A 1 minute read, written in September 2026 and read over again on 10 October 2026
Padel grip size and overgrips: the cheapest fix for your elbow and your control
Nearly every padel racket ships with a handle that is too thin for the hand holding it. An overgrip costs three euros and changes more than a new racket would. Here is how thick, how many, and which.
The test
Hold the racket as you would to hit a forehand and slide the index finger of your other hand between your fingertips and your palm. If it does not fit, the grip is too thin; if two fingers fit, too thick. Most rackets come one overgrip too thin for a man's hand and about right for a small woman's. A thin grip makes you squeeze, squeezing sends vibration up the forearm, and that is padel elbow in one sentence; the injury guide has the rest.
How many, and how
One overgrip is the norm; two for large hands or a racket you cannot control; three is a sign you need a different racket. Wrap from the bottom of the handle up, overlapping by a third of the width, pulling it tight, and finish with the tape it comes with. Replace it when it goes shiny and hard, roughly every month of twice-a-week play; a fresh overgrip is the cheapest confidence in the sport.
Tacky or dry
Sweaty hands or a humid club: a dry, absorbent overgrip (the Tourna type). Dry hands or a cold hall: a tacky one. Most brands sell both; Bullpadel, Head Xtreme Soft and Wilson Pro are the ones you see on tour. Buy the box of twelve; the singles are a waste.
The strap
The wrist strap is mandatory in padel and it exists because the glass is a metre from your follow-through. Wear it on the wrist, not the forearm, adjusted so the racket cannot leave your hand and cannot swing back into your leg. A frayed strap is the one piece of kit to replace immediately; replacement straps cost less than a coffee.
Your call
A ball rebounds off your back wall high and comfortable, around chest height, and both opponents are at the net. What do you play?
The bajada is the attacking shot from the back: a high glass rebound, taken early and driven down.
Hand hurts anyway?
If the grip is right and the elbow still complains, the racket is the next suspect: a hard core, a diamond shape or a head-heavy balance transmits more. The finder weights the arm question heavily and will steer you to soft and round.