Karakal squash grips are probably the most popular squash grips in the world.
Personally I’ve always played with Tourna Grip overgrip, which was pretty fly back in the college days, much like my terrycloth headband, but I don’t see too many players using it today. Recently I got some tips from Chris and D that most of the pro players are using either Karakal or Pointfore grips. I haven’t tried either of these directly but I will make it a point to give them a whirl.
Replacement Grips: Karakal PU Super Grip | PU Super Grip Duo | PU Super Grip Multi | PU Air | Kushy | Tribal | X-Air | X-Gel | X-Rip | X-Tra
Overgrips: X-Dri | X-Tak | Point-75 Air
Replacement Grips
These are Karakal replacement grips, meaning you remove the existing grip from your racket and put this on instead.
Karakal PU Super Grip
The most popular of Karakal’s grips is the Karakal PU Super Grip.
What’s the PU for, you ask? Polyurethane? Pathetic Uncle? It’s one of those, but I’m not telling you which. I will tell you one more clue: these grips are Super Tacky.
There are a couple different packaging variations for this product:
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Here are some places to buy the Karakal PU Super Grips. These are affiliate links, so if you end up buying something I will get a small credit - thanks!
Buy (Australia): ebay.com.au
Buy (Canada): racquet-science.com
Buy (France): amazon.fr | dlsports.eu
Buy (Germany): amazon.de | dlsports.eu
Buy (Netherlands): dlsports.eu
Buy (UK): amazon.co.uk
Buy (US): amazon.com | squashgalaxy.com | squashgear.com
Search:Karakal PU Super Grip Duo
There’s also the Karakal PU Super Grip Duo replacement grip. It’s two colors combined:
Image via amazon.com
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Buy (Canada): racquet-science.com
Buy (US): amazon.com | squashgalaxy.com | squashgear.com
Search:Karakal PU Super Grip Multi
This one is the Karakal PU Super Grip Multi replacement grip. I guess the multi is for multi-colored, just not as obviously multi-colored as the Duo grips above.
Image via my-squash.com
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Buy (US): squashgalaxy.com | squashgear.com
Search:Karakal PU Air Grip
Here’s the Karakal PU Air grip replacement grip. These literally have more air — they are filled with holes to help the grip breathe.
Image via pdhsports.com
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Search:Karakal Kushy Grip
“Extra thick super tacky cushion feel.”
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Buy (US): squashgear.com
Search:Karakal Tribal Grip
Also replacement grips. These seem to have sort of a funky design at the bottom of the grip handle.
Photo via karakal.com
Image via amazon.com
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Buy (US): amazon.com
Search:Karakal X-Gel Grip
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Search:Karakal X-Gel Grip
I’m not sure of the difference between these and the PU Air grips (they look similar):
Image via amazon.co.uk
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Buy (Canada): racquet-science.com
Buy (France): amazon.fr
Buy (Germany): amazon.de
Buy (UK): amazon.co.uk
Buy (US): amazon.com | squashgalaxy.com | squashgear.com
Search:Karakal X-Rip Grip
A replacement grip featuring a “concealed contour ridge and breathable surface”. Will says in the comments this means there is a covered bump along the middle of the grip.
Image via amazon.co.uk
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Buy (UK): amazon.co.uk
Buy (US): amazon.com | squashgalaxy.com | squashgear.com
Search:Karakal X-Tra Grip
These have a “raised external ridge for added control with a breathable surface.”
Image via amazon.co.uk
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Buy (UK): amazon.co.uk
Buy (US): squashgalaxy.com | squashgear.com
Search:Overgrips
These are overgrips, meaning you put them over top of your existing grip.
Karakal X-Dri Overwrap
This is an overgrip from Karakal:
Image via pdhsports.com
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Buy (US): squashgear.com
Search:Karakal X-Tak Overwrap
Another overgrip, this one being extra-tacky:
Image via karakal.com
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Buy (UK): amazon.co.uk
Search:Karakal Point-75 Air
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Buy (US): squashgear.com
Search:
B says
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Hi guys
Does anyone know why grip Mo Elshorbagy uses? I think it looks like the karakal pu super grip – does anyone know?
Will says
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X-RIP grip – ““concealed contour ridge and breathable surface” means that there is a covered bump alone the middle of the grip
Pierre says
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Thanks Will, updated
Ilija says
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Hi Pierre,
I was just wondering whether the Karakal PU Air Grips are replacement grips or just over grips?
Thanks,
Ilija
Pierre says
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Hi Ilija, they are replacement grips. Thanks
João says
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A few input on Karakal’s X-line: I exchanged some notes w/ Karakal some time ago as I was looking for a slightly thicker PU grip after some frustrating efforts to use an overgrip. They told me to check the X-line and confirmed that, between the x-air and the X-gel, the X Gel is the thicker of the 2 as it has a cushioned back. Been playing with the X-Gel since then and very happy with it.
willy says
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in my opinion, I’ve tried all the grips, and the karakal PU grips are by far the best, in terms of over all quality. note I’m speaking of the single color ones, not the multi colored ones… etc. if you were to split hairs a little bit the yellow black and white do feel nicer and last longer, and the green and orange do feel a bit slippery and the red does feel dry but these grips still surpass all others for replacement grips. if u use over grips it’s tourna grips – no question on that
Rod Foster says
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i love love the wilson over grips
i do use karakal for regrips..love the squishy one and the one w/ ridges/groovy i think it is called?
as for over grips…i’ve tried wilson, ashaway, gamma, tourna, and karakal
karakal and wilson for the win!
but also, just personal preference.
Ben says
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Hi everyone, I recommend the Karakal PU Duo squash grip, which I use, great look and colours, very tacky, thick and absorbent, also i would recommend using prince DuraPro+ Indoor Replacement Grip, they can be expensive but i think they are worth it, as they are even better quality.
Ben
M says
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I’ve used these grips for a long time along with experimenting a few other brands. Honestly, the colours for each assorted solid colour feels the same for most intents and purposes. If I were to seriously split hairs then yes I would agree that the black feels a wee bit harder than the rest, and overall, the white and yellow feels the best. The “multi” coloured karakal PU super grips also feel just as great, the ones with streaky lines on the grip. Be wary of the “duo” version though, the bi-coloured grip, i guarantee that it’s slightly thicker than the regular pu super grip and hence you may need to overlap less. In addition it just doesn’t feel as grippy and soft. I would stay away from the “love” and the “tribal” grips as well. They slip easily.
Regarding replacement grips vs overgrips, I would recommend overgrips only to those who really really sweat a lot, if not, overgrips for squash is not recommended unless you intend to apply it beneath your replacement grip just to build the thickness of your grip. Reason being the overlaps with a replacement grip gives the really nice “ribbed” texture which provides and excellent feel and grip.
Pierre Bastien says
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Thanks M!
Roy says
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I mostly use an overgrip, will definitely try Karakal next time. Currently I am using Dunlop Gecko Tac Overgrip as I dont like changing the factory grip the racquet comes with.
Bill says
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I have to agree that I experience a different degree of tackiness in color. The white and black are both more durable and tacky. I haven’t tried the yellow though. Thanks for the tip.
Like D, I’ve also resorted to putting ultra tacky overgrip. Some are thinner than others. I’ve tried tennis overgrips and had good results with Slazenger and Gamma.
D says
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I also love these grips, but I prefer the tackiness and longevity of Yonex Supergrap overgrips, which are extremely popular in tennis. It seems like no one uses overgrips in squash. I also find that it’s easier to swap overgrips then redoing the grip.
What I do these days is put on the grip with minimal overlap, to make it as thin as possible, then adding the Yonex on top. It ends up being the same thickness as how I would have overlapped a regular grip.
Brock in HK says
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One thing to note about these grips is that each color has different grip characteristics and stability on the racquet handle itself. For example, the green grip is less tacky in sticking to the grip and slides around on the racquet handle. The grip itself is about as tacky as the others on the hand, although not quite. Best bet for consistency is the 24 pack of yellow grips.
Pierre says
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Thanks Brock that’s great info! I will update the post shortly with your insight.
Bopper says
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Many people swear that the colours are different,and a lot claim that the yellow ones are the tackiest. However, I think that this may be more a matter of the mind than reality. I’ve used Karakal grips for a long time and found them all to be pretty much the same.
Pierre says
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Thanks Bopper!
Tjeerd says
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Well, I play with these grips for over 15 years now, and tried about every color you can get. When you just re-gripped your racket, all colors have about the same stickyness and feel. However, after playing a few matches, you can feel (and see) some differences.
I can confirm the behaviour of the green grips; the texture to me felt a bit “loose”, and after playing a few matches they – indeed – seem to slide around.
The black grips tend to be more durable, however after a short while they get a bit hard.
In my perception, the yellow ones give you the best, soft, confortable “cushion” feel.
Pierre says
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Thanks Tjeerd!