How to Regrip a Badminton Racket: Overgrip vs Replacement Grip (UK 2026)

Most club players will happily spend £150 on a racket and then play a full season on a grip that has gone slick, shiny and slightly sticky in the wrong way. It is the cheapest fix in badminton and the one almost nobody does often enough. A worn grip forces you to squeeze harder, which kills the relaxed hand you need for a fast wrist, and it is a genuine cause of blisters and forearm fatigue.

This guide covers the difference between an overgrip and a replacement grip, how to regrip a badminton racket step by step, how thick your grip should be, and how often to change it. It takes ten minutes to learn and will make your racket feel new.

Overgrip vs replacement grip: what is the difference?

A replacement grip (sometimes called a base grip) is the thicker, cushioned grip that comes fitted on a new racket. It sits directly on the handle, usually has an adhesive backing, and is around 1.6-1.8mm thick. You remove the old one completely to fit a new one.

An overgrip is a thin, tacky wrap of roughly 0.6mm that goes on top of whatever is already there. Most badminton players use overgrips, because they are cheap, quick to change, and let you fine-tune handle thickness by adding one or two layers. The vast majority of the badminton world plays with a base grip plus one overgrip.

The practical rule: change your overgrip often, change your replacement grip rarely. If the handle feels hard and slippery even with a fresh overgrip, or the base grip has gone flat and lumpy, that is when the replacement grip needs doing.

How to regrip a badminton racket, step by step

Fitting an overgrip takes about three minutes once you have done it twice:

• Peel off the old overgrip and the small finishing tape at the top.
• Wipe the handle down so the new grip sticks cleanly.
• Start at the butt end. Most overgrips have a tapered starting edge and a small adhesive tab - line the tapered edge up with the bottom of the handle.
• Wrap upwards in a spiral, overlapping each turn by about 2-3mm. Keep firm, even tension as you go; a loose wrap will twist in your hand.
• Stop about 2cm from the top of the handle, cut at an angle if needed, and seal with the finishing tape provided.

Right-handed players wrap anti-clockwise when looking at the butt cap; left-handers wrap the opposite way. Get this backwards and the grip edges peel up as you play. If you would rather not do it yourself, our team fits grips in store, and every racket we string can have a fresh grip fitted at the same time.

What thickness should your grip be?

Badminton uses much thinner handles than tennis, because the sport is driven by finger and wrist control rather than a locked forearm. Too thick and you lose the ability to change grip mid-rally between forehand, backhand and net shots. Too thin and you over-squeeze.

The quick check: hold the racket in a relaxed forehand grip. You should be able to fit roughly the width of your index finger between your fingertips and the base of your thumb. If your fingers dig into your palm, add an overgrip. If there is a visible gap, strip a layer.

Adding layers also nudges balance very slightly towards head-light, which is why some attacking players prefer a single thin overgrip. Anyone with sweaty hands should look at towel grips instead: far more absorbent, noticeably thicker, and popular in British sports halls in summer. Browse our full racket sports collections or shop our full range to compare thicknesses.

How often should you change your grip?

Change an overgrip when it stops being tacky, goes shiny, or starts to feel damp between sessions. For most UK club players that is every 4-6 weeks; if you play three or more times a week, every 2-3 weeks is realistic. Towel grips need changing more often because they hold moisture, and a damp towel grip left in a bag will smell within days.

A replacement grip typically lasts six months to a year of regular play. Replace it when it has gone hard, when you can feel the shape of the handle bevels through it, or when the cushioning has flattened. Clubs and schools buying for a squad should look at bulk reels - the per-grip cost drops dramatically, which matters when you are kitting out twenty players.

Grips are also worth changing alongside a restring so the racket feels completely refreshed in one go. If you are due a restring, our guide to badminton restringing costs in the UK covers what to expect to pay.

Top grip picks from Central Sports

These are the grips we sell most of at centralsports.co.uk, all in stock today:

• Yonex Wet Super Grap (3 pcs) - Multicolour - £5.60. The default overgrip for most of the badminton world. Tacky, thin, and consistent. If you are not sure what to buy, buy this.
• Yonex Dry Super Grap AC149-3EX (3 pcs) - £6.18. A drier, more absorbent feel than the standard Super Grap. The better choice if your hands sweat in a warm sports hall.
• Yonex Super Grap Pure AC108EX (Single) - £2.21. A single overgrip to try before committing to a multipack.
• Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip (Single) - £2.30. Maximum absorbency and a thicker, softer feel. Change it often.
• Yonex AC102EX-30 Wet Super Grap 30 Pcs - Black - £40.50. The bulk reel for clubs, schools and anyone who wants a year of fresh grips at the lowest cost per grip.

Get the cheapest upgrade in badminton right

Learning how to regrip a badminton racket is the highest-value ten minutes you will spend on your equipment. Use an overgrip for regular changes, keep the base replacement grip for the once-a-season refresh, set the thickness so your hand stays relaxed, and change it before it goes shiny rather than after. Your racket will feel sharper and your forearm will thank you.

Central Sports supplies grips to players, clubs and schools right across the UK, and our team can fit one for you in store. See all products or shop the full badminton range and add a fresh grip to your next order.