What Do I Need to Change Golf Grips?

Changing your own golf grips is one of the most satisfying and affordable ways to instantly improve the feel of your clubs and your connection to the ball. A fresh set of grips can restore tackiness, build confidence, and even quiet down overly active hands. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from the tools you'll need to a step-by-step process that makes the project simple and straightforward.

When Should You Change Your Golf Grips?

Before we grab our tools, let's talk about timing. How do you know it's time for a new set of grips? There isn't one perfect answer, but there are some reliable guidelines and tell-tale signs to look for.

The Rule of Thumb: For the avid golfer, a good general rule is to change your grips once a year or every 40 rounds, whichever comes first. The oils from your hands, sweat, dirt, sunlight, and heat all break down the rubber over time, even if the grips still look okay from a distance.

Look for Physical Signs of Wear: Give your current grips a close inspection. Are you seeing any of these issues?

• Shiny, slick spots: This is especially common where your thumbs rest. When the surface gets smooth and glossy, it has lost its tackiness.
• Fading or cracking: Look for colored grips that have become dull or any splits and cracks in the surface of the rubber.
• Worn textures: The detailed pattern stamped into your grip is there to channel away moisture and provide traction. If those patterns are getting smoothed out, it's time for a change.

Pay Attention to the Feel: Often, your hands will tell you it's time before your eyes do. If you feel your hands slipping an a hot day or notice you're gripping the club tighter and tighter to feel secure, your grips are likely done. This extra tension is a swing-killer, restricting your ability to release the club naturally. A fresh grip allows you to hold the club with much less pressure, promoting a more fluid and powerful swing.

The Essential Toolkit: Everything You Need

You can buy regripping kits that include most of what you need, but you can also assemble your own a la carte. Here’s a complete list of what you’ll want to have on hand to make the job go smoothly.

• New Grips: The most important part! Choose the size (standard, midsize, jumbo) and material (soft rubber, cord, hybrid) that best fits your hands and preferences. If you’re not sure, it’s a good idea to visit a local golf store to feel a few options first.
• Hook Blade Utility Knife: This is the single most important safety tool. A hook blade cuts the grip without ever pointing the sharp tip toward the shaft. Using a standard straight blade on a graphite shaft is an easy way to score or damage it, weakening the shaft and creating a breaking point. A hook blade makes the removal process fast and completely safe for both you and your clubs.
• Double-Sided Grip Tape: This special tape has adhesive on both sides–one to stick to the shaft, and one to stick to the grip. You can buy it in pre-cut strips or on a roll.
• Grip Solvent or Mineral Spirits: This liquid serves a bit of a magic trick. It acts as both a cleaner for the shaft and a lubricant that activates the adhesive on the tape, allowing you to slide the new grip on with ease. Once it evaporates, the adhesive sets and locks the grip in place.
• Bench Vise: While you can do this job without a vise, it’s significantly more difficult. A vise holds the club securely in place, freeing up both of your hands to work on the grip. You don't need a heavy-duty model, a small, clamp-on bench vise works perfectly.
• Rubber Shaft Clamp: This is a non-negotiable partner to your vise. It’s a small, v-shaped block of rubber that fits around the shaft. When you tighten the vise, the rubber clamp distributes the pressure evenly, protecting the shaft (especially graphite ones) from being crushed or scratched.
• Rags or Paper Towels: You'll need these for cleaning up old tape residue and wiping away any excess solvent.

Step-by-Step Guide to Regripping Your Clubs

With your tools and supplies ready, it’s time to get to work. Find a well-ventilated space like a garage or patio and let’s get started. We recommend starting with just one club, like a pitching wedge, to get a feel for the process before you do the whole set.

Step 1: Set Up Your Workspace

First, secure the rubber shaft clamp around the shaft of the club, about 5-6 inches below where the old grip ends. Place the club in the vise and tighten it just enough so the club won’t spin. Don't go crazy and overtighten it. We want it snug, not crushed. Try to position the club so the clubface is in a square position relative to the floor. This provides a great visual reference for when you align the new grip later.

Step 2: Carefully Remove the Old Grip

Take your hook blade knife. Insert the tip of the hook just under the butt end of the grip and push it forward, running the blade all the way down to the bottom edge. Always, always, always cut away from your body. Because the hook blade's sharp edge is on the inside of the hook, you can apply firm, steady pressure without any fear of slipping and cutting yourself or scoring the shaft. Once you've made one clean cut, the old grip will peel off easily.

Step 3: Peel and Scrape the Old Tape

This is where most of the grunt work lives. Depending on how old the club is, the tape may come off in nice long strips, or it might be a flaky, stubborn mess. Peel off what you can with your fingers. For the stubborn residue, you can use a bit of solvent on a rag to soften the adhesive. A little bit of gentle heat from a hair dryer can also help loosen things up. If scraping is necessary, use a plastic scraper or even an old credit card to avoid scratching the shaft. The goal is a perfectly clean, smooth surface from which to start.

Step 4: Apply Fresh Grip Tape

Take a strip of double-sided grip tape. You want it to be slightly shorter than the grip itself. Peel the backing off one side and apply it to the shaft, running it lengthwise from the butt end down. Leave about a half-inch of tape overhanging the butt end of the shaft. Peel the waxy backing off the tape. Now, twist that half-inch overhanging piece and tuck it into the butt end of the shaft. This creates a seal so no solvent can get down inside the shaft. Smooth the tape down firmly all the way around to avoid any bubbles or wrinkles.

Pro Tip: Want to build up your grip size? Simply add extra layers of tape. Most grip tapes add about 1/64" of thickness per wrap. One extra wrap creates a "standard plus" feel, while about three or four extra wraps will take a standard grip up to a midsize feel.

Step 5: Douse, Drip, and Slide

Now for the fun part. Grab your new grip. Place a finger over the small hole in the butt end and pour a generous amount of grip solvent inside. Cover the open end with your other finger and shake it vigorously for a few seconds to coat the entire interior. Next, pour the excess solvent directly out of the grip and all over the length of the new tape you just installed on the shaft. This makes everything slick and ready to slide.

Don't hesitate here. Grab the grip and, with a quick, decisive pushing motion, slide it all the way onto the shaft until the butt end is snug against the end of the shaft. You may have to work it on with a slight twisting motion.

Step 6: Align and Let It Dry

While the solvent is still wet, you have about a minute or two to make final adjustments. Eyeball the alignment markings on the grip and get them lined up perfectly with the square clubface in your vise. This ensures your hands go on the club consistently every time.

Once you are happy with the alignment, carefully remove the club from the vise. Give it one last look to be sure it’s square. Then, all you have to do is wait. The solvent needs time to evaporate. We recommend letting the club dry for at least a few hours, but waiting overnight is ideal just to be absolutely certain it's fully bonded and ready for the course.

Final Thoughts

Taking the time to change your own grips is more than just maintenance, it’s a way to become more connected to and knowledgeable about your own equipment. With the right tools and a little bit of patience, anyone can do it and enjoy the fresh, confident feel that new grips provide. Taking pride in your gear is a quiet but powerful part of playing better golf.

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