Indispensable element of the player padel, the overgrip is not just a piece of fabric that you put on the handle of your racquet. This item can become your friend or your worst nightmare. Between thin, thick, perforated or colored overgrip to each his preference.

As soon as we buy our pala, it is important to consider laying one or more overgrips. These overgrips, in general, have a fairly short life. Knowing that the winter it resists a little more than the summer, when you perspire you quickly lose of the adhesion. If the overgrip is not regularly changed, you will increase the chances of injury in the elbow.

Here are 3 elements to take into account:

- The number of overgrips:

It is very important to know quickly how many overgrips you need to put on your sleeve. This simple piece of tissue can prevent you from visiting your doctor. The ideal is to be able to put the index of your bad hand between the thumb and the index of the good hand placed on the handle. In the beginning it is not easy to get used to, but you will feel quickly at ease.

Important to note: the more you place overgrips on the handle, the more you will increase the weight of the pala thus changing its balance. A racket with weight on the shaft will have more control.

Finally, if you tighten the lines of your overgrip you will increase the thickness faster than if you space them. Know that the adhesion is better if the overgrip is spaced, you see.

FYI, some very large players overlap up to 10 overgrips.

- The quality :

Important for some, secondary for others. Some overgrips last longer than others, everything depends on the brand, and mostly depends on you. People who sweat little will not necessarily need a very adherent overgrip because they can hurt their hands. Conversely, people who sweat a lot will be able to use very close overgrips or change them frequently.

Which brings us to the cost. The economic factor. The adjoining overgrips are often more expensive than others that you will need to change more often.

A tip to lengthen the life of your overgrips when you sweat: there are glue spray and resin wipes or pot used by handball players. Convenient before the big heat because a too high temperature makes the resin liquid and therefore indestructible.

-The type :

There are several. Thin, thick, perforated or smooth, you try and find the one that suits you best.
Finally, the basic overgrip is white, but there are different colors. Depending on the marks, the adhesion may differ for the same overgrip due to the color used.

Julien Bondia

Julien Bondia is a teacher of padel in Tenerife (Spain). Columnist and advisor, he helps you play better through his tutorials and tactical/technical articles padel.

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