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INSTRUCTION by ALICE TYM
HOW TO PUT A
NEW GRIP
ON YOUR PADDLE
Players are fussy about their grips. Some want them to be tacky, others smooth. Most of all, players want to be able to duplicate the feel that they like. Here is a guide to replacing a worn-out grip.
STEP 1
Select a quality product. Make sure the material is sturdy and not too stretchy, thin or cheap. I like a tacky grip, but players who wear a glove don’ t necessarily need it to be tacky. I also like a grip that indents slightly when I squeeze the handle. I want a bit of cushion.
STEP 2
Gather everything you are going to need including good scissors. You don’ t want to be hunting around for things with your thumb on the edge of the paddle. Open the package with the grip and stretch it out. There will be some cellophane you will remove as you wind the new grip on the paddle.
When you take the old grip off carefully, notice where it begins the wrap. Pay attention to where it is glued to your paddle. Usually, the start is on the longer side of the octagonal handle. In order to get the same feel on the paddle, you need to start the new wrap on the same spot as the original.
STEP 3
I have a forehand side of the paddle and a backhand side, so for me it is important to rewrap so that the grooves are in the same place. I start the small strip exactly where the manufacturer put the original. In any case, you want to firmly press that small starter edge of the grip and begin winding it so that you overlap about 1 / 8 of an inch. The grooves are on the grip so keep it even and pull it snugly as you press down. Stretch it just enough to be tight without being deformed. Maintain an even tension as you turn the paddle.
STEP 4
As you get to the top of the handle, you need to cut it on the diagonal so that it will be straight across. Keep your thumb on the grip so that it does not unwind. Take the electrical tape that came in the package and wrap it around the handle starting on the longer side. It stays better when it has more area.
STEP 5
Squeeze the handle up and down so that the glue sticks. Sometimes the little tape doesn’ t stick very well. Buy wider electrical tape and cover the edge along the top of the handle where the grip meets the paddle. Press it down so it sets and sticks.
Remember that the key is to observe the old grip before you take it off. Apply even pressure as you wrap. Check your overlapping at each rotation as you wrap. Squeeze the handle with even pressure when you are finished.
Overgrippping and building up a grip is essentially the same process, but the handle will be round rather
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