Adding extra wraps of tape when regripping your golf clubs can transform how the club feels in your hands, giving you more comfort and control. This guide will walk you through exactly why and a step-by-step process for getting it done right. We'll cover everything from gathering your tools to applying the tape and installing your new grips for that perfect custom feel.
You might be wondering why you'd go through the extra trouble of adding more tape. It's not just a quirk, building up your grips with extra tape is a legitimate, tour-proven customization that serves a few purposes. A larger grip can have a profound impact on your swing, and tape is the most precise way to achieve the perfect size.
The most common reason golfers add extra wraps is to quiet their hands during the swing. If you feel like your hands are overly active, flipping the club at impact and causing hooks, a larger grip can solve that. Think about it: it's much harder to tightly clench an oversized object than a thin one. A built-up grip fills your hands more completely, promoting a lighter, more relaxed grip pressure. When your hands are relaxed, your wrists and forearms are less tense, allowing for a smoother, more body-driven swing instead of a handsy, inconsistent one.
Standard golf grips have a taper, meaning they are thicker at the top (the butt end) and thinner at the bottom where your lower hand rests. For many players, this taper encourages the lower hand to "take over" the swing, leading to pulled shots or hooks. By adding extra wraps of tape specifically under the lower half of the grip, you can reduce this taper and create a more uniform thickness. This helps your hands work together as a unit, promoting a more neutral clubface through impact.
Golf grips typically come in a few standard sizes: Standard, Midsize, and Jumbo. But what if a standard grip feels just a bit too thin, and a midsize feels like you’re holding a baseball bat? Extra wraps are the solution. Tape allows for micro-adjustments to find your perfect feel. As a general rule of thumb:
This allows you to customize the grip size to fit your hand perfectly, which isn't always possible when buying off-the-rack grips.
Getting your workspace set up before you start is going to make the whole process smooth and painless. You’re essentially performing minor surgery on your clubs, so having your tools laid out and ready is a must. Here’s what you’ll need:
Alright, you’ve got your tools and you’re ready to go. The key here is not to rush. Put on some music, take your time, and follow these steps. Let’s start with a single club - a practice wedge is perfect - to get the feel before you commit to the whole set.
Place the rubber shaft clamp around the shaft of the club, about 6 inches below where the old grip ends. Position the club in the vise so the clubface is pointing straight up (square). If you’re a right-handed golfer, have the toe of the club pointing to the ceiling. Tighten the vise just enough to hold the club steady. You don’t need to crank it down, you just want to prevent it from twisting or moving as you work.
Take your hook blade and place the hook at the very bottom edge of the old grip. Point the blade away from you at all times. Apply steady pressure and pull the blade up towards the butt end of the club in a single, smooth motion. This should slice the grip cleanly open. Once cut, you can easily peel it off the shaft. This method is much safer than using a straight blade, which can slip and damage the shaft or, worse, your hand.
This is easily the most tedious part of the job, but it’s absolutely necessary for a good result. Peel or scrape off all the old grip tape. Sometimes it comes off in nice, long strips. Other times, it will be a fight. If you’re struggling, apply a small amount of grip solvent or some low heat from a hair dryer to the tape to soften the adhesive. Again, patience here pays off. Bumps from old tape will show through your new grip and you'll feel them on every swing.
This is where the magic happens. Here’s how to build up the grip correctly.
Start applying your double-sided tape just below where the butt end of the grip will sit. Wrap it spirally down the shaft, slightly overlapping the edges with each turn to ensure there are no gaps. Extend the tape about half an inch over the butt end of the shaft. Once you've covered the entire area where the grip will sit, take the excess tape extending over the end, twist it together, and poke it down into the hole at the end of the shaft. This prevents solvent from getting inside your club.
Now, repeat this process for each additional wrap you want. For example, if you want "2 extra wraps," you will apply two full layers of tape on top of your base layer. Keep the spiral wraps smooth and tight to prevent ridges.
If your goal is to reduce the taper, your process is slightly different. First, apply one full-length "base" layer of tape as described above. Then, for your extra layers, only apply them to the bottom half or two-thirds of the grip area - where your lower hand will be. This will build up that section, creating a more uniform diameter from top to bottom. For example, one full layer plus two layers on the bottom half will give you a "plus 3" feel for your lower hand.
Peel off the backing of the top layer of double-sided tape. Cover the hole at the butt end of the shaft with your finger. Now, liberally pour grip solvent all over the freshly applied tape. Don't be shy! You want it dripping. Angle the club downwards to catch the excess runoff in a tray or on your rag.
Next, pour a generous amount of solvent into the new grip. Place your thumb over the opening of the grip and shake it vigorously to coat the entire inside surface. This lubrication is what allows the grip to slide on easily.
This step requires you to move with purpose. Quickly pour the excess solvent from inside the grip out over the taped shaft area. Then, in one smooth, continuous motion, push the grip onto the butt end of the shaft. Push it all the way down until the butt end of the grip is flush against the end of the shaft. To learn more about the entire process, consider our guide on installing golf grips.
Before the solvent evaporates (you have about a minute), make your final alignment adjustments. If your grip has a logo or alignment pattern, use the face of the club (which you already aligned in the vise) as your guide to get it perfectly square.
Wipe off any excess solvent from the grip and shaft with a clean rag. Take the club out of the vise. Give it a final visual check to ensure the alignment is perfect. Now, the hard part: leave it alone. Let the club sit for at least a few hours, but preferably overnight, to allow the solvent to fully evaporate and the tape to cure. Do not try to swing it right away, or your expertly aligned grip will twist right out of place.
Building up your grips with extra wraps is a fantastic way to dial in the perfect feel for your game, promoting better hand control and more confidence over every shot. Take your time with the process, start with a single club to test your desired thickness, and soon you'll have a set of clubs that feel like they were made just for you.
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