That slippery, worn-out feel on your golf grips is costing you more than just comfort - it's costing you control and strokes. Your grips are the one and only physical connection you have with the club, and when they degrade, so does your ability to swing with confidence. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about renewing your grips, from a simple cleaning that can bring old grips back to life to a full step-by-step tutorial on how to replace them yourself.
Most golfers will happily spend hundreds of dollars on a new driver, hoping to find an extra ten yards, while completely overlooking the grips on every single club in their bag. This is a huge missed opportunity. A fresh, tacky grip allows you to hold the club with lighter pressure. Tense hands and a death grip are swing-killers, restricting fluid motion and destroying your touch around the greens.
When you trust your grip, your hands, wrists, and forearms can relax. This relaxation is fundamental for creating a smooth tempo, releasing the club property at impact for more power, and executing delicate shots with feel. Think of it like tires on a car, it doesn't matter how powerful the engine is if the tires have no tread. Worn grips force you to unconsciously squeeze harder simply to keep the club from twisting in your hands during the swing, particularly on off-center hits. New grips restore your command over the clubface, leading to more consistent shots and a much more enjoyable experience on the course.
Before you commit to a full replacement, assess whether a deep cleaning might do the trick. Over time, grips accumulate dirt, sweat, sunscreen, and oils from your hands, which makes them feel slick and hard. Often, a good scrub is all it takes to restore their original tackiness, especially for rubber or high-performance synthetic grips.
1. Create a Soapy Solution: Add a small amount of mild dish soap to your bucket of warm water. You don't need a lot of suds, just enough to help break down the grime.
2. Scrub Gently: Dip the brush in the soapy water and gently scrub the entire surface of the grip. Pay extra attention to the areas where your hands and thumbs sit, as this is where most of the buildup occurs. Be careful not to let water run down into the shaft - hold the club with the head pointing up.
3. Rinse and Dry Thoroughly: Rinse the grip under a gentle stream of cool water until all the soap is gone. Immediately dry the grip with a clean towel. It’s important to dry them completely to prevent any moisture damage. Let your clubs air out for a couple of hours before putting the headcovers back on. You’ll often be amazed at how much tackiness returns after a good wash.
If cleaning doesn't bring your grips back to life, it's time for a replacement. Here are the clear signs that your grips have reached the end of their functional life:
Regripping your clubs is a surprisingly easy and rewarding DIY project. With the right tools, you can save money and get the job done right. Here’s a list of what you’ll need:
Once you have your tools, find a well-ventilated space and lay down some old newspaper or cardboard to catch any excess solvent. Then, follow these steps.
Place the rubber shaft clamp around the shaft, a few inches below where the old grip ends. Position the club in the vise and tighten it just enough to hold the club firmly in place without moving. Be gentle - especially with graphite shafts. The goal is to prevent rotation, not to crush it.
Take your hook blade knife. Start at the bottom edge of the grip and hook the blade underneath. With a single, smooth motion, push the blade up toward the butt end of the club, cutting away from your body. The hook design keeps the blade from digging into the shaft. Once cut, the old grip will peel off easily.
This is often the most tedious part. Peel off as much of the old double-sided tape as you can with your fingers. For stubborn, flaky remnants, you can use a heat gun (on a low setting) to gently warm the tape, which helps loosen the adhesive. A little grip solvent on a rag can also help dissolve stubborn spots. Your goal is a perfectly clean, smooth shaft surface.
Unroll a piece of your double-sided grip tape and measure it against the shaft. It should be about half an inch shorter than the length of your new grip. Peel off the backing and apply the tape lengthwise along the top of the shaft. Smooth it out to remove any air bubbles. Let about an inch of tape extend over the butt end of the club. Then, twist and tuck this excess tape into the shaft's opening. This creates a seal that prevents solvent from getting inside the shaft.
Peel the top layer off the double-sided tape that is now on the shaft. Then, take your new grip. Place a finger or a golf tee over the small vent hole at the end of the grip to block it. Pour a generous amount of grip solvent inside the new grip - fill it about halfway. Cover the open end with your other thumb and shake vigoriously for a few seconds to coat the entire inside surface.
This step happens fast, so be ready. Immediately pour the excess solvent out of the grip and directly onto the entire length of the double-sided tape on the shaft. This fully activates the adhesive. Align the opening of the grip with the butt end of the shaft. In one smooth, continuous motion, push the grip all the way onto the shaft until the butt end is snug against the end of the shaft. Don’t hesitate, the solvent gives you a short window to work.
Before the solvent dries, you have a few seconds to make final alignment adjustments. Most grips have logos or alignment markings. Eyeball it from the playing position to make sure the grip is perfectly straight. Once you’re happy with the alignment, leave the club alone. It needs to sit for at least 3-4 hours to set, but it’s best to wait 12-24 hours before you hit any balls, just to be sure the adhesive has fully cured.
Repeat the process for the rest of your set, and you're done! Your clubs will feel brand new.
Renewing your golf grips, whether through a deep clean or a full replacement, is one of the most impactful and simple things you can do for your game. Being able to regrip your own clubs gives you total control over the feel of your equipment and builds a deeper connection to your tools, empowering you to step onto the first tee with new confidence.
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