How to Change Golf Grips Without a Vise

Thinking about changing your own golf grips but don’t have a workshop with a bench vise? You're in the right place. Skipping the vise doesn’t mean you have to skip the fresh feel of new grips. This guide will walk you through the entire process from start to finish, using a simple, effective method that lets you do the job almost anywhere.

Why Bother Regripping Your Clubs?

Your grip is your one and only connection to the golf club. When it’s working right, you feel confident and in control. But over time, grips get hard, slick, and lose their tackiness from exposure to sweat, dirt, and UV rays. When your grips are worn, you subconsciously tense up and squeeze the club tighter just to keep it from twisting. That tension is a performance killer, it restricts your wrist action, slows your swing speed, and robs you of feel around the greens.

Think of it like the tires on your car. You wouldn't drive on bald tires and expect optimal performance, especially not in changing conditions. Fresh, tacky grips allow you to hold the club with a lighter, more relaxed pressure. This freedom from tension promotes a smoother, more powerful swing and gives you the sensitivity needed for delicate touch shots. Regripping your set once a year (or every 40 rounds) will completely rejuvenate the feel of your clubs. Plus, doing it yourself is a satisfying skill that saves you both time and money.

Gathering Your Supplies: The Vise-Free Toolkit

You don't need a professional workshop to get this done. The list of supplies is short, and you might already have some of these items at home. Here’s what you’ll need to assemble your DIY regripping station:

• New Grips: The most exciting part! Pick out the grips that best suit your feel and hand size.
• Double-Sided Grip Tape: Specifically designed 2-inch wide tape is the standard. You can buy it in individual strips or on a roll.
• Grip Solvent: Thisactivates the tape’s adhesive. Odorless mineral spirits from a hardware store are a popular, cost-effective substitute.
• Utility Knife with a Hook Blade: A hook blade is highly recommended as it's designed to cut through rubber and vinyl safely without letting the point dig into the shaft. If you only have a standard utility knife, just be extra careful.
• A Rag or Paper Towels: Things will get a little messy with the solvent, so have something ready for cleanup.
• A Small Bowl or Tray: An old plastic food container or a painter’s tray works perfectly to catch the excess solvent when you pour it.

Step 1: Removing the Old Grip Safely

Getting the old grip off is the first active step. It's simple, but a little bit of caution goes a long way, especially given you're working without a vise holding the club for you.

A Word on Safety First

This is the most important part of the entire process: always cut away from your body. With no vise, you’ll be holding the club against a stable surface or on the ground. Position your body so that the blade's path is moving directly away from you, your hands, and your legs. A good hook blade makes this almost fool-proof because the cutting edge faces inward. If using a straight blade, the risk of slipping is higher, so take your time and use light, steady pressure.

Cutting and Peeling the Grip Off

Find a comfortable position, either sitting on a stool or kneeling on the floor. Brace the clubhead against the floor to keep it from moving. Many people find that bracing the clubhead into a corner where two walls meet provides excellent stability.

Once the club is secure, press the hook of your blade into the grip near its bottom, thinner end. With a firm, steady motion, pull the knife straight up toward the butt end of the club. The blade will slice cleanly through the rubber. Once you’ve made the cut from bottom to top, the grip will simply peel off the shaft. Easy as that.

Step 2: Prepping the Shaft for the New Grip

With the old grip gone, you'll see a spiral of old tape left on the shaft. This needs to be completely removed to ensure the new grip installs correctly and feels uniform. This is often the most time-consuming step, but don't rush it. A clean shaft is the foundation for a great regripping job.

Removing a Spiral of Stubborn Tape

Start by trying to peel off the old tape with your fingers. Sometimes you get lucky and large strips will come off clean. More often than not, it will tear and leave behind a sticky, frustrating residue. Don't worry, this is normal.

If the tape is particularly stubborn, you have two options. First, you can use a bit of heat. A hairdryer on a low setting, waved back and forth over the tape for 20-30 seconds, can soften the old adhesive enough to make it peel more easily. Don’t overdo it, especially on graphite shafts.

The second, and more common method, is to use your grip solvent. Pour a little bit onto your rag and rub it over the remaining tape and adhesive. Let it sit for a minute to break down the glue. Then, use a plastic scraper, an old credit card, or even just the edge of the knife blade (used very carefully as a scraper, not a cutter) to work the gunk off the shaft. Keep wiping with the solvent and scraping until the shaft is completely smooth and clean. Give it a final wipe-down to remove any last oily residue and let it dry completely.

Step 3: Applying the New Tape

Now that you have a perfectly clean shaft, it’s time to apply the new tape. This is what the grip will adhere to once activated by the solvent.

1. Measure the Tape: Hold a strip of double-sided tape up against your new grip. You want the tape to be about a half-inch shorter than the overall length of the grip itself.
2. Apply the Tape: Peel the backing off just one side of the tape. Carefully align it with the top of the shaft, just below the butt end, and apply it lengthwise down the shaft. Run your thumb over it firmly to smooth out any air bubbles or wrinkles.
3. Tuck the End: You should have about a half-inch of tape hanging off the butt end of the shaft. Peel the outer wax paper off this small section and twist or tuck it into the opening at the end of the shaft. This creates a small plug that prevents solvent from pouring down inside your club.
4. Peel the Backing: Now, peel the remaining wax paper backing off the tape, exposing the sticky outer surface. Your shaft is now prepped and ready for its new grip.

Step 4: Installing the New Grip (The Main Event)

Here we go. This is the moment of truth, but don’t feel intimidated. The key is to be generous with the solvent and confident in your motion. Good lubrication makes the vise unnecessary.

Lubrication is Your Best Friend

First, get the inside of the new grip ready. Place your thumb or finger over the small vent hole in the grip's end cap. Next, pour a liberal amount of solvent directly into the open end of the grip - don't be shy. Cover the open end with your other thumb and shake it vigorously for a few seconds. You want to make sure every square inch of the inside is coated in solvent.

The Vise-Free Slide-On Technique

Position your catch container or bowl on the floor directly under where the shaft will be. Brace the club again, either between your feet on a non-slip surface or firmly into a corner. Now, pour the excess solvent you just shook around inside the grip directly out and all over the new tape on the shaft. This double-lubrication - once on the tape, once inside the grip - is the secret to making it slide on smoothly without a vise to help you push.

Take a quick glance at your clubface and make sure it’s in a square position. Now, line up the new grip, paying attention to any alignment markings you want centered. In one smooth, continuous push, slide the grip onto the shaft. Keep pushing firmly until you feel the butt end of the shaft hit the inside of the grip's end cap. It should slide on much easier than you think, as long as it's well-lubricated.

Step 5: Final Adjustments and Curing Time

The solvent gives you a grace period of a minute or two before the adhesive starts to set. Use this time wisely to get the alignment perfect.

Pick the club up and set it down in your normal address position. Look down and check that the grip’s pattern or logo is aligned exactly how you want it relative to the square clubface. If it’s slightly off, you can easily twist it a little to correct it. Once you’re happy with the alignment, wipe an an an excess solvent with your rag.

All that's left is to let it dry. Stand the club up against a wall somewhere it won’t be disturbed. While many will tell you an hour or two is enough, the safest bet is to let them cure overnight. This ensures the bond is completely set and your grip won't slip or twist when you take your first swing. Patience is a virtue here!

Final Thoughts

Changing your own grips without a professional vise setup is a simple and empowering process. By following these steps - remove, prep, tape, lube, and slide - you can give your clubs a new lease on life, improving your feel and control while saving a bit of cash.

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