Key takeaway: Unlike tennis rackets, padel rackets do not come in different grip sizes — almost every padel racket ships with one standard, deliberately slim grip. That's by design: a thinner handle suits the fast, wristy style padel demands, and it lets every player fine-tune the thickness with overgrips. If your grip feels too small, add one or two overgrips to build it up; if it feels too bulky, strip a layer back. Aim for roughly one finger's width of space between your fingertips and the base of your palm.
Do padel rackets come in different grip sizes?
No — and this surprises a lot of players coming from tennis. Tennis rackets are sold in measured grip sizes (often L0–L5). Padel rackets are not. Manufacturers almost universally fit a single, standardised grip that runs on the slim side, so the same racket works for a teenager and a tall adult straight out of the bag.
The reasoning is practical. Padel is a game of quick reactions, sharp wrist movements and frequent grip changes at the net. A slimmer handle makes those transitions faster and gives you more feel through the wrist. Starting thin also means you can always add thickness to taste — whereas a too-thick handle would be far harder to slim down.
So the real question isn't "what grip size should I buy?" It's "how do I dial in the grip on the racket I already have?" That's where overgrips do the heavy lifting.
How to find your perfect padel grip fit
There's a simple, reliable check used across racket sports:
- Hold the racket in your normal forehand grip (the "shake hands" position).
- Look at the gap between the tips of your fingers and the base of your thumb and palm.
- You want about one finger's width of space there.
If your fingers dig into your palm with no gap, the grip is too small — build it up. If you can't comfortably wrap your hand around and there's a large gap, it's too big — take a layer off. When in doubt, err thinner and add an overgrip.
Why grip size actually matters
A grip that's too thin forces you to squeeze harder just to keep the racket stable through contact. Over a long session that extra tension travels up the chain — tired hands and forearms, and over time a higher risk of wrist and tennis-elbow style strain. A grip that's too thick is slower to rotate for volleys and can reduce wrist snap on smashes.
Getting the thickness right reduces how tightly you have to hold the racket, improves control and consistency, and protects your arm. It's one of the cheapest performance upgrades in the game.
How to increase your padel grip size
The standard fix is overgrips — thin wraps that go over the racket's existing base grip.
- One overgrip adds a small amount of thickness and is the most common setup, giving you tack and sweat absorption.
- Two overgrips noticeably build the handle up for players with larger hands or anyone who finds the stock grip too slim.
- For a bigger jump, add a heat-shrink sleeve or grip build-up tape under the overgrip, then wrap as normal.
Overgrips also bring a tired grip back to life: they restore tack, soak up sweat, and save your base grip from wearing out.
How to decrease your padel grip size
If even the bare handle feels too thick — less common, but it happens for smaller hands — you can remove the factory base grip and replace it with a single thin overgrip. This slims the handle to its minimum and shaves a little weight off the racket too. Go gently and wrap a fresh grip on straight away for comfort and tack.
Padel vs tennis grips: the quick contrast
| Tennis | Padel | |
| Sold in grip sizes? | Yes (L0–L5) | No — one standard size |
| Stock grip thickness | Varies by size | Deliberately slim |
| How you customise | Buy your size, then overgrip | Add or remove overgrips |
| Why | Power and stability from a fuller grip | Fast hands and wrist feel |
The takeaway: with padel, the overgrip is your sizing tool, not the factory.
Choosing the right overgrip
Once you've decided how much thickness you want, the overgrip itself comes down to feel:
- Tacky overgrips grip the hand and suit dry conditions or players who like a stuck-on feel.
- Dry / perforated overgrips wick sweat and suit humid courts or sweaty hands.
- Thickness varies slightly between overgrips, so you can fine-tune fit by choice of grip as well as by how many you stack.
Browse the full range in the AIXO grips collection to match your fit, feel and colour.
FAQ
Do all padel rackets have the same grip size?
Effectively yes. Almost every padel racket ships with a single, standardised grip that runs slim, so there are no L0–L5 style options like in tennis. You adjust the thickness yourself with overgrips.
My padel grip feels too small — what do I do?
Add an overgrip. One overgrip suits most players; add a second if you have larger hands or still feel like you're squeezing too hard. Aim for roughly one finger's width of space between fingertips and palm.
Can I make a padel grip thinner?
Yes. Remove the factory base grip and replace it with a single thin overgrip. This gives you the slimmest possible handle and trims a little weight.
How many overgrips can I put on a padel racket?
Most players run one; two is common for a fuller feel. Beyond two the handle can start to feel bulky and slow to rotate, so build up gradually and test how it plays.
Does grip size affect padel elbow or wrist pain?
It can. A grip that's too thin makes you squeeze harder, adding tension through the wrist and forearm over long sessions. Dialling in the right thickness reduces that load and helps protect your arm.
Gear up with AIXO
A fresh grip is the cheapest upgrade in racket sports. AIXO overgrips fit padel, pickleball, tennis and squash: