How to Install a Tennis Overgrip

An overgrip is the thin, replaceable wrap that goes on top of your racquet's base grip. It takes about two minutes to put on, and it changes how the racquet feels in your hand more than most players expect. A fresh one soaks up sweat, adds a little cushion and gives you a secure hold late in a long match. Here's how to install one the right way.

What You Need

How to Install an Overgrip

1. Remove the old overgrip Peel off the finishing tape and unwind the old wrap from the top down. Leave the base grip in place. An overgrip goes over the base grip, not instead of it.
2. Unroll the new one Take the overgrip out of the package and remove the plastic film. Most overgrips have a small adhesive tab at the angled starting end, so peel the liner off that tab too.
3. Start at the butt cap Press the angled end against the bottom of the handle so it lines up with the edge of the butt cap. Some players let it hang slightly over the edge and wrap the first pass over it for a firmer start.
4. Pick your wrap direction Right- and left-handed players wrap in opposite directions. Hold the racquet in your normal forehand grip and wrap so the overlapping edges run the same way your fingers curl around the handle. Wrap it backward, and you'll feel a ridge catching the heel of your hand.
5. Wrap with steady tension Pull the overgrip snug as you work up the handle and overlap each pass by about 1/8 to 1/4 inch. More overlap builds a thicker handle, and less overlap keeps it thin. Keep the overlap consistent so the handle doesn't feel lumpy.
6. Trim the excess Stop where the base grip ends near the throat of the racquet. Cut the extra material at an angle so the end lies flat against the handle.
7. Tape it down Wrap the finishing tape around the end once or twice, keeping it snug and flat. That's it.

Prefer to watch it done? Here's the full process on video.

Tips for a Cleaner Wrap

Stretch the overgrip as you go, but don't overdo it. Pulling too hard thins out the material and can tear it, especially with thinner tour-style grips. If a pass goes on crooked, unwind back to that point and redo it. Trying to fix it on the next pass usually makes things worse.

Overgrips also work as a quick way to adjust grip size. A single overgrip adds roughly half a grip size, so players who sit between sizes often buy the smaller handle and build it up with an overgrip.

Tacky or Dry?

Overgrips come in two basic feels. Tacky overgrips have a slightly sticky surface that helps your hand stay put, which suits most players in normal conditions. Dry overgrips have a more absorbent, almost chalky feel and tend to work better for players with very sweaty hands or anyone playing in heat and humidity. If your current overgrip turns slick halfway through a set, try the other style. For specific picks in both categories, check out our guide to the best tennis grips.

How Often Should You Change It?

Swap it out when it feels slippery, looks shiny or starts to fray. For players who hit several times a week, that can mean a new one every few sessions. Tour players change them constantly. Jannik Sinner, for example, uses the Head Prime Tour Overgrip, and fresh grips are a standard part of a pro's match prep.

Overgrips wear out fast, so keep a few in your bag and you'll never get stuck with a slick handle in the middle of a match.