How to Replace Golf Club Handles

Worn-out golf grips cost you shots, it’s as simple as that. Over time, they become slick and hard, forcing you to grip the club tighter, which kills your feel and creates tension in your swing. But the good news is that replacing your own grips is one of the most satisfying and cost-effective pieces of golf club maintenance you can do. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step by step, so you can do the job right and feel that confident, tacky connection to your clubs again.

When and Why to Replace Your Grips

Your connection to the golf club begins and ends with your hands. When a grip is new and tacky, your hands can hold the club with light, confident pressure. This allows your wrists to hinge properly and releases the clubhead with power. As grips age, they lose their tackiness, get shiny, and harden from exposure to sun, sweat, and oils from your hands. Your instincts react to a slick grip by squeezing it harder to prevent the club from twisting or slipping during the swing. That extra tension is a game-wrecker, it radiates up your forearms to your shoulders, limits your rotation, and ruins your tempo.

So, when is it time for a change? Here are the signs to look for:

• Shiny, smooth patches: Especially where your thumbs and the pad of your lead hand rest, these are obvious signs that the original texture is gone.
• Cracks or crumbling: Older rubber or synthetic grips will start to dry out and break down.
• Loss of tackiness: If your grips just don't feel sticky anymore, even after a good cleaning, their time is up.
• Visible wear spots: You might even see smooth, indented spots where you place your hands every time.

As a general guideline, avid golfers should consider regripping their clubs once a year or every 40 rounds. If you play occasionally in a moderate climate, you might stretch it longer. But if you see any of the signs above, regardless of timing, it’s a good idea to make the switch.

What You’ll Need: The Regripping Toolkit

Getting your supplies in order before you start makes the whole process smooth and mess-free. You can buy complete regripping kits online, or you can buy the individual components. Here’s what you need to have on hand:

• New Grips: The most important part! There are tons of options, from classic rubber like the Tour Velvet to multi-compound or corded grips for extra traction in humid weather. Make sure you get the correct size for your hands (standard, midsize, jumbo).
• Double-Sided Grip Tape: You'll need one 2-inch wide, 10-inch long strip for each club.
• Grip Solvent: This is a special, low-odor mineral spirit that serves as the lubricant to slide the grip on and activates the tape’s adhesive. In a pinch, regular charcoal lighter fluid or mineral spirits will work, but be sure to work in a very well-ventilated area.
• A Hook Blade Knife: This is the safest tool for cutting off old grips. A standard utility knife works too, but the hook design dramatically lowers the risk of scratching the shaft (or yourself).
• A Vise and Rubber Shaft Clamp: While you can do this job without a vise, it is immensely easier and produces better results with one. The rubber clamp protects your graphite or steel shaft from being damaged by the vise jaws.
• Shallow Pan or Tray: Something to place under the club to catch the excess solvent that drips off. A paint roller tray or a small bucket works great.
• Rags or Paper Towels: For general cleanup and wiping things down.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Replacing Your Golf Grips

Once you’ve gathered your tools, find a space like a garage or basement workshop. Let’s get to work on that first club. Seeing how easy it is will give you the confidence to do the whole set.

Step 1: Get a Firm Hold of a Your Club

Place the rubber shaft clamp around the shaft about six inches down from the old grip. Now, tighten the club in the vise. Don't go crazy here, it just needs to be snug enough so it won't rotate as you work. The most important part of this step is to orient the clubface so that it is perfectly square to the floor. Use the grooves on the face as your guide. This setup is your reference point for aligning the new grip straight.

Step 2: Carefully Cut Off the Old Grip

Take your hook blade knife. Start at the very bottom edge of the grip (the opening furthest from the clubhead) and insert the hook. In one smooth motion, pull the blade upward along the grip toward the butt end. Always cut away from your body. The hook will slice through the rubber and tape underneath. Once it's sliced open, you can simply peel the old, worn-out grip right off the shaft. Easy.

