OSP Elcon Handle + custom flare: The ultimate handle for large hands?

[dnelsen]

So I'm quite tall at 6'4", with large hands to match. Options for large-handed folks like myself are extremely limited.

I've been using two different blades with large handles, and I haven't been satisfied with either of them. One is a Stiga Arctic Wood with the Legend Flare handle. While the flared lower third is excellent -- the perfect flare I would say -- the upper two thirds of the handle are still too small.

The other is an OSP Virtuoso OFF- with the ELCON Handle. While the upper two thirds are excellent -- a really satisfying bulk that is probably larger than any other handle out there -- the lack of a flare on the lower third is a real problem for me. I miss having the flare to make the racket feel really secure.

So my solution: 3d print two flare pieces that are epoxied onto the ELCON. The flares are actually slightly larger than the Stiga Legend flare, so it's even better.

Here's are some screenshots of the 3d cad...

After epoxy-ing the flares to the handle, I filled the seams with more 3d printing resin (UV cure) and sanded until the seams are barely noticeable to the hand. Total weight added to the handle was 4 grams. Total weight of the the entire racket is 186 grams.

I'm very happy with the result. Finally my dream OSP blade has the perfect handle... for me anyways. I hope this inspires others with large hands to try something similar.

 

[dnelsen]

Some other insights from my large handle quest....

Legend Flare is your best option if you like a flare and don't want to do anything custom. Good luck finding one. Very rare.

OSP Elcon is amazing if you don't mind not having the flare. It is conical of course, so it's larger at the base, so technically it flares.

Tibhars really aren't that large at all. I tried an SPW and it barely seemed larger than a Yasaka Sweden Extra.

Although I haven't tried one, by all accounts the Nittaku Large handles also aren't very large. It's a slightly larger version of their normal flare, which many say is too small.

I tried a Butterfly anatomic but was disappointed. It felt very small.

 

[TIME]

Great ingenuity!

You might try the Xiom AJH TMXi Pro. Perfect handle for me. I'm 6'3" with big hands.

 

[dnelsen]

Great ingenuity!

You might try the Xiom AJH TMXi Pro. Perfect handle for me. I'm 6'3" with big hands.

Hmmm.... If it has a larger handle, why is it not mentioned in the description? Would this not be a selling feature? If it's not, then why have the larger handle?

Now given I haven't tried this blade, but I've spent a lot of time studying all of these handles, and it really doesn't look that large. Nice flare, but still quite small in the upper two thirds. I'd bet that a legend flare is significantly larger overall.

Sorry for the pushback but that's a lot of money to spend based on a recommendation for a handle that really doesn't seem large.

Have you compared this to other large handles?

 

[Lazer]

Wouldn’t work for me… I like it thicker in the top end…

Cheers
L-zr

 

[dnelsen]

Wouldn’t work for me… I like it thicker in the top end…

Cheers
L-zr

Are you referring to the XIOM or the ELCON? I haven’t seen a handle with more girth in the top end than the ELCON.

 

[Lazer]

Are you referring to the XIOM or the ELCON? I haven’t seen a handle with more girth in the top end than the ELCON.

I prefer the entire handle to be scaled up. It works somewhat with grip tape if it’s not way small… I should say I am talking about flared handles…

Cheers
L-zr

 

[TIME]

Hmmm.... If it has a larger handle, why is it not mentioned in the description? Would this not be a selling feature? If it's not, then why have the larger handle?

Now given I haven't tried this blade, but I've spent a lot of time studying all of these handles, and it really doesn't look that large. Nice flare, but still quite small in the upper two thirds. I'd bet that a legend flare is significantly larger overall.

Sorry for the pushback but that's a lot of money to spend based on a recommendation for a handle that really doesn't seem large.

Have you compared this to other large handles?

I agree it's pricey. Maybe keep your eye out for one to try if you see another player using it. I used to play with a Legend handle, and this feels beefier to me. The only blade I've personally tried with a larger handle is the Sanwei Fextra 7.

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

So I'm quite tall at 6'4", with large hands to match. Options for large-handed folks like myself are extremely limited.

I've been using two different blades with large handles, and I haven't been satisfied with either of them. One is a Stiga Arctic Wood with the Legend Flare handle. While the flared lower third is excellent -- the perfect flare I would say -- the upper two thirds of the handle are still too small.

The other is an OSP Virtuoso OFF- with the ELCON Handle. While the upper two thirds are excellent -- a really satisfying bulk that is probably larger than any other handle out there -- the lack of a flare on the lower third is a real problem for me. I miss having the flare to make the racket feel really secure.

So my solution: 3d print two flare pieces that are epoxied onto the ELCON. The flares are actually slightly larger than the Stiga Legend flare, so it's even better.

Here's are some screenshots of the 3d cad...

View attachment 34557

View attachment 34558
After epoxy-ing the flares to the handle, I filled the seams with more 3d printing resin (UV cure) and sanded until the seams are barely noticeable to the hand. Total weight added to the handle was 4 grams. Total weight of the the entire racket is 186 grams.

I'm very happy with the result. Finally my dream OSP blade has the perfect handle... for me anyways. I hope this inspires others with large hands to try something similar.

View attachment 34559

View attachment 34560

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Just so you know, if you wanted them to, I have a feeling OSP could make you a handle with the dimensions you have on your modified handle. If you showed them what you did with the Elcon handle they already make and what the width at the bottom is, for a backup racket, they could make handle with those same demensions as your modified handle. You could probably even get them to make the handle larger if you wanted.

It was a long time ago. But I know I got them to completely custom make me a few blades. I like their flared handle. For me, their flare handle is perfect. But I am someone with big hands. I got them to make a blade that was Limba-Spruce-Ayous-Spruce-Limba. I got them to make some blades that were out of their normal weight ranges.

All it took to do that was contacting them first and letting them know what I wanted. If you have the measurements for the handle you want, and show them what you have done to the Elcon handle you have from them, I have a feeling they could make you any blade you want with that size/shape handle.