IntoBadmintonFindings drawn from manufacturer specs, community sources (BadmintonCN, Reddit r/badminton, BadmintonCentral, video reviewers), and on-court testing. See our editorial process for the full citation model.
What the G-numbers mean
Yonex grip sizes use G3, G4, G5, and G6 nomenclature, where the higher number is a thinner grip. G3 is the largest commonly produced (rarely sold outside Asia). G4 is large — about 3.5 inches in circumference. G5 is medium — about 3.25 inches. G6 is small — about 3 inches. The same numbering is used on most Yonex rackets globally, though some regional retailers re-tag them with different conventions; always verify the circumference if you are unsure.
Most adult men fit G5; most adult women fit G6
These are guidelines, not laws. Tall men with large hands sometimes prefer G4. Junior players, women with smaller hands, and adults with shorter palms generally prefer G6. The wrong grip size produces predictable symptoms: too small means you over-grip the racket to keep it stable, which fatigues your forearm. Too large means you cannot rotate the racket cleanly for backhand strokes, which fatigues your wrist. If you experience either symptom after a session, your grip is the wrong size.
Victor and Li-Ning grip sizes — not directly comparable
Victor uses G2 / G4 / G5 / G6 nomenclature with different absolute measurements. A Victor G5 is roughly equivalent to a Yonex G5, but a Victor G4 is closer to a Yonex G4 / G3 mid-point. Li-Ning grip sizes use S1 / S2 / S3 conventions on some models and S0-S5 on others. The honest answer: do not assume cross-brand sizing translates directly. If you are switching brands, measure the grip circumference with a thread and ruler, then compare to your current racket.
How an overgrip changes size
A standard overgrip adds approximately 0.6mm of thickness, which translates to about half a grip size. A Yonex Super Grap on a G5 racket effectively makes it close to G4. Two overgrips push it past G4 into G3 territory. Towel grips add slightly more thickness — about 0.8mm. Use this as a fine-tuning lever: buy one size smaller than ideal and adjust with overgrips, rather than buying one size larger and trying to make a too-thick handle smaller (which involves removing the underbase grip — risky on most rackets).
Replacing the underbase vs adding overgrip
Most rackets ship with a synthetic underbase grip (Yonex Super Grap, Victor Wave, etc.). Players choose to either keep the underbase and add overgrips on top, or strip the underbase entirely and replace with a different replacement grip. Stripping the underbase is reversible but tedious; new players should start with the factory underbase plus one overgrip and only swap to a replacement grip if they find the underbase texture wrong. Towel grips replace the underbase entirely and add 1-2mm — often used by sweaty-handed players in tropical climates.
How often to replace grips
Replace overgrips every 4-12 sessions of regular play, or whenever they feel slick. Replace underbase grips every 6-12 months — they degrade slowly and are easy to ignore, but a degraded underbase changes the racket's feel meaningfully. Good rule of thumb: if your grip is darker than the day you put it on, it is probably ready for replacement.
Get the racket recommendation right first, then dial in the grip size with one or two overgrips.
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