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Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip
The Yonex AC402EX is the towel grip designed by one of the Titans of the Badminton World. It is a grip that is made out of 100% Cotton and is specifically designed for players who have sweaty hands causing their grip to become slippy and affecting their performance. The absorbant towel material helps absorb the sweat keeping the grip nice and dry.
Victor Towel Grip
Similar to the Yonex AC402EX grip, the Victor Towel Grip is also made out of 100% Cotton for that absorbent soft feel. Victor Towel Grip in a 12m reel of self-adhesive toweling grip for ultimate sweat absorption. With a brand name originating from the word “victory”, will the Victor Towel grip win this head-to-head?
Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip
Pros
- Exceptional Absorbency
- Durable Build
- Regripping Ease
- Trusted Brand
Cons
- Limited Tackines
- Minimal Color Range
- Pricing
Victor Towel Grip
Pros
- Exceptional Absorbency
- Soft Feel
- Customizable Length
- Value for Bulk Purchase
Cons
- Limited Tackines
- Regripping Difficulty
- High Barrier to Entry
We performed several tests and rated each grip we tested according to 7 different categories. If you want to see exactly how we tested them, check out our article Best Badminton Grips.
Tackiness
Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip
- 4/10
- Not Tacky – But not designed to be
- Soft Feel
The Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip doesn’t have a tacky finish but we would expect this from a towel grip. So, although the Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip ranks low in this category, for those who love towel grips, this doesn’t matter.
Victor Towel Grip
- 4/10
- Not Tacky – But not designed to be
- Soft Feel
Similar to the Yonex AC402EX, the Victor Towel Grip doesn’t have a tacky finish. This is to be expected and so there is nothing to split these two grips so far.
Comfort
Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip
- 7/10
- 100% COTTON
- SOFT FEEL
- CAN FEEL THE HANDLE – NOT PADDED
The Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip feels soft to the touch and is made from 100% Cotton. The Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip isn’t padded which may be more or less desirable for you depending on your play preference. We found we were able to really feel the handle underneath the grip, which is great if you are a touch player looking to feel every shot.
Victor Towel Grip
- 7/10
- SOFT FEEL
- 100% COTTON
- CAN FEEL THE HANDLE – NOT PADDED
Much like the Yonex AC402EX, the Victor Towel Grip is also made from 100% Cotton giving it its soft feel. It is also provided as a large roll of grip without a specific length, meaning that you can make the grip as thick or as thin and as long or short as you require to make the grip as comfortable as possible for you. The Victor Towel grip isn’t padded and we were able to really feel the handle underneath the grip. This may be a benefit to you as you like to be able to feel every shot.
Durability
Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip
- 8/10
- DURABLE
- EXCESSIVE SWEATING MAY LEAD TO EXCESSIVE WEAR
The Durability of the Yonex AC402EX isn’t questionable thanks to the robust nature of the grip, not a surprise from such a reliable brand.
Victor Towel Grip
- 8/10
- DURABLE
- EXCESSIVE SWEATING MAY LEAD TO EXCESSIVE WEAR
Not to be outdone in the slightest, the Victor Towel grip also demonstrated good durability in our accelerated stress test. Neither grip is giving an inch so far, what will separate these two grips?
Style
Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip
- 3/10
- 4 DIFFERENT COLORS
- RED, BLACK, YELLOW, AND ORANGE
In terms of the number of colors available, the Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip ranked second lowest out of all the grips we have tested. In addition, color availability may vary from country to country.
Victor Towel Grip
- 6/10
- 7 DIFFERENT COLORS
- RED, WHITE, YELLOW, PURPLE, ORANGE, BLUE AND BLACK
- COLOR AVAILABILITY MAY VARY
This is where the Victor Towel grip edges ahead of its rival. With 7 different colors available, there are definitely enough colors out there for everyone to have their favorite. The downside is that the availability of every color to buy may not be consistent.
Absorbency
Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip
- 10/10
- HIGH ABSORBENCY
- KEEPS THE HAND DRY
- GREAT FOR SWEATY HANDS
This is where the Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip really shines. Designed to elevate comfort and performance during play by offering improved absorbency the Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip lives up to expectations. After wetting my hand, the grip absorbed the simulated sweat with next to no change to the grip’s feel.
Victor Towel Grip
- 10/10
- HIGH ABSORBENCY
- KEEPS THE HAND DRY
- GREAT FOR SWEATY HANDS
Not wanting to be outdone, the Victor Towel grip also excels in absorbing moisture and lives up to expectations. After wetting my hand, the grip absorbed the simulated sweat with next to no change to the grip’s feel. The competition is still too close to call.
