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One of the primary reasons people choose a towel grip is its exceptional sweat-absorbing properties. As badminton is a physically
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Raquex Evolve Overgrip Review
Written by
In my opinion, a good badminton grip is as vital as a quality racket, especially in high-intensity sports like badminton where quick grip changes are a constant occurrence. I have found that changing my grip can instantly improve my game and I always come away thinking “Why didn’t I change this sooner?!”.
Here, we review the Raquex Evolve Overgrip, which is a great starting point for beginners, but falls down when testing some of the more important and functional aspects of the grip.
Ideal For - Beginners
Pros
- Affordable Price
- Variety of Colors and Styles
- Ease of Application
- Suitable for Beginners
Cons
- Lack of Comfort
- Durability Concerns
- Absorbency Issues
The Evolve Overgrip by the Raquex company, founded in the UK in 2019, is “Amazon’s Choice” with over a hundred 5-star reviews.
We performed several tests and rated each grip we tested according to 7 different categories. We found that the Raquex Evolve Overgrip was middle of the road for all of the categories, making it a good grip for beginners to try when getting into the world of grips. To see how it stacks up against the others, check out our other article Best Badminton Grips.
It is an overgrip, which means that it can be wrapped over the existing grip or be used as a stand-alone grip if you want a thinner grip.
If you want more general information about grips, check out our article Everything You Need To Know About Badminton Grips.
Let’s see how we ranked the Raquex Evolve Overgrip after our in-house tests. All the grips we talk about have been bought, tried, tested, and scored out of 10 in each of our 7 categories to give you the best information for picking your next grip.
Tackiness - 7/10
What we thought
- Slightly Tacky
- Soft Feel
The Raquex Evolve Overgrip has a slightly tacky finish with a soft feel. It is good enough that it makes an amazing difference when you go from a worn-out grip to a new grip. However, if you require ultimate precision then maybe the Raquex Evolve Overgrip isn’t for you, as we found that it may move in your hand when playing powerful shots. The tackiness doesn’t compare to some of the other grips we tested.
The Test
To determine how tacky (or grippy) the grips were, we had one person hold the racket on the grip side and the other person try to pull the racket out of their hand. Depending on how easy it was for the person holding the grip to hold onto the racket determined the tackiness score of the grip.
Comfort - 6/10
What we thought
- Nice Texture
- Thin feel
- Shouldn’t use Alone
We found that the Raquex Evolve Overgrip is relatively thin meaning that there isn’t much padding on the grip, not unsurprising as it is an overgrip. We found that due to the thinness of the grip it shouldn’t be used as a solo grip, unlike others such as the Yonex Super Grap overgrip. It is best used in combination with a replacement grip, a second overgrip, or apply over the top of your existing base grip.
The Test
After re-griping the racket the team each held the racket and ranked how comfy the grip was to hold.
Durability - 6/10
What we thought
- Loss of Tackiness
- Durable-ish
- Wear After One Game
The company claims a high level of durability thanks to its premium material construction but we found that the durability was middle of the road. We found that even after just one game, we could see wear on the handle at the base.
The Test
To test the durability of the grip, we used an exfoliating glove as an accelerated stress test, rubbed the grip for 30 seconds, and ranked them based on the amount of wear we saw on the grips.
Style - 7/10
What we thought
- 5 Different Colors
- Different Patterns
- Perfect for Fashionistas
Supplied as a pack of 5, Raquex Evolve Overgrip comes in blue, red, yellow, orange, and black. In addition to colors, you can also get them in various patterns such as stripes and camo. These options make the Raquex Evolve Overgrip highly ranked for style.
The Test
We ranked each grip from 2 to 10 based on the number of available colors and patterns that can be purchased for that grip.
Absorbency - 6/10
What we thought
- Minimal Absorbancy
- Slippy when wet
We felt that the absorbancy of the grip wasn’t fantastic. The grip was slippy after wetting the hand, unlike grips which have good absorbency, which may be due to the thinness of the grip tape. Although Raquex claims to have good absorbency properties due to its “Unique arrow design to direct moisture away from the surface of the grip”, this is not what we found.
The Test
To test the absorbency of each group, we first put our hand in a bowl of water and gave it a shake-off to give a level of wetness to the hand that would simulate sweating. We then tested how this simulated sweat affect the grip.
Ease of Regrip - 7/10
What we thought
- Ok to regrip
- Instructions provided
- Speed – 2 min 17 sec
We found that the Raquex Evolve Overgrip was OK to regrip. We were provided with instructions, a pre-cut, self-adhesive, starting end, and finishing tape to secure the top end. However, we found it the fiddliest grip to regrip. As a result, it was the slowest grip out of all the grips to regrip in our speed trial.
The Test
To determine how easy it is to regrip a racket using each grip, we took into consideration two factors.
1) Whether or not instructions were provided when purchased and
2) We performed a speed test to see how fast we could regrip a racket.
Price - 7/10
What we thought
- Good Value for Beginners
- Price Ranges
- Pay More for Style
One of the standout features of the Raquex Evolve Overgrip is its affordability. The price ranges from £2.30 – £3.00 depending on the number of grips bought. It offers good value for players who want to maintain a reliable grip without breaking the bank, with enough colors to keep your racket feeling new. While it may not last as long as some premium overgrips, it provides an effective and budget-friendly solution for players of all levels. However, as we have seen, the value of the grip falls when testing the important and functional aspects of the grip. Therefore, we conclude that the Raquex Evolve Overgrip is more suited to beginners than established players who are looking to improve their game.
The Test
As for price, we considered the actual price of one grip and the value of buying the grip in bulk. Then using these prices and by taking into consideration the scores of each category, we scored each grip on whether it was good value or not.
Overall - 46/70
Raquex Evolve Overgrip
In summary, the Raquex Evolve Overgrip is a cost-effective solution for beginners seeking to move on from their racket’s starter grip. Its affordability makes it a practical choice for those looking to enhance their performance on the court without a significant investment.
Style-conscious players will love the extensive color and pattern choices available, allowing you to make your racket more personal to you.
However, we couldn’t ignore how it failed to measure up on some of the more important and functional aspects of a grip compared to more premium grips available.
The grip wasn’t particularly tacky, a crucial factor for making precise shots in badminton. It also wasn’t as comfortable as other overgrips available, feeling thin, and therefore needing either a replacement grip or a second overgrip underneath to increase padding.
The durability was also lacking compared to other premium grips, meaning you would have to change the grip more often.
In summary, the Raquex Evolve Overgrip is a cost-effective solution for beginners but is lacking in key aspects and is not a grip for established players looking to bring their game up a level.
If you want to see how it stacks up against the other grips we tested, check out our article Best Badminton Grips.
Is this your next grip?
Other Raquex Options
Here are some of the other options that Raquex has on offer.
Raquex Evoke Overgrip
Raquex Endure Overgrip
Raquex Enhance Grip
If you wish to purchase any of these grips, using the links in this article means that we receive a commission from the company on your purchase at absolutely no cost to you. So by clicking these links, you help support the free content we provide here.
See how it Stacks Up Against its Competitors
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