When your grip bites: Antislip Options and How to Fine-Tune Them

At RCore, we offer multiple antislip options tailored to different needs – but as you probably know, not all hands (or skin types) are the same. What feels perfect to one archer might feel different to another due to skin texture, hand chemistry, or even the climate.

If you’ve noticed that your grip doesn’t stay put as expected, or the texture feels a bit aggressive, this post will walk you through simple ways to adjust your grip to better match your hand.

1. The Grip Feels Slippery

There are a couple of reasons this might happen — both easy to work around.

A. Skin Chemistry – Try the Window Test

Your skin’s interaction with smooth surfaces can vary. Here’s a quick test:

What is the Window Test
Place your palm on a clean window and try sliding it sideways slowly.
• If it slides easily, your skin has lower friction on smooth surfaces, and will behave similarly on glass-finish or automotive-style grips.
• If it sticks or drags slightly, you likely have good contact with polished grip surfaces.

What to do:

• Use the included antislip strip for extra traction.
• Before applying, wipe the grip surface with alcohol to improve adhesion and contact.

B. Grip Angle – Is It Right for You?

High-angle grips are meant to settle into the webbing of your hand and shift pressure lower in the palm. However, depending on your shooting style or hand shape, a high angle can occasionally feel like the grip is pushing upward during the shot.

What to do:

• If that sounds familiar, try a lower-angle grip. It may improve contact and provide a more grounded feel with pressure building lower in the palm.

2. The Grip Texture Feels Too Harsh – or Not Harsh Enough

Antislip textures, like hex or pyramid patterns, might feel too aggressive if your skin is particularly sensitive — especially after long sessions. If your skin is soft/thin/sensitive, you can reduce the antislip points to a comfortable level

Good to know: Our materials are skin-neutral and don’t cause chemical irritation, but some archers may prefer a smoother feel.

What to do:

• On glass or plastic grips, you can gently sand the antislip area with a fine nail file or soft sandpaper to soften the surface.

• On plastic grips, if the surface looks dull or gray after sanding, lightly warm it with a small torch or heat gun. This restores the original finish and color. Just be careful not to overheat it.

• Same goes for the glass like grips but without the heating part. Just clean the grip by wiping it with a damp cloth

Want More Grip from Your Hex Antislip?

since glass/automotive grips are coated with a 2K varnish, this softens the harshness of the hex antislip. If you want it to bite more, you can lightly sand it with fine sandpaper or a nail file. This removes a bit of the outer coating and exposes sharper edges of the hex pattern, giving you a noticeably grabbier feel. Just wipe it off with a cloth to remove the filed dust and you’re set to go

Great for those who shoot in humid or high-heat environments where extra traction matters.

Takeaway

All of our grips are designed to provide a consistent RCore feel, but fine-tuning for your hand is both normal and encouraged. With a few small adjustments, you can dial in the grip to work perfectly for you – whether it’s a change in texture, grip angle, or surface prep.

Have questions or want guidance on which antislip to choose? We’re always here to help. Reach out and we’ll work with you to find the most comfortable setup possible.