Grip for the glass walls

Padel is played on a small court enclosed by glass walls and mesh, so the ball comes back fast and often from unexpected angles. Many points are decided by quick volleys at the net, where you have a fraction of a second to react.

Short handle, big face

A padel racket is solid, with no strings, and its handle is shorter than a tennis racket's. Your hand sits close to a heavy, wide face. If your grip slips even slightly, the face turns and the ball goes into the glass or the net instead of where you aimed.

The wrist cord is not the answer

Most padel rackets come with a wrist cord. It stops the racket from flying away, but it does nothing to stop the handle from twisting in a sweaty palm.

What helps

• Keep the overgrip fresh. Padel players often play doubles sessions back to back, so overgrips wear quickly.
• Dry your hands between points, especially in indoor courts in Indonesia where the air can be warm and still.
• Add a thin grip layer with ONGrip before you start, and top it up between sets.