Grip tape

Grip tape, also referred to as grip, is an adhesive backed friction-surfaced material usually attached to the deck of a skateboard or longboard to give the rider more friction to control the board.^[1][2]

Kava Vasquez skates with blue grip tape at 51 Skatepark in Brooklyn

In skateboarding

The most common type of grip tape is a solid black color with a texture that resembles sandpaper.^[3][1] When a skateboarder does a trick, the grip tape allows skateboarder's feet greater control over the skateboard.^[4]

Skateboard grip tape comes as smooth sheets that are slightly longer and wider than an average skateboard deck. Grip tape is typically applied by a skate shop employee or by the customer.^[1][5]

Grip tape is sometimes used decoratively, since it can come in many different styles and colors.^[1] Some skaters choose to decorate their grip tape in a unique fashion.^[1][6] Alternative materials to the traditional sandpaper style grip tape have been proposed but not widely adopted.^[7]

In other sports

Grip tape is also used to refer to the adhesive tape used to wrap baseball bats.^[8]

See also

• Skateboard
• Skateboarding brands
• List of skateboarding terms