What Does Plus 4 Mean on a Golf Grip?

A golf grip that feels too thin in your bottom hand can cause a surprising amount of trouble, from squeezing the life out of the club to making your dominant hand a little too active in the swing. The Plus 4 grip was designed as a direct solution to this common problem. This article breaks down exactly what a Plus 4 grip is, why you might consider one, and how it can help you play more consistent, controlled golf.

What Exactly Does "Plus 4" Mean?

In the simplest terms, a Plus 4 golf grip has a larger diameter in its lower section, specifically where your bottom hand (the right hand for a right-handed golfer) holds the club.

The name "Plus 4" comes from how it's constructed. For years, tour pros and meticulous club builders would customize their grips by adding extra layers of tape under the rubber. A common modification was to add four extra wraps of tape under the lower half of the grip to "build it up." This made the lower part of the grip thicker, which accomplished a few key things we'll get into shortly.

Grip manufacturers saw how popular this was and decided to build that feature directly into the grip. So, a Plus 4 grip is one that is designed and molded to have the same outer diameter as a standard grip with four extra layers of tape on its lower portion. You get that “built up” feel straight out of the box without the hassle and inconsistency of adding tape yourself.

The Key Difference: Reduced Taper

Every standard golf grip has a "taper," meaning it's thicker at the top (under your top hand) and gradually gets thinner toward the bottom end. A Plus 4 grip significantly reduces this taper. While not perfectly straight, it feels much more uniform in size from top to bottom, effectively eliminating that skinny feeling in your lower hand. The top half of the grip maintains closer to a standard size, making this a very specific and targeted design change.

The Main Benefits of Using a Plus 4 Grip

So, why would you want a thicker lower hand on your grip? It’s not just about comfort. This design can have a real impact on your swing mechanics and shot consistency. As a coach, this is one of the first pieces of equipment I look at when a player is struggling with certain issues.

1. It Reduces Grip Pressure

This is the most significant benefit. When a grip feels too thin in your fingers, your natural instinct is to squeeze it tighter to feel in control. This is especially true of your dominant, or "feel," hand. Excessive grip pressure, particularly in the lower hand, creates tension that works its way up your arms and into your shoulders, restricting your ability to make a free-flowing, athletic swing.

A Plus 4 grip fills your hands more completely. Because it already feels substantial, you don't have the subconscious urge to clamp down on it. This lighter grip pressure is fundamental for:

• Increased Clubhead Speed: A relaxed grip allows the wrists to hinge and unhinge naturally, creating lag and releasing the club with more speed through impact. Tension is a speed killer.
• Better Feel and Touch: You can't have sensitive hands and feel the clubhead if your hands are locked in a death grip. Softer hands improve your touch, especially on chips and putts.

2. It "Quiets" the Lower Hand to Fight a Hook

For many amateur golfers, their biggest miss is a hook (a shot that curves hard from right to left for a right-handed player). This often happens when the dominant right hand becomes too active through impact, rolling over too quickly and shutting the clubface down.

By making the grip thicker under the right hand, the Plus 4 design helps to take that hyperactive hand out of the equation. It reduces the ability of your fingers and wrist to manipulate the face. This encourages a more passive role for the right hand, prompting you to release the club with the rotation of your body and the swinging of your arms as a single unit. It promotes a feeling that the left hand and arm are leading the swing, which is a fantastic thought for preventing that quick, face-closing snap hook.

3. It Provides Enhanced Comfort (Especially for Some Hand Types)

While the performance benefits are clear, comfort is a huge factor. If your equipment doesn't feel good in your hands, you’ll never feel confident over the ball.

• Golfers with Larger Hands: If you have bigger hands or longer fingers, trying to hold a standard grip can feel like you're pinching a pencil. Your fingers might wrap all the way around and dig into your palm. A Plus 4 gives your hands something more substantial to hold onto for a much more comfortable and secure feeling.
• Seniors or Players with Arthritis: For golfers who suffer from arthritis, joint pain, or reduced hand strength, squeezing a skinny grip can be difficult or even painful. A larger, softer grip like a Plus 4 requires less force to hold securely, reducing strain and allowing players to practice and play for longer without discomfort.

Plus 4 vs. Midsize vs. Standard: Making the Right Choice

"Plus 4" and "Midsize" get mixed up a lot, but they are designed to solve slightly different problems. Understanding the difference is important for finding the perfect fit for your game.

• Standard Grip: This is the default grip on most off-the-rack clubs. It has a standard core size (like .600") and a noticeable taper from top to bottom.
• Plus 4 Grip: This grip also uses a standard core size. The key difference is the reduced taper. The upper hand section feels like a standard-sized grip, but the lower section is built up to be much thicker. Best For: Golfers who like the feel of a standard grip for their top hand but want to quiet their overactive lower hand or reduce hooks.
• Midsize Grip: This grip has a larger diameter throughout its entire length. It feels noticeably thicker under both your top and bottom hands. Best For: Golfers who simply have large hands and need an overall larger grip for comfort, or a player who wants to quiet down both hands completely.

Think of it this way: a Plus 4 is a specialized tool, while a Midsize is a more general fitting solution. If your main issue is a "flippy" right hand, the Plus 4 might be the more precise answer.

How to Know if a Plus 4 Grip Is Right For You

Feeling is believing. Before you regrip all 13 of your clubs, here are a few things to consider and a simple way to test the concept.

Key Questions to Ask Yourself:

1. What is your common 'big miss'? If you fight a nasty pull-hook that shows up under pressure, a Plus 4 is absolutely worth trying.
2. Do you feel tension in your swing? Look at your glove. Is the palm worn out? Do you get calluses or see crease marks on your hand after playing? These are signs of too much grip pressure.
3. How do standard grips feel? Do your fingertips dig into your palm when you hold the club? If so, you'd likely benefit from a larger grip of some kind.

The Best Way to Test It: Your Own DIY Experiment

Here’s a fantastic, low-commitment way to see if the Plus 4 feel works for you. Take one of your clubs - an 8-iron or a wedge is perfect - to a local pro shop or club-fitter. Ask them to do the following:

1. Remove the current grip.
2. Apply a fresh layer of double-sided tape like they normally would.
3. Add four more strips of tape, but ONLY on the bottom half of the grip area.
4. Install a new, standard grip over the built-up tape.

This process perfectly mimics the feel of a brand-name Plus 4 grip. Take that club to the driving range and hit 20-30 balls with it. Pay close attention to how your right hand feels. Is it quieter? Is your ball flight straighter? If you love the feel, you have your answer.

Final Thoughts

In short, a Plus 4 grip is designed with less taper and a thicker lower hand to reduce grip pressure and prevent an overactive, "flippy" release. It addresses a specific swing fault for many amateurs while also providing a a great deal of comfort for players with larger hands or arthritis.

Dialing in your equipment, right down to the grips, is a huge step toward building confidence and consistency. When your gear feels right, you can focus on smarter on-course decisions. And when you're facing a tricky shot or aren't sure of the right play, I’m here to help. Features like snapping a photo of your lie for analysis can give you expert-level advice in seconds, so you can stop guessing and swing with conviction.