CHOOSING THE RIGHT GRIP SIZE
How do I know if my tennis grip is the right size...?
You’ve done all the hard work, done the research, picked out your ideal racket, got the ideal string at the perfect string tension, and then out of nowhere, you’re asked one last question that you weren’t prepared for.
“What grip size would you like for your racket…?”
There’s no need to panic though, this is a pretty simple question to answer, and you needn’t worry about it because we’re going to show you exactly how to figure out what your ideal grip size is.
There are two ways to measure your hand to find the perfect grip size, and they’re both very simple.
Once you’ve measured your hand to find the right tennis grip size, you can relax, happy in the knowledge that you’re not going to pick up any needless injuries due to having the wrong equipment.
When you're measuring your grip size, remember - you can always make a grip thicker, but genertally can't make it thinner.
That said, if you’re in between tennis grip sizes we would always recommend going with the smaller grip size and adding an extra over grip to make up the difference.
Once you’ve selected a grip size there are plenty of things you can do to change the feel of it, and you will find over grips of all sizes to get the perfect fit for your hand - simply check out our grip section to find what works best for you.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CORRECT GRIP SIZE
It’s important to take the time to make sure you choose the right tennis grip size. Not only will this help you play better tennis, but it can also play a role in helping to stop niggling pains such as tennis elbow.
Whether you’re looking for a beginner, intermediate or advanced racket, the grip size is something that will make a difference. You’re investing good money in your racket, so make sure you’re getting something you’re comfortable playing with and that’s going to allow you to play good tennis.
Making sure you’ve got the right tennis grips size takes just a few seconds, so perform these simple tests, and make sure you’re getting the right racket.
THE INDEX FINGER TEST
This is the easiest way to measure your tennis grip size if you have a racket to hand. Simply pick up the racket with an eastern forehand grip (check out our forehand grip guide) and hold the racket in a natural grip. With your non dominant hand, take your index finger and place it between the fingers and palm of your playing hand . Your index finger should fit snugly between the fingers and palm of your playing hand as per the image below.
If there is a lot of space between your palm and fingers, then the grip is too big. Conversely, if you can’t fit your index finger between the fingers and palm of your playing hand, then the grip is too small.
This might seem like a minor detail, however, getting the wrong grip size can cause you injury problems. Furthermore, if you’re gripping too hard because your grip is either too large or small, then you will probabl find that you get pain in your wrist, elbow & shoulder…!
If you’ve got a racket to hand, this is a quick and easy way to measure your grip size…Conversely, if you don’t have a racket to hand, then check out our second way of measuring your tennis grip size.
THE RULER TEST
If you don’t have a racket with you, then you can easily use a ruler to measure your grip size. This may not give you the feeling of the racket in your hand, but it can give you a pretty accurate idea of which tennis grip size you should be looking at. Simply take your playing hand and extend the fingers whilst keeping them together. Put the ruler in line with your middle finger and measure from the top of your index finger to the bottom lateral crease on your palm.
Since US grip sizes are measured in inches and Europe uses an arbitrary number, it’s best if you use inches, which you can then convert the measurement into the European measurement.
You’ll notice that the majority of rackets will show you the grip size on the bottom of the handle in both the American and European format.
IF YOU'RE IN BETWEEN SIZES
Lots of people will find they don’t precisely fit one particular size. If this is the case with you then we recommend going for the smaller grip size as opposed to the larger one. This is because you can easily add thickness to a handle by using a thicker grip or adding an over grip, but generally you can’t make a handle thinner. Even if you buy a 4 ⅜ grip you always have the option of adding over grips to make it into a 4 ⅝, however, you’re not going to be able to get it back down to a 4 ⅛…!
Of course, adding over grips will change the shape of the handle a little bit, but it’s best not to risk getting a handle that’s too thick. If you get the right measurement you probably won’t even notice a benefit, but when you get the wrong grip size you’ll certainly know about it…!
CONCLUSION
The grip is your one point of contact with your tennis racket, so it has a hugely important function. As you might expect, everybody has a different sized hand and consequently, there are different grip sizes to reflect this.
Although it might not be something you have thought about too much, it’s something that’s important to make sure you get right. If you take the time to measure yourself for the right tennis grip, then you will find it can allow you to play better tennis, but most importantly, stop you from getting unnecessary pains when you play.
Choosing the right tennis racket is a very personal decision, and there are lots of little steps that go into choosing the right stick - the right tennis grip size is just one of them.