Grip Size Conversion Charts

• 0 = 4"
• 1 = 4 1/8"
• 2 = 4 1/4"
• 3 = 4 3/8"
• 4 = 4 1/2"
• 5 = 4 5/8"

Finding Your Tennis Racquet Grip Size?

Tennis racquets are sold with grip sizes ranging from less than 4" for juniors to 4 5/8" for the largest adult hands. This might not seem like much of a range, but the difference even 1/8" makes is surprising. Too large a grip can strain your hand, and prolonged use of too small a grip can injure your hand, wrist, and elbow.

The most commonly used method for finding your exact grip size is as follows: On your dominant hand, note that your palm has three main creases. Hold your hand flat, with the fingers alongside one another. Measure from the middle crease of your palm, up the line between your middle and ring fingers, to a point equal to the height of the tip of your ring finger. For the average woman, this measurement will fall between 4 1/8" and 4 3/8", for men between 4 1/2" and 4 5/8 ". Juniors will usually measure less than 4".

Generally, if you're between eighths when you measure, you'll be better off going with the larger grip. A grip 1/16" too large will be comfortable, while a slightly small one might not. On the other hand, a slightly small grip can be fattened up easily with an overwrap, whereas a too-large grip would have to be shaved down which is not always possible. Overwraps can't fatten a grip effectively more than 1/8" though, because each layer of overwrap adds to the rounding off of the bevel edges on your handle.

For Junior Racquets, exact size matching can be difficult. Often, the best you can do is to get a racquet that's fairly close. For juniors, a grip slightly large is preferable to slightly small both for the reasons stated above, and because they will grow into it.