The short version
- An overgrip is a thin wrap that goes over the grip your paddle came with.
- Start at the butt of the handle with the tapered end and wrap upward, overlapping a little each turn.
- Keep light, even tension. Finish with the tape strip at the top.
- Replace it when it looks shiny, feels slick or starts to fray.
What an overgrip does
Your paddle comes with a base grip, which is the cushioned wrap fixed to the handle. An overgrip is a second, thinner layer that goes on top.
It does three jobs:
- Keeps your hold dry. The surface soaks up sweat, so the handle does not slide in your palm.
- Protects the base grip. The overgrip takes the wear. When it is worn, you replace it in two minutes.
- Adds a little thickness. Handy if the handle feels thin in your hand.
What you need
- One overgrip. Most come with a short strip of finishing tape.
- Scissors.
- Two minutes.
Leave the base grip on. An overgrip goes over it, not in place of it. If the old overgrip is still on the handle, take that off first.
How to put it on, step by step
1. Peel off the plastic film. Most overgrips have a thin clear film on the playing side. Take it off before you start.
2. Find the tapered end. One end of the overgrip is cut to a point, often with a small sticky patch. This is the end you start with.
3. Hold the paddle head down. Rest the paddle face between your knees or on a table, with the butt of the handle pointing up at you.
4. Start at the butt cap. Stick the tapered end to the very bottom of the handle. Wrap once around the butt, keeping the edge of the overgrip level with the end of the handle.
5. Pick your direction. If you are right-handed, wrap so the overgrip travels to the right as you look down at the butt. If you are left-handed, go the other way. This way your grip tightens the wrap as you play.
6. Wrap toward the paddle head. Angle the overgrip slightly and work your way along the handle. Overlap each turn by a few millimetres, about the width of the thin edge strip. Keep a light, steady pull so it sits flat with no wrinkles.
7. Finish at the top. When you reach the top of the handle, stop. If there is extra length, cut it at an angle so the end sits straight around the handle.
8. Tape it down. Wrap the finishing tape around the top edge, half on the overgrip and half on the handle. Press it firm.
Common mistakes
- Pulling too hard. Stretching the overgrip thins it out and it wears through sooner. Light tension is enough.
- Too much overlap. Big overlaps make the handle thick and lumpy, and you run out of length before the top.
- Too little overlap. Gaps open up as you play and the edges start to lift.
- Wrapping the wrong way. If the edges roll up under your hand, the wrap is going against your grip. Take it off and go the other way.
- Starting at the top. Always start at the butt, so each layer sits over the one before it, like roof tiles.
If it does not look right, unwrap it and start again. A new overgrip can be re-wrapped once or twice without harm.
When to replace it
There is no fixed number of games. It depends on how often you play, how much you sweat and how hot the day is. Go by look and feel instead.
Replace your overgrip when:
- It looks shiny. A matte surface that has gone glossy has lost its texture.
- It feels slick. If you are squeezing harder to keep hold of the paddle, the overgrip is done.
- It is fraying or lifting at the edges.
- It stays damp or has started to smell.
If you catch yourself wiping your hand on your shorts between points, check the overgrip first.
Making it last
- Let the handle dry after you play. Do not zip a damp paddle into a case and leave it in the car.
- Wipe the grip with a dry towel at the end of a session.
- Keep a spare roll in your bag, so a worn grip never costs you a game.
The overgrip we sell
The Dinkwell Pickleball Overgrip is a 3 cm wide wrap with a dry, tacky matte surface, sold as a single roll in five prints. It fits the Dinkwell Carbon Paddle and any standard paddle handle.
New to paddles? Our guides to head shapes and paddle thickness cover the rest.