Sweating in padel: the remedies!

Ah, sweating in padel… today we are tackling a very topical subject!

Summer is coming! With the high temperatures forecast over the coming months, sweat is making its appearance on padel courts. You might say some people don't wait for summer to drip with sweat on the court… but a vast majority of players face this issue during the summer season. Playing in direct sunlight or in a hot indoor club promotes heavy sweating across the entire body.

Sweating in padel can become a real problem when it reaches the hand holding the racket. That is why a wrist strap is mandatory on all padel rackets to prevent accidents caused by dropping a racket.

Holding your racket properly is essential in padel, giving you greater confidence in your shots.

A few accessories can prove very useful depending on how much you sweat.

 

Light sweating

 

For all players who feel sweat reaching their hands during hot summer days, we recommend using a sweatband and fitting overgrips to their racket.

 

Sweatband or headband

 

 

A wristband (or sweatband) can be an excellent accessory when you feel sweat running down your arm onto your hand. This accessory allows you to stop sweat running down your arm and wipe your forehead between points, for example. In addition to being practical, it lets you complete your outfit in style with its range of colours.

Sweat is not only bothersome on your hands; it can also run down into your face. For this, terry cloth headbands are an effective remedy.

 

Overgrips

 

Not to be confused with grips, overgrips, which are much thinner, are wrapped over grips and changed more or less regularly. Some players play directly with the grip, while others prefer to use an overgrip. In both cases, you will need to replace the surface where you place your hand once it no longer grips to your liking. Note that replacing an overgrip will be easier and more affordable than replacing a grip. That is why today, most "padeleros" play with an overgrip on their padel racket.

 An overgrip also provides other very useful benefits:

• Increase handle thickness
• Enjoy greater comfort
• Absorbing sweat and increasing racket grip

It is this last point that we are going to focus on. Indeed, an overgrip can effectively absorb sweat. But beware, not all overgrips are created equal. You should opt for perforated overgrips, which absorb sweat a bit better than standard overgrips.

 

These two solutions help players who experience mild sweating issues improve their playing comfort. However, they are not miracle solutions—other accessories are more effective for this.

 

Moderate sweating

Do you sweat a bit all year round, but summer is particularly tough for you? Then you've come to the right place; simply read the following lines, as the accessories featured below have been widely adopted by players recently.

 

The famous honeycomb Hesacore grip

 

In recent years, the Hesacore grip has revolutionised the market with its innovation.

This grip, which is fitted directly onto the bare handle of the racket, has won over many padel players thanks to its advantages:

• Absorbs vibrations and reduces the risk of injury
• Improves comfort and feel for the game
• Enhances hand grip on the handle

This last point is what interests us here. Indeed, thanks to its honeycomb pattern and distinctive ridges, your hand will get a much better hold than with a traditional smooth handle.

Practical tip: Remove the original grip from your racket before fitting this sleeve grip. It comes in a box with plastic strips that allow you to install it easily.

Please note: you cannot play directly on this grip; you will need to add an overgrip to secure it on the handle.

 

Gorilla Gold® towel by Nox

 

Distributed by the Nox brand, this towel will be your ally at every change of ends. Indeed, the patented Gorilla Gold® technology has already proven itself in sports such as golf and hockey, where grip is paramount.

 Simply wipe the sweat from your handle and your hands, and this technology will repel moisture thanks to the resin it is infused with.

 

These accessories are obviously "must-haves" for any player struggling with excessive sweating, but there are more radical solutions for those who deal with it all year round and find it very difficult to "manage" their sweating during the summer.

 

Heavy sweating

For anyone dripping with sweat winter and summer alike without finding a viable solution to their sweating problems, who has tried all the options above without success, here is perhaps the miracle product to give you a fresh lease of life on the padel court!

 

4on products: for optimal grip! 

 

4on is a Swedish brand offering 2 types of products: a tacky spray and an adhesive cream. As explained in our dedicated article on 4on, these are without doubt the most effective products on the market to combat sweat and slippery rackets,

For the cream, a dab is enough to feel the adhesive effect, which works very well: the tacky sensation is noticeable without being intrusive, and the racket stays firmly in hand despite any sweat reaching the handle. The only downside is that after 45 minutes the effect wears off, so you need to reapply cream during a change of ends. 

As for the spray, it can be applied to the handle or directly to the hands and also guarantees a very secure hold on the racket by preventing slippage. Unlike the cream, the spray can last an entire match. However, the very tacky feel on the handle might be distracting during play. After the game, a thorough rinse with warm water is all it takes to remove it. 

As you will have gathered, several solutions are available to keep sweat from bothering you during your padel matches.

You can also, as I personally do in summer, combine several of these accessories during your matches. To make sure you're never hindered, you can, for example, pair a Hesacore grip with a perforated overgrip, along with a sweatband and chalk applied to your hands throughout your match. Follow these tips and you should no longer be bothered by sweat during your intense padel matches! 😊

 

Joffrey GILANT