[Updated on 1 July 2022] A quality racket grip helps absorb sweat, giving you a firmer hold and more control. If you’ve noticed that your squash game is suffering lately, you may need to regrip your squash racket.
Why do you need to regrip a racket? Over time, the grips on my rackets tend to wear. They become uncomfortable to hold and absorb less sweat.
On more than one occasion, I’ve noticed a pungent odor from the grip, mostly likely due to sweat absorption.
No matter the reason for needing to replace the grip, many people take their rackets to pro shops for regripping. Luckily, you don’t need to pay someone to handle this task.
So how do you regrip a squash racket on your own? While the process is easy, you may run into a few challenges.
To keep you from making the same mistakes I made on my first attempts, I’ve created this tutorial for regripping squash rackets.
Gather Supplies Before Regripping a Squash Racket
You’ll need a few things before you start. There are two types of grips that you can purchase to regrip your racket: overgrips and standard grips.
Standard grips are replacements for the factory grips on rackets. You remove the old grip and add the new one.
Squash racket overgrips cover the standard grip. You can add it over an old grip or a newly replaced grip.
The one issue with adding an overgrip is the size, as it increases the thickness of the handle. If you have small hands, you may not want a thicker handle.
You could also remove the factory grip and add two thin grips or a thin grip and an overgrip. So based on your preferences, you should gather the following:
- Overgrip
- New standard grip
- Electrical tape
- Scissors
- Disinfecting wipes or baby wipes
Disinfecting wipes aren’t needed if you simply plan to add an overgrip on top of an existing grip.
Step-by-Step Instructions
You’re now ready to regrip your racket. Just follow these five simple steps:
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Start Peeling Off the Old Racket Grip
If you are applying an overgrip over an existing grip, you can skip the first two steps. They involve removing an old standard grip and preparing the handle for a new grip.
Peel the tape from the top of the grip and start unraveling it. Discard the old grip.
After removing the grip, you may notice sticky patches and debris. Wipe the gunk away with disinfecting wipes or baby wipes.
You could try using a product to remove sticky material or a scrubby pad. However, I’ve found that these solutions tend to create more of a mess.
Don’t worry if the handle still has a few sticky spots. This won’t impact the regripping process.
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Add Electrical Tape or Cellophane Tape to the Handle
Grips include adhesive material and typically stay in place when carefully added to a racket. However, some people prefer adding a layer of electrical tape or cellophane tape.
Adding a layer of tape may keep the new grip from shifting and protects wood handles from absorbing sweat. This step isn’t required but may offer a little extra durability.
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Secure the End of the Grip on the Bevel of the Handle
No matter if you’re adding a new grip on a bare handle or an overgrip over an existing grip, the process is the same.
The underside contains a paper layer over the adhesive material while the outside of the grip typically has a clear plastic film to protect the surface.
Don’t remove the layers before you start wrapping the material. You’ll slowly peel back the layers as you go.
Most grips come with a sticker that you use to secure the top of the grip. Set the sticker aside and locate the starting tab of the grip.
The starting tab is often tapered and may include a red piece of tape. Place the end on the bevel of the handle.
Align the tapered end perpendicular to the handle and wrap it once around the bevel.
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Slowly Wrap the Grip Around the Handle
After securing the end of the grip to the bottom of the handle, continue wrapping.
You’ll need to wrap it at a slight angle to allow the grip to overlap itself. This is the most challenging part of the process.
Angle the grip upward about 30 degrees. Stretch the grip and pull it around the handle without applying too much pressure.
If you think that it’s at the correct angle, start working your way up the handle towards the head of the racket. As you wrap upward, pull the grip tightly without stretching the material too much.
Slowly peel back the protective layers as you wrap.
When you reach the top of the handle, you’ll likely have excess grip material. Use a pair of scissors to trim the extra material.
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Secure the Top of the Grip with Tape
To keep the grip material from slowly unraveling, the grip comes with a strip of tape. It often has branding, such as the company’s logo.
You may use the provided strip of tape or electrical tape. Over the years, I’ve had many stickers peel off, which is incredibly inconvenient during a match.
Even the best squash racket grip tape may peel. Electrical tape should provide a more secure solution.
No matter if you use the provided sticker or electrical tape, wrap it around the top of the grip to secure the end.
If you’ve just finished replacing the factory grip, you may repeat the process to add an overgrip.
Conclusion
Did you like learning how regrip your squash racket? It’s a useful thing to learn as grips don’t last forever.
Within a year or less, I find that my grips start to wear. Worn-out squash racket grips are less secure, which results in less control and power during a match.
Regripping is a relatively easy process but there are a few troublesome areas.
The hardest parts include setting the correct angle for the wrap and securing the end with tape. Take your time with these steps.
You can always partially unwrap the grip or tape and try again.
If you have any questions or feedback, leave a message in the comment section below. Feel free to share this with any other squash players to save them the hassle of buying new rackets.
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