If your lower hand - that’s your right hand for a righty - feels like it’s strangling the golf club and taking over your swing, you’re in good company. This is a super common issue that leads to hooks, pulls, and a general feeling of inconsistency. This article will show you exactly how to build up the lower section of your golf grip, a simple and effective modification that can quiet those overactive hands and get your swing back in sync.
Before we get our hands dirty, let’s talk about the “why.” The standard golf grip is tapered, meaning it’s thicker at the top and thinner at the bottom. For many players, that thinner lower section encourages the dominant hand to get too involved. You might squeeze it tighter, trying to gain control, but this often leads to the hand flipping or manipulating the clubface through impact.
This "flippy" release is often the cause of a nasty hook or a sharp pull to the left. Your body’s rotation stalls, and the hands take over, shutting the clubface down too quickly. It's a power-killer and a consistency-wrecker.
By building up the grip to make the lower part thicker, you effectively reduce the taper. This fills your lower hand more completely, tricking it into being more passive. It doesn’t feel the need to squeeze and “help” so much. This simple change can have some profound effects:
This is a great fix to try if you consistently fight a hook or pull, or if you just feel like your bottom hand is way too active in the swing. It's also fantastic for golfers with larger hands who find standard grips too thin, or for players with arthritis who benefit from a larger, softer grip that’s easier to hold onto without pain.
The most common and customizable way to do this is with good old build-up tape. It’s a job you can absolutely do at home. There are also specific grip models called "Reduced Taper" or brand names like Golf Pride's Plus4 that have this feature built-in. But for now, let's focus on the hands-on approach, as it allows you to experiment and find what feels perfect for you.
To do this the right way, you’re essentially going to be replacing a grip. It’s easier than you think. Here’s what you’ll need:
Ready to go? Let’s walk through the process on one of your irons - a 7-iron is a perfect club to experiment on. If you like the feel, you can repeat the process for the rest of your set.
Clamp the club in the vise, with the shaft protected by the rubber clamp. The club head should be pointed towards the floor. Take your hook blade, place the hook at the end of the grip, and pull it carefully up towards the clubhead, away from your body. The old grip will peel open easily. Pull it off and discard it.
You’ll see the old grip tape left on the shaft. This needs to come off completely. You can often peel it off by hand, but if it’s stubborn, warming it gently with a heat gun or hairdryer can help. Use a rag with a bit of grip solvent or mineral spirits to wipe away all the sticky residue. You want the bare shaft to be perfectly clean and smooth.
This is where the magic happens. First, figure out where your lower hand rests. Hold the club normally, it’s the bottom half of the grip area. Cut strips of your build-up masking tape to this length.
How many wraps? Start with two extra wraps. The goal is to feel the difference but not make the grip feel like a baseball bat. Wrap the first layer of masking tape smoothly around the lower part of the shaft where you just measured. Then, wrap the second layer directly on top of it. Keep the wraps as smooth and wrinkle-free as possible.
Now, take your roll of double-sided grip tape. Apply a single, continuous strip over the *entire* grip area, covering both the top section and your new build-up wraps on the bottom. Let about a half-inch of tape hang over the end of the shaft. Peel off the backing and twist the overhanging piece, tucking it inside the shaft butt to create a smooth seal.
Take your new grip and cover the small hole at the end with your finger. Pour a generous amount of solvent into the grip, close the other end with your thumb, and shake it vigorously to coat the entire inside. Pour the excess solvent from the grip all over the double-sided tape on the shaft. It will feel slick and slippery - that's what you want.
Now, move quickly but calmly. Align the grip’s opening with the butt end of the shaft and push it on in one smooth, continuous motion. You might have to use some force. Push it all the way down until the butt end of the grip is snug against the end of the shaft.
Before the solvent evaporates, you have about a minute to make final adjustments. Look down at the grip and align any patterns or text so it looks straight with the clubface. Once you’re happy with it, you’re done. Don’t swing the club for at least a few hours, preferably overnight, to allow the solvent to fully evaporate and the bond to set.
There is no universal "right" number of wraps. One player might feel a huge difference with two wraps, while someone with bigger hands aight need four. This is why starting with just one club is such a good idea. Take your newly gripped club to the range and hit some balls. What you’re looking for is a feeling of *calm* in your hands and a feeling of connection to your body turn.
Does your right hand feel less "grabby"? Does the grip feel comfortably full without being bulky? Are you seeing a tighter ball flight without that dreaded hook?
if you still feel your hands taking over, you can always cut the grip off and try again with three or four wraps. If it feels too much like a log and you’ve lost the feel of the clubhead, you can go back to just one extra wrap. Experimentation is the key to dialing it in perfectly for your swing.
Like any equipment change, building up your grip isn’t for everyone. For players who don’t have an overactive lower hand, a thicker grip might deaden their hands too much. This can make it difficult to feel the clubhead, especially on delicate finesse shots around the green like chips and pitches. It could even encourage you to leave the face open, creating a block or a slice.
That’s why the best approach is to identify a specific problem - like a hook caused by an overactive lower hand - and apply this modification as a targeted solution. If it’s not improving your ball flight after a fair test, it’s easy enough to go back to a standard grip.
Building up the lower hand of your grip can be a game-changer if you’re fighting the hooks and struggling with hyperactive hands. It’s a simple, inexpensive tweak that nudges you toward using your body as the engine of your swing, which is the foundation of powerful and repeatable golf.
Once your equipment is dialed in, the next step is connecting those changes to what you see on the course. Personally, this is where I find a tool like Caddie AI to be invaluable. Instead of guessing if your grip change is working, you can get instant feedback about your ball flight patterns or course strategy. You can even take a picture of a tricky lie that’s giving you trouble and get professional advice on how to play the shot, allowing you to trust your swing and your equipment with more confidence.
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