing grip, make slow forehand and backhand shadow swings in clear space and check that you can control the face without an awkward squeeze. Then try a few gentle shots. The handle should stay secure without making you feel that your fingers cannot wrap around it.

If you need more thickness, add one layer and repeat the same check. If the handle is too bulky, remove an extra overgrip and reassess rather than stripping the base grip as the first move. There is no universal correct layer count for every hand. Changing several layers, the base grip and the racket weights together makes it hard to tell which change helped. Record the setup that works so the next replacement does not gradually make the handle larger.

Choose texture for how your hand behaves during play

Tacky wraps feel sticky when fresh; dry-feel or absorbent wraps aim for a different contact with a damp hand. Try a small pack rather than buying a bulk supply based on the first touch in a store. Notice what happens once you have warmed up and started sweating. A wrap that feels excellent when dry but slips during your usual session is the wrong reference.

Thickness and overlap change the finished feel too. A thicker or heavily overlapped wrap builds the handle more than a thin, evenly fitted one. Padel-specific lengths can reduce excess material, but check that the strip will cover your actual handle, especially a longer handle. Color is a preference, not a reliable indicator of absorption or durability.

Fit a fresh overgrip from the butt toward the top

You need the new overgrip, its finishing tape and scissors if trimming is necessary. Work on a dry handle with the racket stable. Follow the wrap's own face and backing instructions: some have a protective film, and the small starting adhesive tab does not mean the whole reverse is adhesive. Keep the wrist cord clear throughout.

• Remove the old finishing tape and unwind only the worn overgrip. Leave a sound base grip or intended undergrip system in place. If the base is loose, damaged or moving, resolve that before wrapping over it.
• Unroll the new strip, set the finishing tape aside and remove any protective film as directed. Identify the tapered starting end and any small adhesive tab.
• Anchor the starting end at the bottom of the handle, near the butt cap, without covering or trapping the safety cord or its exit. Begin wrapping around the handle, then work upward.
• Keep a small, even overlap between turns so there are no gaps. Use steady tension sufficient to avoid wrinkles, not so much that you distort or tear the strip. If a turn forms a ridge, unwind that turn and redo it rather than burying the ridge under another layer.
• Continue to the top of the gripping area. Hold the loose end clear of the racket and cord before trimming excess if needed. Secure the end with the finishing tape; do not leave a loose flap where your hand can lift it.
• Run your hand over the wrap. It should not rotate or bunch under a gentle twist. Check that the cord still moves as designed and is securely attached, put it around your wrist and begin with gentle practice swings and contacts.

Replace the base grip only when that is the job

A replacement grip is not another name for the thin outer wrap. If the base covering is compressed, torn or loose, remove the overgrip first, then follow the replacement grip and racket instructions for that handle. Compare the replacement's thickness with the original because it changes the finished circumference. Preserve any intended fitted grip system unless you deliberately mean to change it.

Wrap the replacement from the butt toward the top with an even overlap and secure its end as instructed, then add an overgrip only if you want that outer surface or thickness. Do not pry into the butt cap or safety-cord mount as part of ordinary regripping. If the handle has an unfamiliar sleeve or strap mechanism, have the club or retailer show you the correct procedure instead of cutting through it.

Check the cord separately every time

Inspect the cord, stitching or joins, and handle attachment before play. Do not play on with a frayed or damaged cord just because the overgrip feels new. Some rackets have a manufacturer-designed replaceable strap; others need a different service procedure. Use the system intended for the exact racket, not an improvised elastic loop, and keep wrapping tape away from its attachment.

Wear and adjust the strap according to that system before taking practice swings. If a rental's cord is damaged or cannot be used properly, ask for another racket. Grip maintenance and cord safety are two separate checks.

Replace a worn wrap by feel and condition

Change an overgrip when it slips, tears, loses the texture you rely on or no longer feels clean and comfortable. Sweat, conditions, the wrap and your amount of play all affect how quickly that happens. A fixed number of matches is a poor reason to keep a wrap that is already failing. Carry a spare if a damp handle regularly disrupts your sessions.

After play, wipe away sweat with a dry cloth and let the handle dry before storage. Do not leave a wet racket sealed in a bag or use heat to dry it rapidly. When replacing a layer, remove the worn one instead of repeatedly covering it. If a fresh, well-fitted wrap does not stop the problem, check the underlying fit and structure. Persistent hand or arm pain is not an overgrip-selection puzzle to play through; no layer count or branded insert is an established elbow cure.

Before you play

• Check handle structure and cord separately from surface wear.
• Remove a worn overgrip rather than hiding it under another layer.
• Preserve a sound base grip and identify any intended undergrip system.
• Wrap evenly from butt toward top, keep the cord clear and secure the end.
• Check for slipping or bunching, record the fitted layers and carry a spare if needed.