Grip Tape
Wrapping applied to a handle for traction and sweat absorption; in skateboarding, the abrasive sheet bonded to the top of the deck.
Definition
In racket and stick sports, grip tape is a wrap applied around the handle to improve traction, cushioning and moisture control. Players distinguish a replacement grip, the thicker base wrap on the handle, from an overgrip, a thin tacky layer wound over the top and changed frequently as it absorbs sweat.
The term carries a different meaning in skateboarding, where grip tape is the sandpaper-like adhesive sheet bonded to the top of the deck so the rider's feet stay planted. In both cases the shared idea is a replaceable, high-friction surface between the athlete and the equipment.
Meaning by sport
This term is used differently across sports:
- Tennis
- A replacement grip or overgrip wound around the racket handle for tack and sweat absorption.
- Badminton
- Towelling or synthetic grip and overgrip wrapped around the handle to manage sweat and improve hold.
- Skateboarding
- The abrasive, adhesive-backed sheet applied to the top of the deck for foot traction.
Where you’ll hear “grip tape”
Sports that use this term:
Tennis
A singles or doubles racquet sport that blends agility, strategy and stamina on court.
Badminton
A fast indoor racquet sport played with a shuttlecock that rewards agility and touch.
Padel
A sociable, doubles-first racquet sport played in an enclosed court where the walls stay in play.
POP Tennis
A friendly, easy-to-learn racquet sport on a smaller court with solid paddles and a lower net.
Skateboarding
A creative board sport of rolling, balancing and learning tricks on streets, paths and skateparks.
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Equipment
- Tennis racquetA strung frame with a handle used to hit the ball in tennis.
- Padel racketA solid, stringless perforated racket used to play padel.
- Tennis ballA hollow rubber ball covered in felt used in tennis and related racquet sports.
- Mountain bikeA rugged bicycle built to handle rough, off-road terrain.
- KettlebellA cast weight with a looped handle used for swinging and strength exercises.
Techniques
- One-Handed BackhandA backhand groundstroke struck with a single hand on the grip, driving through the ball with a full extension of the hitting arm.
- Table Tennis Forehand DriveA controlled attacking stroke in table tennis, played on the forehand side with a compact swing and light topspin.
- Topspin ForehandA forehand groundstroke hit with a low-to-high swing that puts forward spin on the ball so it dips and kicks up on landing.
- Tennis ServeThe overhead stroke that starts every point, hit from behind the baseline into the diagonally opposite service box.
- Jump ShotA basketball shot released at the top of a vertical jump, letting the shooter get the ball over a defender with a soft, arcing release.
Disciplines
- VertVert skateboarding is ridden on a large halfpipe whose walls curve to vertical at the top, letting skaters rise above the coping to perform aerial tricks.
- StreetStreet skateboarding centers on performing tricks over obstacles like stairs, rails, ledges, and gaps that mirror features found in urban environments.
- Top-Rope ClimbingA roped format where the rope runs up to an anchor at the top of the route and back down, so the climber is held from above throughout the ascent.
- ParkPark skateboarding is ridden in a course of curved bowls, ramps, and transitions, where skaters use momentum to link tricks into continuous flowing runs.
Skills
Skills Academy
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How this page is maintained
- Content type
- Term
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
- Verified external sources
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- Content updated
- 2026-08-04
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