What Is a Midsize Golf Grip?

A golf grip that doesn't fit your hands is like wearing shoes that are two sizes too small. You might be able to walk around, but you'll never be comfortable, balanced, or athletic. The same is true on the golf course, where the wrong grip size can quietly sabotage your swing by forcing your hands to either work overtime or not work enough. This article will break down exactly what a midsize golf grip is, who should consider using one, and how you can figure out if it's the right choice for your game.

What Exactly Is a Midsize Golf Grip?

Think of golf grips in three main sizes: Standard, Midsize, and Jumbo (or Oversize). A midsize grip is the "in-between" option, designed to be slightly thicker than a standard grip but not as large as a jumbo one. While it might not sound like a huge change, this small increase in diameter can make a world of difference in how the club feels in your hands.

To get specific, golf grip sizes are measured by their increase over the standard size:

• Standard Grip: This is the baseline, what you'll find on most off-the-rack clubs.
• Midsize Grip: This grip is +1/16th of an inch larger in diameter than a standard grip.
• Jumbo Grip: This grip is +1/8th of an inch larger in diameter than a standard grip.

A sixteenth of an inch doesn't sound like much a lot, but your hands are incredibly sensitive. This small bump in size fills the hand more completely, altering the way your fingers wrap around the club. This change directly impacts your grip pressure and how your hands and wrists function during the swing.

Why Grip Size Is a Game Changer

Your connection to the golf club starts and ends with your hands. If that connection isn't right, a chain reaction of compensations begins. The correct grip size promotes a light, neutral hold, which frees up your arms and body to rotate properly. An incorrect size forces you to fight the club from the very beginning.

The Problem with Grips That Are Too Small

This is the most common issue for a large percentage of amateur golfers, especially men who use standard grips without realizing their hands are too big for them. When a grip is too thin, your fingers wrap around too much and can often dig into the palm of your hand. To feel secure, you instinctively squeeze the club tighter.

This creates several problems:

• Excessive Hand Action: A smaller grip allows your hands and wrists to become "flippy" or overly active at the bottom of the swing. Your hands can easily roll over too quickly through impact, a primary cause of the dreaded hook or a sharp pull to the left (for right-handed golfers).
• Increased Tension: Squeezing the grip tightly creates tension that radiates up your forearms, into your shoulders, and restricts your entire backswing. A tense swing is an inconsistent and powerless swing.
• Poor Feel: When your hands are busy strangling the club, you lose the ability to feel the clubhead and deliver it squarely to the ball.

The Problem with Grips That Are Too Large

On the other end of the spectrum, using a grip that’s too big for your hands (like a jumbo grip for a player with small hands) is just as damaging. An overly thick grip prevents your fingers from closing properly and can make the club feel like you're holding a baseball bat.

This can lead to:

• Restricted Release: With a grip that's too big, your hands and wrists can’t release or “turn over” naturally through impact. This leaves the clubface open, resulting in weak shots that fly to the right - the classic slice or push.
• Loss of Power: A proper release is a huge source of speed. By restricting it, you are robbing yourself of clubhead speed and distance.
• Awkward Feel: The club simply won't feel manageable, making it hard to feel like you have control during any part of the swing.

The goal is to find the "Goldilocks" fit - a grip size that feels secure with light pressure and allows your hands to be a passive part of your an athletic, body-driven golf swing.

Who Should Use a Midsize Grip?

So, who is the ideal candidate for making the switch to midsize? While there are no absolute rules, you’ll likely see a massive benefit if you fit into one of these categories.

1. Golfers with Larger Hands

This is the most straightforward reason. If you wear a men's Large or X-Large golf glove, a standard grip is almost certainly too small for you. Your hands need more volume to fill to achieve a neutral grip. Some players who wear a Cadet Large or Medium-Large glove may also find a midsize grip much more comfortable and effective.

2. Golfers Fighting a Hook

If your consistent miss is a hook or a pull-hook, your hands are likely too active through impact. A midsize grip can be a fantastic "calming" influence. The slightly larger diameter naturally quiets down the small muscles in your hands and forearms, preventing them from over-rotating the clubface closed through the hitting area. For many golfers, this simple equipment change can straighten out their ball flight more effectively than weeks of complicated swing instruction.

3. Golfers with Arthritis or Hand Pain

This is a an incredibly important benefit that often gets overlooked. A thicker grip surface allows you to hold the club securely with significantly less pressure. For players who suffer from arthritis, joint pain, or even just general hand fatigue, a midsize grip can be a revelation. By reducing the need to squeeze, you can play and practice with far less pain and discomfort in your fingers, hands, and wrists.

4. Golfers Who Just Want More Comfort

Many modern midsize grips are made with softer, vibration-dampening materials. The combination of a slightly larger diameter and a plusher feel provides a more comfortable and stable connection to the club. If you feel like your standard grips are too firm or create too much harsh feedback on mishits, the feel of a midsize grip might be exactly what you're looking for.

How to Know If a Midsize Grip Is Right for You

Ready to figure this out for yourself? Here are a few simple tests and experiments you can run to determine if a midsize grip is your ticket to a better feel and more consistent shots.

The Classic Finger Test

This is the traditional method used by club fitters for decades, and it's something you can do right now with your own clubs.

1. Pick up a club with a standard grip, preferably an iron.
2. Take your normal top-hand grip (your left hand if you are right-handed).
3. Look closely at how your fingers wrap around the club. Specifically, observe your middle and ring fingers.
4. The Ideal Fit: In a perfectly sized grip, the tips of your middle and ring fingers should be just barely touching the heel pad of your palm.
5. Grip is Too Small: If your fingertips are pressing or digging into your palm, your grip is too small. You are a prime candidate for a midsize grip.
6. Grip is Too Big: If there is a noticeable gap between your fingertips and your palm, your grip is too big.

This simple check gives you immediate feedback about your current setup.

The One-Club Experiment

If you're hesitant to regrip your entire set, this is the perfect, low-cost way to test the waters. You don't need to commit to 14 new grips right away.

1. Go to your local golf shop or club fitter.
2. Ask them to install a midsize grip model on just one of your most-used clubs. A 7-iron, 8-iron, or pitching wedge is a perfect choice. This should only cost a few dollars for the grip and installation.
3. Take that single club to the driving range.
4. Hit at least 50 balls with it, paying very close attention to the feel. Ask yourself:
   • Is it easier to hold the club with light pressure?
   • Do my hands and arms feel more relaxed?
   • If I tend to hook the ball, is the flight a little straighter?
   • Does it just feel more stable and comfortable at impact?

Give yourself an entire practice session with this club. Hitting just a few shots won't be enough. After 50-75 swings, you’ll have a definitive answer about whether the feel is right for you. If it is, you can regrip the rest of your set with confidence.

Final Thoughts

A midsize grip is a +1/16" option primarily for golfers with larger hands, players fighting a hook due to overactive hands, or anyone seeking greater comfort and reduced hand tension. Don't underestimate the power of this simple equipment tweak, finding the right connection to the club is a fundamental piece of the puzzle for building a consistent, powerful swing.

Once you are confident in your equipment, your focus can shift to executing better shots and making smarter choices on the course. We designed Caddie AI to act as that on-demand golf expert in your pocket. Knowing your 7-iron carry distance is one thing, but knowing whether it's the right club for a tucked pin with wind in your face is another. I help eliminate that uncertainty by providing instant, shot-specific strategy and club recommendations, so you can commit to every swing and play with more confidence.