Keep A Spare Overgrip In The Racquet Bag

A spare overgrip belongs in the racquet bag, not in the drawer where I remember it only after the old one has already become slippery.

I learned this on a Saturday tennis session. The grip felt fine during warm-up, then started moving in my hand once the court got hot. I had a replacement at home, which was exactly as useful as a rain jacket hanging in the closet during a downpour.

Now the bag has a small backup kit:

• one unopened overgrip
• finishing tape
• a cheap pair of scissors
• a pencil for writing the date on the wrapper

The overgrip does not need to be installed immediately. It only needs to be where the racquet is. When the current grip starts feeling slick, I can replace it before the next match instead of improvising with electrical tape or playing around the problem.

I also check the spare when I repack the bag. If I used it, the replacement goes on the next shopping list. The useful part is not the particular overgrip. It is having one available before the grip becomes the whole tennis problem.