What is "overgrip"

An overgrip is a soft, padded, clothlike tape wrapped around the grip of a racquet. There are a few purposes for an overgrip. The two main uses are to add tackiness (stickiness) and to increase sweat absorption. Other purposes are for the expansion of the circumference of the grip, and for adding more padding or cushioning.

There are also different colors and patterns on overgrips for style and cosmetic alterations.

Some popular Overgrip brands are: Babolat, ProKennex, Dunlop, Li-Ning, Gamma, Gosen, Head, Karakal, Prince, unique, Völkl, Wilson, and Yonex.

Overgrips are generally applied from the bottom of the handle or 'butt cap' and up towards the throat (section between handle and head) of the racquet. It is wrapped around the handle overlapping by approximately 1/6 inch. If the overgrip exceeds the length of the handle and is at the throat area of the racquet, it is advised to cut the excess on an angle, and use grip finishing tape to keep it from unraveling.

Overgrips can be used on any kind of racquet including: tennis, badminton, squash, racquetball, platform tennis, table tennis, and other variations of the different racquet sports.