Badminton Racket Grip Buying Guide (3 Different Types)

When I first started badminton, I didn’t know much about the badminton racket, and especially I didn’t even consider that there are different types of badminton grips. However, that is the case as there are three different types of badminton grips! This article will explain the benefits of all of them and when you should use one.

A Badminton racket can have a rubber, towel, or an overgrip. A rubber grip can be perforated or non-perforated and have a squishy feel. An overgrip is placed on top of a rubber grip to provide customization. A Towel grip is furry, and it will absorb sweat from your hands, although it can start to smell.

There are many pros and cons to each of these grips, and I will explain them to you shortly. Before taking a closer look at the grips individually, you can find some benefits that grips offer and why it is important to consider them and choose the right one for your needs.

Badminton grip benefits:

• Comfort
• Secure feel
• Sweat absorption
• Thickness control
• Overall grip control
• Design options

As individuals, we all have different preferences; therefore, it is important to choose a grip right for your wants and needs. For example, one might have very sweaty hands that require a different one that doesen’t.

Three Different Badminton Racket Grips & How To Choose Yours

Without a further due, let’s take a look at the three kinds of badminton racket grips.

1. Rubber Grip

Rubber grips are most common in badminton rackets, as they come with a new badminton racket 99% of the time.

Depending on the racket, the original rubber grip may or may not be of good quality. Therefore, I recommend replacing the original grip with a new rubber grip if you didn’t buy a high-quality racket. This is because the grips that come with the racket can be made of low-quality materials and glued improperly to the racket.

My favorite rubber replacement grip for a new badminton racket is the FJZLIFE Perforated Grip, as it is made out of high-quality material (PU Leather), offers a secure grip, and is super easy to install.

Speaking of perforated grips, there are them and non-perforated rubber grips to choose from.

• Perforated rubber grip

The benefit of a perforated rubber grip is that it is more breathable than a non-perforated tennis grip. So, if your hands sweat slightly, you should consider a perforated grip.

However, the tackiness isn’t just as good as non-perforated grips. Still, they are the perfect middle choice between breathability and tackiness.

• Non-perforated rubber grip

Non-perforated rubber grips are meant for ultimate tackiness and secure hold, assuming that your hands don’t sweat like the faucet.

These grips are also the most comfortable as there is more squishy material between the racket handle and your palm.

That being said, take a look at the conclusion about rubber grips and when you should consider or avoid them.

Great if	Avoid if
You like squishy rubber feel & comfort	Your hands sweat a lot
You don’t have sweaty palms	You don’t like the rubber feel
You want an affordable and easy grip

2. Overgrip

A badminton overgrip is placed exclusively over the rubber grip and never over a towel grip. Overgrips are somewhat similar to rubber grips, except they are considerably thinner and less expensive. They are used to provide more thickness to the handle.

A funny thing I have seen is that one applied the overgrip straight over the badminton handle after removing the rubber grip. Take note that as the name suggests, the overgrip is installed OVER the rubber grip, not as its own.

Again, a great material for overgrips is poly as they are very stretchy at the minimal thickness as overgrips are. You can spin the overgrip over your handle as many times as you see fit, giving you the optimal handle thickness. Also, you can add more overgrip to certain places if you desire.

Badminton overgrips are often quite cheap, yet their lifespan isn’t that long because they truly are so thin. Still, they are worth the investment if you like to customize your handle.

My favorite badminton overgrip is the Yonex Super Grip Overgrip, as it provides easy customization to your handle, in addition to the secure feeling when you get hold of it!

Below you can find when you might want to use an overgrip and when to avoid it.

Great if	Avoid if
You want more thickness on your handle	Your hands sweat a lot
You want to customize the form of the handle	You don’t like how it feels
You know how to install an overgrip properly	Your rubber grip is perfect

3. Towel Grip

Towel grips are a rarer occurrence in a badminton racket, but you still see them regularly.

Rackets often don’t come with a towel badminton grip pre-installed. Thus, if you want a towel grip, you will first need to remove the original grip, which is usually the rubber one, and then add the towel grip in its place.

High-quality towel grips are made of synthetic elastic materials combined with cotton, giving a forgiving yet durable and soft feel. I do love the fuzzy and comfortable feel on them.

The biggest benefit of using a towel grip is superior sweat absorption. So, if you tend to sweat a lot from your palms, then a towel grip is worth considering. Generally, towel grips are also heavier than rubber ones, so if you want to add more power to your racket, a towel grip will aid slightly as the racket gets heavier.

My towel grip choice is definitely the PSMILE Cotton Towel Grip. This grip provides incredible sweat absorption so that you can say goodbye to slippery hold! It’s also easy to install, and I recommend pulling it strongly when you do because it’s elastic, and it will get a better hold. Also, it feels so good and soft.

Towel grips do have some disadvantages as well. If you sweat a lot, the towel grip will eventually start to smell from sweat, which isn’t something to worry about when playing, as you probably won’t be able to smell it. However, when you place it in your bag, the bag will start to smell. So consider that when deciding.

Anyways, below you can find the pros and cons of a towel grip.

Great if	Avoid if
You like the fuzzy soft grip feel	You dislike the fuzzy feel
Your hands tend to sweat a lot	You can’t stand the smell of sweat
You want an unusually cool design

What Is the Best Badminton Racket Grip Type?

The best badminton racket grip type varies between users. For superior grip tackiness and squishy feel, a rubber grip is the best. Towel grips are the best for sweaty hands and a fuzzy feel. Consider your personal preferences and attributes and choose accordingly.

I have personally tried all grip types, and for me, a rubber grip is the best as my hands don’t sweat a lot. Also, I feel that the rubber grip is the most secure. Although the towel grip feels fun and comfortable as well, it loses its best feeling faster than a rubber grip.

How to Determine Your Badminton Grip Size?

Badminton grip sizes haven’t been standardized yet between brands. However, the leading brand Yonex provides a grip size chart that can be reliably used.

The grip size is marked with a ”G” followed by a number between 1 to 5. Notice that when the ”G” goes up in numbers, meaning G1, G2, G3, and so on, the grip size goes down, so don’t let that fool you. Below you can find the grip size chart provided by Yonex

Size	Millimeters	Inches
G1	102	4
G2	95	3.75
G3	89	3.5
G4	83	3.25
G5	76	3

So how do you determine the best badminton grip size for your hand? Take a look at the steps below.

How to Determine the Best Grip Size:

1. Find a measurement tape and extend your racket hand fully facing the palm to the roof. Measure the length between your fourth finger(ring finger) and the bottom lateral crease in your palm.
2. Look at the length that should be between 4 to 3 inches, and choose the grip size accordingly. So, if the distance between your ring finger and lateral crease was 3.75inches (95cm), get a grip sized as G2. Notice that this method only works with Yonex Rackets.

How to Determine Your Badminton Racket Weight?

Badminton rackets generally weigh between 75 and 100 grams. It’s very important to find a badminton racket that fits your needs. As a rule of thumb, the heavier the racket, the more stability, control, and power it can generate, and the less the racket weight, the faster it gets. More lightweight rackets are used by professionals.

Again, Yonex provides a category chart marked as ”U” followed by a number between 1 to 5. When the number after the ”U” Increases, the racket’s weight decreases, so keep that in mind in the same way as the grip size.

Below you can find the badminton racket weight chart provided by Yonex.