Thinking about reusing your golf grips? Good. It's a smart move that can save you money and let you hang on to a favorite grip that feels just right. The good news is that with a bit of patience and the right technique, you can safely remove a golf grip without cutting it to pieces. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, so you can get that grip off in one piece and ready for its next round.
Before we get our hands dirty, let's talk about the “why.” The most obvious reason is simple economics. A new set of premium grips can easily run you over $100. If you’re just swapping a new grip onto a different shaft - or pulling a grip to do some work like a shaft extension - reusing it is a no-brainer. You save the cost of a brand-new grip.
There's also the element of comfort and familiarity. Maybe you have a grip that’s been discontinued, but it fits your hands perfectly. Or perhaps you’ve got a Putter grip, like a SuperStroke, that is still in great shape but needs to be moved to a new flatstick. In these cases, salvaging the grip is the a great option. It’s also a more sustainable approach, reducing waste by giving equipment a second life.
As a coach, I have to add one important piece of advice: only reuse a grip that’s in good condition. Your hands are your only connection to the golf club. If a grip is hard, slick, cracked, or worn down, it’s a liability. You’ll instinctively grip the club tighter to keep it from slipping, which introduces tension into your arms and shoulders, killing your ability to produce a smooth, powerful swing. Reusing a worn-out grip is false economy. You might save a few dollars, but you'll cost yourself strokes on the course. If the grip is still tacky and the rubber is pliable, you're good to go. If not, cut it off and treat yourself to a new one.
You don't need a high-tech workshop for this job, but having the right tools makes the process infinitely easier and safer for both you and your golf club. Here’s a quick-list of what you should gather up:
Alright, let's get to work. Take your time with these steps. Rushing is how you end up tearing the grip or gouging a shaft. Patience is the main ingredient here.
First things first, security. Open the jaws of your vice wide enough to fit the golf shaft with the rubber shaft clamp around it. Place the clamp around the shaft a few inches below the grip. Don't put it on the grip itself. Place club and clamp into the vice and tighten it just enough so the club won't rotate. Be careful not to over-tighten, especially with graphite shafts! A snug fit is all you need. You want the club to be stable, not in a chokehold.
With the club secured, grab your heat gun or hairdryer. Set it to a medium or low heat setting. You don’t want to cook the grip, just warm it up. Hold the heat source about 6-8 inches away from the grip.
Move the heat constantly up and down the length of the grip, rotating the shaft as you go to ensure you heat it evenly on all sides. Spend about 30-45 seconds doing this. The goal is to warm the double-sided tape underneath the grip, which makes the adhesive lose some of its tackiness. You’ll feel the rubber of the grip become slightly softer and more pliable. Again, on a graphite shaft, be extra cautious not to concentrate heat in one spot for too long.
This is where the magic starts. Take your grip removal tool or the back, dull side of a utility knife blade. Gently work it under the lip of the grip at the very bottom (the part closest to the shaft). Carefully pry the mouth of the grip open just enough to create a small channel.
Grab your grip solvent and squirt a generous amount into this opening. Your goal is to get the solvent between the inside wall of the grip and the old tape on the shaft. Gravity is your friend here, so let it run down toward the grip cap.
Now, start working the grip. Place your hands on the grip and begin to twist it back and forth. You’ll feel it start to break free from the shaft as the solvent spreads and dissolves the adhesive. As you twist, also gently pull the grip toward the butt end of the shaft.
You may need to repeat Step 3 a few times. As you work the grip loose, it will create more openings along its length. Use these opportunities to squirt more solvent down the shaft. The more solvent you get in there, the easier it will be to slide off. Continue to twist and pull. You'll feel a "pop" a moment when the seal breaks completely loose from the mouth of the grip. After that, it should become progressively easier until the grip slides right off the end of the shaft.
Success! The grip is off in one piece. Now, you need to clean out the inside. A lot of old, gooey grip tape residue will be stuck inside. To clean it, simply pour some grip solvent inside, plug the hole at the grip cap with your finger, and shake it vigorously. Pour out the messy solvent.
Use your finger or a slim, long object wrapped in a rag (like a narrow dowel rod) to wipe out any remaining tape residue. The inside of the grip needs to be perfectly clean and smooth for a successful reinstallation. Once it's clean, set it aside mouth-side down to let any remaining solvent evaporate and dry completely.
Finally, give the grip a good inspection. Check for any small tears, cracks near the mouth, or signs that it has been permanently stretched. If you see any damage, be honest with yourself and toss it. A damaged grip won’t install properly and could fail during a swing.
If you have an air compressor, there is another popular method that is fast and clean. It’s primarily for grips that were installed using air, but it can sometimes work on taped grips if enough solvent is used to break the bond initially.
You’ll need a special nozzle that can be inserted into the small hole in the grip cap. By pushing this nozzle in and injecting a powerful blast of compressed air, the grip will "inflate" like a balloon, expanding just enough to break the seal with the tape. While holding the air trigger, you can then slide the grip right off. This method requires specific tools and takes some practice, as you need to be careful not to over-inflate and burst the grip.
Once your saved grip is clean and dry, reinstalling it is the same process as installing a new one. You’ll need to remove all the old tape from the club shaft (a bit of heat and solvent makes this easier), apply new double-sided grip tape, lubricate the tape and the inside of the grip with solvent, and quickly slide the grip on. Make sure to align it properly before the solvent starts to evaporate and the tape becomes tacky again. Let it sit for a few hours to fully set before you use it.
Reusing golf grips is an excellent skill for any golfer who enjoys a little DIY club work. It saves money, reduces waste, and allows you to keep the grips you love in play. The process requires more patience than cutting a grip off, but the payoff is a perfectly usable grip that's ready for another club.
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