Step 3: Scrape Away the Old Tape

This is usually the most tiresome part of the job. You need to remove every last bit of the old grip tape from the shaft. You can use your thumbnail, a plastic scraper, or the dull back edge of your utility blade to get it off. If it's particularly stubborn, you can lightly warm it with a heat gun (don't overdo it on graphite shafts!) or dab a little solvent on a rag to dissolve the adhesive. A clean, smooth shaft is vital for the new grip to adhere properly.

Step 4: Apply the New Double-Sided Tape

Take one strip of the double-sided tape. Leaving about a half-inch of tape hanging over the butt end of the shaft, peel the backing off one side and apply it lengthwise down the top of the shaft. Smooth it out with your fingers to avoid any air bubbles. Then, twist the half-inch of excess tape at the end and tuck it down into the opening of the shaft. This creates a neat cap that prevents solvent from getting inside. Finally, peel off the outer backing, exposing the sticky surface.

Step 5: Wet the Tape and New Grip

Position your catch pan under the shaft. Cover the small hole at the end of your new grip with your finger or a golf tee. Pour a generous amount of grip solvent into the opening. Swish it around so the entire interior is coated, then pour the excess solvent out of the grip and directly all over the double-sided tape on the shaft. Make sure every bit of tape is wet. This is what lubricates the grip for its journey onto the shaft.

Step 6: Slide the New Grip On

This is the moment of truth. You need to act somewhat quickly before the solvent starts to evaporate. Line the opening of the grip up with the butt of the club shaft. In one steady, confident motion, push the grip all the way on until the butt end of the shaft makes contact with the very end of the grip. It might feel a little stuck at first, just use firm, even pressure. If it gets stuck halfway, you likely didn't use enough solvent. Pull it off quickly and add more solvent to the tape and inside the grip.

Step 7: Align It Perfectly

You have a minute or so to make final adjustments. This is why squaring the face in Step 1 was so important. Look at the alignment markings on the grip (most have them) and rotate the grip until it’s perfectly aligned with your square clubface. You can look down the top of the grip from the playing position to double-check. Once you're happy with it, you're done.

Step 8: Let It Cure

Wipe off any excess solvent from the grip and shaft with a rag. While the grip will feel secure almost immediately, it's best to let it sit for a few hours (preferably overnight) for the adhesive to fully set before you start swinging it on the course or at the range. Now, repeat the process for all the other clubs in your bag!

Tips from the Coach: Common Issues and How to Avoid Them

Doing it yourself gets easier with every club. Here are a few extra tips for great results:

• Building Up Grip Size: If you have larger hands and want a midsize feel from a standard grip, you can do it by adding extra layers of grip tape. Before you put the final double-sided tape on, simply wrap the shaft with regular masking tape. Each full wrap of masking tape adds about 1/64 of an inch to the diameter. Two wraps underneath your double-sided tape will bring a standard grip up to just shy of a midsize.
• Don’t Be Shy with Solvent: This is the number one issue for first-timers. Not using enough solvent makes it nearly impossible to slide the grip on fully. Don't be afraid to go for a 'drenched' look on the tape. Any excess will just drip harmlessly into your catch pan.
• Putter Grips: The process is the same for putter grips, but the flat tops and pistol shapes make alignment even more important for your putting stroke. Take extra care to get that alignment perfect before letting it dry.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to replace your own grips is a simple, satisfying skill that gives you a deeper connection to your equipment and directly impacts your performance. Taking the time to go through these steps will not only save you money but will also give you the confidence of knowing your clubs are perfectly tuned for your hands.

With fresh grips ready to go, the feel for every club in your bag is reset. You can focus on hitting the shot, confident that your equipment won’t let you down. As you build on that fundamental confidence, we find that smarter course management and shot strategy become the next an amazing opportunity for improvement. Caddie AI gives you PGA-tour level coaching for making smarter choices - helping you think through club selections, reading tricky lies by snapping a quick photo, or plotting the best way to play a new-to-you course. We hope it can help you get more out of a great feeling golf swing - Caddie AI works alongside new grips to help you have your most fun and confident round. Have fun!