A worn, old or wrong-sized grip does more than feel unpleasant. It makes you squeeze too hard to keep hold of the racket, and that extra tension travels straight up into your wrist and forearm - a common and avoidable cause of wrist strain and tennis elbow. A fresh grip in the right size lets you hold the racket lightly, play freely and protect your arm.

This guide explains the difference between overgrips and replacement grips, how to choose between dry and tacky, and the grip services we offer in store - including a couple that most shops can't.

There are two kinds of grip: the **replacement grip** that comes fitted to your racket, and the **overgrip** that goes over the top of it. Most players use an overgrip - they're thinner, cheaper, easier to apply and quick to replace, so you can keep a fresh grip more often. We apply both in store, usually while you wait. We also offer grip-size services most shops don't: heat shrink sizing and Head pallet replacement. We stock replacement grips and overgrips from all four major brands - Wilson, Babolat, Yonex and Head - for tennis, padel, pickleball and badminton.

This is the first thing worth getting clear, because the two are often confused.

The replacement grip is the grip that comes already fitted to your racket when you buy it. It's wrapped directly onto the handle. To change a replacement grip, you first have to remove the existing one before applying a new one in its place.

The overgrip goes over the top of the replacement grip. It's usually thinner than a replacement grip, cheaper, and much easier to apply. Because it's quick and inexpensive to swap, an overgrip lets you keep a fresh grip far more often than you would if you were replacing the base grip each time.

For most players, the overgrip is the answer. It's the simplest, most cost-effective way to keep your racket feeling fresh. The replacement grip underneath only needs changing occasionally, once it's genuinely worn down.

Both replacement grips and overgrips come in lots of variants. Thickness varies, and if you want to get really niche, even the weight of the grip changes the balance of the racket slightly.

But for most players, the thing that matters most is feel - and that comes down to a simple choice between dry and tacky.

Tacky grips have a slightly sticky surface and tend to offer better sweat absorption. Most players prefer them, especially anyone with sweaty hands - a fresh tacky grip keeps the racket from slipping around mid-rally.

Dry grips have a different, less sticky feel that some players simply prefer.

There's no right answer - it's personal preference. If you're not sure which you'd like, we can talk you through the options in store and help you find what suits your hands and your game.

It's easy to ignore your grip until it's falling apart. But the grip is, quite literally, the part of the racket you hold - and an old or wrong grip causes problems beyond comfort.

When a grip is worn or the wrong size, you instinctively squeeze the handle tighter to keep control of the racket. That constant extra tension is a well-known contributor to wrist problems, forearm strain and tennis elbow.

A fresh grip in the right size lets you hold the racket more lightly and play more freely - which is better for your tennis and better for your arm. It's why we always recommend adding a fresh overgrip when you buy a new racket or have one restrung. It's a small thing that makes a real difference.

We apply overgrips in store, usually while you wait. Quick, simple and the easiest way to freshen up your racket.

We remove your old base grip and fit a new replacement grip. Also typically done while you wait.

As long as the grip has been purchased with us, we'll happily apply it for you.

Getting the right grip size is important, and sometimes the standard size on a racket isn't quite right for your hand. We offer two services to fix that - one of which is genuinely unusual.

We can increase your grip size by a half or a full size using a heat shrink service. We strip the handle back, apply a heat-shrink rubber sleeve around it, heat it on with a heat gun, trim it to shape and then fit a grip over the top. The result is a larger, properly finished grip that feels like part of the racket rather than a bulky add-on.

This one is unique to Head rackets. The pallet is the moulded part of the handle that sits underneath the grip and determines the actual size and shape of the grip. On Head rackets, these pallets are replaceable - which means we can change the grip size of the handle itself, rather than just building it up from the outside. We can take any Head racket and change its grip size to a 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. Because it changes the handle itself, it's the most precise way to get your exact grip size, and it's a service very few shops can offer.

Grips matter just as much in other racket sports, and we carry grips and apply them for padel, pickleball and badminton rackets too. Whether you need a fresh overgrip on a padel racket or a replacement grip for badminton, we can sort it in store.

We carry both replacement grips and overgrips from all four major brands:

Between them, there's a dry or tacky option, a thickness and a feel to suit every player.

Regripping is one of the quickest and cheapest ways to improve how your racket feels and protect your arm while you play. Most of our grip services are done while you wait.

Pop into any of our North London stores - if you're getting a new racket or a restring, it's the perfect time to add a fresh grip. And if you're not sure what size or feel is right for you, our team will help you find it.

Check out our grips here!