When golfers talk about the greatest of all time, the conversation inevitably turns to Tiger Woods and every detail of his game, right down to his equipment. One of the most frequently asked questions is about the size of his golf grips. He doesn't just use a specific size, he uses a meticulously customized setup that has been consistent for most of his career. This article will not only tell you exactly what grip Tiger uses but, more importantly, will walk you through why it matters and how you can apply the same logic to find the perfect grip for your own game.
Tiger Woods uses a standard-sized Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord grip. For much of his career, he has used the version with the white Golf Pride logo, but he has often used a "blackout" version as well, which is the same grip without the bright branding. At its core, it’s a grip any amateur golfer can buy off the shelf.
However, the real secret isn’t the grip itself, but how it’s installed. Tiger has his grips built up with extra layers of tape underneath. Specifically, he uses two layers of double-sided tape. This makes the grip feel slightly larger than standard but not quite as thick as a midsize grip. It's a precise level of customization designed to give him the exact feel and control he wants.
It’s a perfect example of how the best players in the world fine-tune every piece of their equipment to match their swing and feel preferences. Tiger could easily get a custom-molded grip from Golf Pride, but he prefers the specific texture and diameter that this tape formula creates.
To really understand Tiger's setup, you need to look at the three key components: the grip model, the size, and the tape buildup.
The "Cord" part of the name is the most important element here. A cord grip has a cotton cord material woven into the rubber. This creates a rougher, firmer texture that is brilliant for moisture management.
The "velvet" texture on the non-cord parts provides a comfortable but stable surface for the hands. It’s the best of both worlds: tackiness and moisture control.
So why not just use a midsize grip? Putting extra wraps of tape underneath a standard grip does something different. It allows for a more customized taper. A standard golf grip is thicker at the top (near the butt end) and gradually gets thinner towards the bottom. When you add a uniform layer or two of tape, you can maintain this taper or, as many club builders do for pros, you can add extra wraps under the bottom hand to reduce the taper. This "reduced taper" build makes the grip's diameter feel more consistent from top to bottom.
What does this accomplish?
This is the kind of detail that separates amateurs from pros. It’s not just about grip size, it’s about how the grip’s shape influences a player’s unique hand action.
Absolutely. The size of your golf grip is one of the most fundamental equipment specs, right up there with shaft flex and head design. It's your only connection to the club, and its size directly influences how your wrists and hands work during the swing.
Understanding the general principles can help you diagnose some of your own shot patterns and see if your grips might be partly to blame.
If your grip is too small for your hands, your fingers will wrap too far around the grip, potentially overlapping your thumb pad excessively. This tends to promote overactive hands.
Conversely, a grip that's too big is difficult for your fingers to close around effectively. This restricts the natural movement of your hands and wrists.
The goal is to find a neutral size that allows your hands to rest comfortably on the club, neither constricting their movement nor encouraging them to become overly active. This allows the bigger muscles of your body to control the swing, leading to more consistency.
Finding the right grip size isn't complicated. You don't have to guess. Here are a few simple methods you can use to determine the best size for you, starting today.
This is the oldest and still one of the most effective ways to check your current grip size. It’s quick, easy, and you can do it right now with one of your clubs.
This is your first and best clue. It provides immediate, physical feedback about how your hand fits the circumference of the grip.
Your golf glove size is a great indicator of what grip size you should be starting with. While not a perfect science (everyone's fingers are different lengths), it's a very reliable guide.
Now, connect what you've learned from the physical tests to what’s actually happening on the course. Is your most common miss consistent with what an ill-fitting grip might cause?
A word of caution: The grip is not a magic fix for major swing flaws. A slice caused by an over-the-top swing path won't disappear just by changing your grip. However, an appropriately sized grip can make it easier to develop a better swing, as it removes a potential barrier to progress.
Once you have an idea of what size you might need, don’t immediately pay to have all 13 of your clubs regripped. Experiment first.
Head to your local pro shop or club fitter and ask them to install a new grip on a single club - your 7-iron is usually a great choice since it’s in the middle of your set. Let’s say you’ve been using standard grips but think you need something bigger. Ask them to install a midsize grip on that one iron.
Or, if you want to be like Tiger, ask them to put a new standard grip on with two or three extra wraps of tape underneath. Every layer of tape typically increases the grip size by 1/64 of an inch. A midsize grip is 1/16" larger than standard, so four wraps of tape will effectively turn a standard grip into a midsize one. Two wraps give you that in-between feel so many players love.
Take that single revised club to the range and hit 20-30 balls with it. Then, hit balls with an adjacent club (your 6-iron or 8-iron) that still has the old grip. The difference in feel and ball flight will often be immediately obvious. This small investment can save you a lot of money and give you confidence in your decision before you change your entire set.
Tiger Woods uses a standard Tour Velvet Cord grip with two extra wraps of tape to mute his lower hand and achieve a consistent feel for all-weather play. This level of detail shows that your connection to the club is essential, but it also proves that the "right" grip is a deeply personal choice. Use the steps above - the finger test, your glove size, and shot patterns - to find the grip that allows your hands to function correctly and gives you confidence over the ball.
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