Finding the right grip for your Badminton game makes a huge amount of difference in your play. Read this blog to find out more.
The right badminton grip can maximise your performance. Badminton grips can also help absorb sweat; and provide you with a comfortable feel throughout your game. When it comes to choosing grips, understand that there is no one “best” grip. You should use a grip to suit your style of play.
Power Play: You focus on powerful shots. For players who opt for power usually go for strong consecutive attacks (usually with a badminton smash / badminton jump smash). Their strategy is to force their opponents to return a weak shot and then get the chance to “play the win”. Players who attack often usually hold their racquet handles tighter (in order to generate power for strong smashes). Therefore, a thicker grip will be suitable for these types of players.
If your focus is on accuracy and technique Badminton players who prefer to engage in various badminton skills are called stroke players/rally players. Their winning strategy is to force their opponents into long rallies by doing badminton clears and badminton drops. Advanced badminton skills such as badminton deception and tumbling net shots require players to have great control and have excellent wrist action. Therefore, if you’re a stroke/rally player, you don’t hold your racquet too tightly. This may lead to too much power in your shot, especially when you’re using more advanced skills. Choosing control over power, it’s more important for this type of player. So a thinner grip handle will be perfect for these types of players. A thin grip will provide you with better control – especially for changing from forehand grip to backhand grip and vice versa.
There are 3 types of badminton grip available in the market. Replacement grip, Overgrip and Towel grip.
Replacement grip
Replacement grip is a replacement grip simply means a grip that replaces the original grip. The original grip is the grip already attached to the Badminton racquet when you first bought it. Therefore a replacement grip is slightly thicker. The common material used to produce a good badminton grip is called polyurethane or PU. PU grips provide comfort and acts as a cushion between your fingers and the handle. They are also good sweat and shock absorbers.
Overgrip
Overgrips are similar to replacement grips, but they are a lot thinner and less expensive than replacement grips. As the name suggests, an overgrip is a grip where you wrap it over a replacement grip or an original grip. The purpose is to provide you with a thicker grip handle for power play. An overgrip by itself wrapped on the wood surface of the handle will not be thick enough. Again, PU overgrips are good materials for comfort and absorbing sweat.
The towel grip
Towel grips are usually made from cotton. Cotton is an excellent material for absorbing sweat. However, they are very thick and sometimes heavy. If you opt for a power play, towel grips might be awesome for you.
So there you have the different grips you can use on your Badminton racquet and so if you find one that matches your style your game and your enjoyment will improve.
