Cotton terry, adhesive backing, colorfastness — speccing towel grips for padel and pickleball in the heat.
In hot climates, a standard PU overgrip saturates within a set. Towel grips exist for exactly this problem — and OEM buyers spec them wrong surprisingly often.
First, the terry itself. Loop height determines absorbency; too tall and the grip feels bulky, too short and it behaves like PU. Ask for loop-height samples, not just color cards.
Second, the backing. Adhesive-backed towel grips stay put during play; non-adhesive versions rely on the finishing tape. Specify which one — factories default to whatever is cheaper.
Third, colorfastness. Sweat plus dye is the classic failure mode. Dark towel grips must pass a wet-rub test or they will stain light-colored handles.
Fourth, the finishing tape. It is the most visible branding surface on a towel grip — print your logo on it, not just the grip.
Fifth, packaging. Towel grips compress well; a slim header card keeps retail presence without the bulk.
