How to Regrip Golf Clubs

Worn-out golf grips are costing you strokes, plain and simple. Just like driving a car with bald tires, playing with slick, faded grips makes it nearly impossible to maintain control. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to regrip your own clubs, transforming their feel and giving you renewed confidence on the course. We’ll cover when to replace them, what tools you need, and a clear, step-by-step process to get the job done right.

Why (and When) You Should Regrip Your Clubs

Your connection to the golf club starts and ends with your hands. If that connection is weak, your swing will suffer. A fresh grip allows you to hold the club with light, confident pressure. A worn grip forces you to squeeze harder to prevent the club from twisting, which introduces tension into your arms, shoulders, and swing. This tension is a notorious distance and accuracy killer.

So, how often should you do it? A good rule of thumb is to regrip your clubs once a year, or every 40 rounds of golf. If you practice frequently, especially in hot or humid conditions, you might need to do it more often. More important than a set schedule, however, is learning to spot the signs of wear.

Three Signs Your Grips Need Replacing

1. They Look Shiny and Smooth: Grips are supposed to have a slightly tacky, textured feel. Over time, oil from your hands, dirt, and sun exposure will break down the rubber, leaving them smooth and slick in key areas, especially where your thumbs rest. If parts of your grip are shiny, they've lost their traction.
2. They Feel Hard and Cracked: New grips have a responsive, slightly soft feel. Old grips become brittle. You might see small cracks starting to form, or they might just feel hard and unforgiving in your hands. This means the material has lost its elasticity and shock-absorbing qualities.
3. Visible Wear Patches: Take a close look at the grip. Do you see fading, blemishes, or spots where the pattern is worn completely away? The most common area for this is the "thumb pad" where your top and bottom hand thumbs rest. If you can see a noticeable bald spot, the grip is long overdue for a change.

Even if you wash your grips regularly (which you should!), they have a limited lifespan. Changing them is one of the most cost-effective ways to make your old clubs feel brand new and improve your control over the ball.

Gathering Your Gear: What You'll Need

Before you get started, it's best to assemble all your tools. Having everything ready to go makes the process much smoother and more enjoyable. Think of it as your own personal club-building workstation.

• New Grips: The fun part! Choose grips that fit your hand size and playing style. They come in rubber, corded (for wet weather), hybrid, and various sizes from undersize to jumbo.
• Hook Knife: This is the safest tool for splitting and removing the old grip without scratching the shaft. A standard utility knife can work in a pinch, but a hook blade is far superior and greatly reduces the risk of damaging a graphite shaft.
• Vise and a Rubber Vice Clamp: A Vise is non-negotiable for holding the club steady. The rubber vise clamp is equally important as it protects the shaft - especially fragile graphite - from being cracked or crushed by the vise jaws.
• Double-Sided Grip Tape: This special tape runs the length of the grip area and is what the new grip adheres to. A 2-inch wide roll is standard.
• Grip Solvent (or Mineral Spirits): This is the activator. It lubricates the inside of the new grip and the tape, allowing you to slide the grip on easily. Once evaporated, it creates a powerful bond.
• A Rag or Paper Towels: You'll need these for cleaning up the old tape residue and wiping away any excess solvent.
• A Small Tray or Catch Pan: Place this under the club in the vise to catch the solvent runoff. This little step keeps your workspace clean.

The Step-by-Step Guide to a Perfect Regrip

With your tools laid out, you’re ready to begin. The first Aclub always feels like the most challenging, but you’ll be surprised at how quickly you pick it up. By the third club, you’ll be a pro.

Step 1: Secure the Club

Place the rubber vise clamp around the shaft just below the old grip. Fit the club into the vise and tighten it just enough so that it doesn't move. Do not over-tighten! Position the club so the clubface is perfectly square (perpendicular to the floor). This makes it easier to align your new grip correctly.

Step 2: Remove the Old Grip

Take your hook knife. Place the hook at the butt end of the old grip and pull downwards, cutting away from your body in one smooth, continuous slice all the way to the bottom edge. The grip will peel open easily. Be extra gentle with graphite shafts, apply light but firm pressure to avoid scoring the graphite material underneath.

Step 3: Scrape Off the Old Tape

This is often the most tedious part, but it's vital for a good result. Peel off as much of the old tape as you can with your fingers. For the stubborn residue that remains, you can apply a bit of your grip solvent to a rag and rub it down. A plastic scraper or even an old credit card can help lift the gunk without scratching the shaft. Your goal is a perfectly clean, smooth shaft surface.

Step 4: Apply the New Grip Tape

Unroll a strip of the double-sided tape. Measure it against the grip area, from the edge where the old grip ended to the butt end of the shaft. Tear the strip and peel off the backing. Apply it smoothly down the length of the shaft, starting just below the butt end. There should be about a half-inch of tape-overhanging the end of the shaft. Carefully peel off the top waxy layer. Finally, twist the overhanging tape and tuck it snugly into the shaft's butt end. This creates a seal that prevents solvent from getting inside.

Step 5: Apply the Solvent

Place your finger over the small hole in the end of your new grip. Pour a generous amount of solvent directly into the grip - don't be shy! Fill it about a third of the way. Now, take your other finger and cover the large opening, and shake the grip for a few seconds to coat the entire interior surface. Remove your finger from the big opening and pour all the excess solvent from the grip directly over the new tape on the shaft, letting the runoff drip into your catch pan. This lubricates both surfaces.

Step 6: Install the New Grip

Time to act - the solvent gives you a short window. Align the opening of the grip with the butt end of the shaft. In one smooth, determined motion, push the grip all the way onto the shaft until it stops. You might need to give it a firm final push to make sure the butt end of the grip is seated flush against the butt end of the shaft. Squeezing it on rather than just pulling helps it expand over the shaft.

Step 7: Align and Let It Dry

Before the solvent starts to set, make your final alignment tweaks. Look down the shaft from your playing position. If the grip has a logo or alignment markers, make sure it’s lined up perfectly with your square clubface. Once you're happy, take a rag and wipe down the club to remove any excess solvent. Stand the club upright and let it dry for at least a few hours, although leaving it overnight is best to ensure the adhesive is fully cured.

Pro Tips for a Better Result

• Building Up Grip Size: Do your grips feel too small? You can build them up by adding extra layers of grip tape. Each additional full layer of tape typically increases the grip diameter by about 1/64 of an inch. Just be consistent across all your clubs.
• The No-Logo Look: Many players prefer grips with no alignment markers (or they install them logo-down). This promotes a focus on feel rather than visual cues at address.
• Don’t Skimp on Solvent: A common mistake is using too little solvent. This causes the grip to get stuck halfway on, which can be incredibly frustrating. It’s better to use slightly too much and make a small mess than not enough.
• Work on a Protected Surface: Put down some cardboard or an old towel in your work area. Grip solvent and tape residue can be messy, and this makes cleanup much quicker.

Final Thoughts

Taking the time to regrip your own clubs does more than just save a few dollars, it connects you with your equipment on a deeper level. The result is a set of clubs that feel tailored to you, providing the control and confidence you need to play your best golf. You'll feel the difference on the very first swing.

Just as maintaining your equipment is a direct path to shooting lower scores, so is sharpening your on-course thinking. While fresh grips provide physical control, you need sound strategy to manage the hole in front of you. With Caddie AI, you can get instant, expert shot recommendations and course strategy for any situation - from choosing the right club on a tricky par-3 to figuring out the smartest escape from deep trouble. We're here to take the guesswork out of your game so you can play with more confidence from tee to green.