Squash Racket Grip Guide UK 2026: Overgrip vs Replacement, Sizing and When to Change
Quick answer: A squash racket grip comes in two types. A replacement grip is the thicker base layer that bonds to the bare handle and is changed every three to four months. An overgrip is a thin tacky or towelling wrap that goes on top and is changed every 10 to 15 hours of play — roughly monthly if you play twice a week, at £2 to £6 a time. If the racket twists in your hand on a hard drive, the grip is already past it.
Grip is the cheapest performance upgrade in squash and the one club players neglect longest. Every shot where you subconsciously tighten your hand to stop the racket moving is a shot where your wrist stops working. Here is how to get it right, using what is actually in stock at Central Sports today.
Replacement grip vs overgrip: what is actually different
The two look similar on the shelf and do different jobs. A replacement grip is 1.5mm to 1.8mm thick, has an adhesive backing strip and sits directly on the bare handle, providing the cushioning and shape you feel through your palm — it is what came fitted to your racket. An overgrip is around 0.5mm thick, has only a small piece of finishing tape, and is a consumable for managing sweat and tack. Most players should run one of each: the base grip stays for months, the overgrip gets swapped whenever it stops feeling sticky.
One point UK guides rarely make: layering an overgrip over a replacement grip adds roughly 5g to 8g at the handle end. On a 120g frame that is a genuine shift towards head-light balance. If a double-wrapped handle suddenly feels sluggish through the swing, you have moved the balance point, not imagined it.
How often should you change a squash grip?
- Once or twice a week: overgrip every four to five weeks, replacement grip every three to four months.
- Three or four times a week: overgrip every two weeks, replacement grip every six to eight weeks.
- Junior squads, league and box matches: overgrip weekly in summer, and carry a spare to tournaments.
Do not wait for it to look worn. The signal is the racket moving in your hand at contact on a hard straight drive — a grip goes slick long before it looks tatty. Two other tells: it is noticeably darker than it was, and it starts colouring your palm. Done properly this costs a twice-a-week player £30 to £60 a year, less than one restring.
Squash grip sizing: there is only one handle size
This is the biggest source of confusion and almost nobody spells it out. Unlike tennis, where you pick a handle size from L1 to L4, squash rackets are made in one handle size only. Every frame on our squash rackets page arrives with the same slim handle.
So if yours feels too thin — and for large hands it will — you do not buy a bigger racket, you build the handle up. Each overgrip layer adds about 0.5mm of diameter all the way round; two layers over the base grip is common and three is not unusual. To go thinner, strip the replacement grip off and run an overgrip on the bare handle. Test it the old way: wrap your hand round the grip and you should just fit the index finger of your other hand into the gap between fingertips and thumb base.
PU, tacky, towel or gel: which suits your hand
Grip material is really a question of what your hands do when you get hot. PU replacement grips are the safe default — cushioned, slightly tacky, absorbent enough for most players. Tacky overgrips suit dry to moderately sweaty hands: they grab immediately, but once sweat beats the tack they go slippery fast. Towel grips absorb sweat instead of resisting it, giving the most secure hold in a hot hall, but they hold moisture, get heavy and need changing far more often — never leave one zipped in a bag overnight. Gel and textured grips sit in between and add cushioning, worth a look if you get wrist or elbow soreness, because cushioning damps the vibration coming up the handle.
And if your hands sweat heavily, no material fully solves it — you are treating the symptom. Grip powder, a chalk-based drying powder for your hands rather than the racket, costs a few pounds, lasts a season and does more for a heavy sweater than upgrading from a £4 overgrip to a £7 one. Two free habits help too: dry your hand on a court towel between rallies rather than an already damp shirt, and take the racket out of the bag when you get home. A grip that dries between sessions lasts about twice as long.
How to regrip a squash racket in five minutes
- Unwrap the old grip and clean any leftover adhesive off the handle with a dry cloth.
- Start at the butt end. Peel the backing strip and line the tapered edge up square across the bottom bevel.
- Wrap upward under light, even tension, overlapping each turn by 2mm to 3mm. Gaps are worse than overlaps — a gap becomes a ridge you feel on every shot.
- Stop 15cm to 20cm short of the throat, cut at an angle if needed, and seal with the finishing tape.
- If it comes out crooked, unwrap and redo it. Nobody gets it right first time.
Top grip picks from Central Sports
All confirmed in stock when this guide was written. The full grips range has more options.
- Karakal X-Rip Replacement Grip (Single) — £6.46. Textured base grip from the brand that defined squash grips. The ridges give you something to hold when your hand is damp. Our default base-layer pick.
- Karakal X-Tak Overgrips (3 Pieces) — £4.73. Three tacky overgrips for under a fiver, about six weeks of twice-a-week play. If you buy one thing here, buy this.
- Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip (Single) — £2.30. The cheapest genuine fix for heavy sweating, at the cost of changing it more often.
- Karakal X-Gel Replacement Grip (Single) — £6.18. Extra palm cushioning. Pick this if off-centre hits leave your wrist or elbow sore.
- Ashaway Grip Powder — £5.53. Treats the cause rather than the symptom, and the most overlooked item in any squash bag.
Clubs and coaches buying for a squad should look at the Karakal PU Super Grip 24-piece box at £60.80 — roughly £2.53 a grip, about half the single-unit price. We supply plenty of South Wales clubs and schools this way.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I change my squash grip?
Change an overgrip every 10 to 15 hours of play — monthly if you play twice a week, fortnightly if you play three or four times. Change the replacement grip underneath every three to four months, or sooner if it has compressed flat.
What is the difference between a squash overgrip and a replacement grip?
A replacement grip is around 1.5mm thick with adhesive backing and goes onto the bare handle for cushioning. An overgrip is around 0.5mm thick, goes over the top, and is a cheap consumable for sweat and tack.
Can I use a tennis or badminton grip on a squash racket?
Yes — grips are effectively interchangeable across squash, badminton and tennis. A squash handle is shorter, so you may have some left over, and badminton grips run thinner, which suits players wanting a slim handle.
Do squash rackets come in different grip sizes?
No. Squash rackets are made in a single handle size. If the handle feels thin, add overgrip layers — about 0.5mm of diameter each — or fit a thicker cushioned replacement grip.
How many overgrips can I put on a squash racket?
Two over the base grip is common and three works for large hands. Beyond that the handle loses its bevel shape, so you stop being able to feel how the racket face is angled.
Get the grip right first
Before spending £100 on a new frame, spend £5 on a fresh overgrip and play a week with it. If you do want a new racket, our best squash rackets guide covers every level, and the full squash range at centralsports.co.uk is in stock now. Badminton players can find the same advice in our badminton grips buying guide.