Many people come to this question thinking they have to choose. They do not: undergrips and overgrips do not compete, they stack. One goes underneath and the other on top, and each solves a different problem.
Here is the difference, straight to the point.
The order of the layers
From the inside out, a padel racket handle has:
- The factory handle — the base of the racket, usually made of rubber or a hard synthetic material.
- The undergrip — an optional middle layer.
- The overgrip — the layer your hand touches.
The overgrip is the one you change every few weeks. The undergrip lasts much longer because it is not in direct contact with sweat.
What an overgrip does
The overgrip is the contact surface. Its job is to stop the racket moving in your hand.
It determines:
- Grip, especially when you sweat
- Feel: tacky, dry, textured
- A small adjustment in thickness
- The look: it is the visible part
It is the layer that takes the most punishment and the one you need to replace.
What an undergrip does
The undergrip works where you cannot see it. It is not about grip — the overgrip already takes care of that — but about three things:
Dampening vibration. This is its main function. Every impact generates a wave that travels from the face to the handle and from there to your wrist and elbow. A middle layer absorbs part of that energy before it reaches you.
Building up the handle. If your racket handle feels too thin, an undergrip increases the diameter without having to wrap two overgrips (which is what many people do, and it works badly because the inner one wrinkles).
Making your grip more consistent. A hard factory handle transmits everything. With a middle layer, your hand rests on something that gives slightly, and that lets you play with less tension.
Which one do you need?
| If your problem is... | What you need |
|---|---|
| My racket slips when I sweat | Non-slip overgrip |
| My elbow or wrist hurts | Undergrip + overgrip |
| The handle feels too thin | Undergrip |
| The racket feels very hard on impact | Undergrip |
| My grip wears out in two weeks | Silicone overgrip |
| I want to change colour often | Overgrip |
The three most common mistakes
1. Wrapping two overgrips to build up the handle. The bottom one wrinkles with use and creates lumps you can feel in your hand. That is what an undergrip is for.
2. Removing the factory handle. There is no need, and on many rackets it makes the feel worse. The undergrip goes over the original handle, not in place of it.
3. Changing the undergrip at the same time as the overgrip. It does not need it. The undergrip lasts for months because the overgrip protects it.
Our approach
The Helix Pro Grip is the overgrip: non-slip silicone with a helix texture that channels sweat away instead of absorbing it. It goes on in under a minute, with no glue, and lasts up to ten times longer than a fabric overgrip.
The Helix Pro Invicta is the undergrip: it goes underneath, reduces vibration and fatigue, and adds control without you having to squeeze too hard. Helps prevent tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis): it dampens vibration and lets you grip without over-squeezing, two of the causes that load the elbow the most. If you already have persistent elbow pain, see a professional. We explain it in depth in padel undergrip: what it is and what it does.
Together they cover both halves of the problem: grip on the outside and cushioning on the inside. And if your hands sweat a lot, the roll-on grip aid adds an extra boost just before you step on court.
Everything together in padel grips and overgrips.
In a nutshell
The overgrip stops the racket slipping out of your hand. The undergrip stops playing from taking its toll on you. If you can only choose one, start with the overgrip; if you already feel discomfort, use both.
And if you are not sure when to change them, here are the concrete signs.
Helix Pro Grip is a Spanish brand of silicone grips with a design registered with the EUIPO. Over 100,000 grips sold.