Abstract: A hand grip for fitting on the handle shaft of a sporting implement or a tool, for example a racket or bat, comprises an elongate sleeve of elastomeric material having an internal surface for fitting over the handle shaft and an outer, gripping surface for gripping by the user's hand. The grip has indentations on at least one of its inner and outer surfaces which extend over part of the surface area to provide regions of varying softness. The softness is provided by the thinned out or indented regions bending or collapsing under load against the hand.