Ease of Regrip
Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip
- 7/10
- SECOND FASTEST IN SPEED TEST
- INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED
- SPEED – 1 MIN 20 SEC
The Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip can come as both a single grip and a wheel. The most common form we observed was the single grip, which has a specific, already-decided length. This means that you have to fit the grip length to the racket handle. We found when regripping that the length wasn’t quite long enough and left the end of the grip messy and potentially liable to unwinding. The worst feature of the grip is there is no pre-cut start or end. This means you will have to cut these yourself, which can be tricky for beginners. However, the grip has full adhesive backing, regripping instructions are provided and the speed of the regrip was the second quickest of all the grips tested, even with having to cut the ends.
Victor Towel Grip
- 7/10
- NO SPECIFIC GRIP LENGTH – CAN PERSONALIZE TO YOUR REQUIREMENTS
- NO INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED
- SPEED – 1 MIN 28 SEC
As the Victor towel grip comes as a wheel, there isn’t a specific, already-decided length. This is a great feature as it means you can make the grip as thick or as thin and as long or short as you require, completely personalized to how you want your grip to feel. There are no regripping instructions that come with the grip and the speed of the regrip was average compared to the rest. The worst feature of the towel wheel is there is no pre-cut start or end and no finishing tape. This means you will have to cut these yourself, which can be tricky for beginners. However, the grip has full adhesive backing.
Price
Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip
- 6/10
- GREAT TO TRIAL
- EXPENSIVE
- MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FIND ALL COLORS
Value for money is not one of the Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip strong suits. On average you will be looking to pay around ~£3.00 per grip, which when you consider the Victor Towel grip at £1.11 per grip is very pricey. You are effectively paying for two things if you choose to buy the Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip, the ability to test out using a towel grip at a much cheaper price and the Yonex Brand. Neither of these things is a bad thing and we felt that performance-wise, the two towel grips are hard to split apart but price-wise, there is a clear winner.
Victor Towel Grip
- 7/10
- GOOD VALUE
- HIGH BARRIER TO ENTRY – HAVE TO BUY IN BULK
- COLOR AVAILABILITY MAY VARY
The price for a wheel of Victor Towel grip can vary, but we were able to buy one for £20.00. This means that, if you use the grip length of its rival, the Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip, which is 660 mm, you can get 18 grips from a 12 m roll. This means that, depending on how much grip you use each time, each grip works out to an incredible £1.11! However, the negative aspect of the Victor Towel grip is also that it costs £20.00, not a friendly price for those who want to test out a towel grip for the first time. In addition, color availability may vary, meaning you may have to pay more for the color you want.
Summary
Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip
The Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip stands out for its exceptional absorbency and comfort, ideal for players with sweaty hands who prefer the soft feel of a towel grip. While lacking in tackiness, it compensates with durability and ease of re-gripping. However, its limited color range and slightly higher price compared to the Victor Towel Grip might deter some buyers, yet it remains a valuable choice for those exploring towel grips while prioritizing Yonex quality. Overall, it’s a reliable choice for those seeking the prestige of the Yonex brand and superior absorbency, despite a few drawbacks in aesthetics and pricing.
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?
Victor Towel Grip
The Victor Towel Grip is designed for players desiring a soft, sweat-absorbing grip, making it an ideal choice for those with sweaty hands. While it might not excel in tackiness or padded comfort, it notably stands out in absorbency, ensuring dry hands during intense play. The grip’s durability is generally good, yet excessive sweating could impact its longevity. It offers various colors, albeit with potential availability variations. Regripping has positives with customizable dimensions but lacks pre-cut ends. Despite minor drawbacks, it provides excellent value when bought in bulk, suitable for users familiar with towel grips, but might pose a higher cost for those trying towel grips for the first time.
In summary, the Victor Towel grip is a brilliant option for those who have sweaty hands and already know the virtues of towel grips. It is a cost-effective solution for those with sweaty hands who still want excellent performance.
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?
The Winner
Victor Towel Grip
It is clear from our testing that there is very little to separate the two towel grips. They are both great grips and both will serve you well if you are looking for an absorbent grip to minimize the negative effects of a sweaty hand.
However, in this face-off we have to give the win to the Victor Towel Grip as it just edges ahead of its rival the Yonex AC402EX, beating it in style and in value for money.
If you want to find out more about each grip, see out reviews for both the Yonex AC402EX Towel Grip and the Victor Towel Grip. Or if you are ready to buy one, check out the price of each grips below.
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