The Mysterious World of Tennis Racket Bits’n’Bobs

Absorbers, dampeners, grips, overgrows and grommets – Luke Henley helps us to understand what these are and why (or if) they matter!

When you play tennis you are bound to come across some racket related bits’n’bobs – such as tennis racket absorbers, dampeners, grips, overgrows and grommets – that you’re not quite sure about. Luke Henley, qualified ESRA stringer, provides a no-nonsense introduction to help any player, experienced or new, to understand what these are and why (or if) they matter!

Do I really need a dampener?
What is the truth behind string dampeners?
- Does it do anything?
- Where should you put them? What do the rules of tennis say?
Grips
- What grip does your racket come with when you buy it?
- We often see some players adding extra grips to their racket. Why do they do that?
- What different types of grips are there?
Grommet strips
- What is a grommet strip?
- Why are they so important?

Key Take-Aways

With regard to shock absorbers/dampeners this is entirely down to personal preference regardless of the level you play at. You’ll find people who prefer to play with one and those who prefer to play without across the board.
.. again this is another personal choice as some people prefer a tackier feel, whilst others prefer to opt for a drier feel etc. The most important issue when it comes to grips is making sure it the correct size! I see a lot of people playing with the incorrect size for them and both too big and too small can lead to injury problems such as tennis elbow! If your grip is the correct size then you should be able to fit your index finger in the gap on the grip when you are holding it in your forehand grip.
.. we touched upon this earlier. I cannot express enough that if it overly worn then just get it replaced when you have your racket restrung (you need to have a restring for this work to be carried out). Not changing it for the sake of £10 will result in premature string breaks and a decreased lifespan for your rackets. All of a sudden you could be looking at a new frame of over £100 or more instead of a one off £10 that will likely last months of not years once replaced. I consider this so important that I do not charge for fitting them (they can be incredibly fiddly and time consuming) or make any money out of them!

inspire2coach

The Mysterious World of Tennis Racket Bits’n’Bobs

Absorbers, dampeners, grips, overgrows and grommets – Luke Henley helps us to understand what these are and why (or if) they matter!

Key Take-Aways

Full series on understanding and caring for your racket

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