What Size Golf Grips Do Pros Use?

The quest to mirror the pros often leads golfers down a rabbit hole of swing mechanics and high-tech gear, but one of the most impactful and frequently overlooked details is the grip. You might think there's a specific, Tour-approved grip size that all the best players use, but the reality is far more personal and customized. This article will show you what the pros *really* have on their clubs, explain how grip size dramatically influences your shots, and guide you through finding the perfect size for your game.

The Surprising Truth About Pro Golf Grips

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to what grips pros use. While most grip manufacturers use a tour pro's feedback to design a "standard" size, very few professionals use that grip straight out of the box without any modification. Customization is the name of the game at the elite level. Their grips are dialed in perfectly to their hand size, swing tendencies, and desired shot shape.

For every pro who uses a standard-size grip, like Jordan Spieth, you'll find another who dramatically alters it. For years, Bubba Watson was famous for playing with a whopping 10 to 12 extra layers of tape under his grips, effectively creating a super-oversized, non-tapered feel. Tiger Woods has famously used a standard-sized Tour Velvet cord grip for most of his career, but with an extra wrap of tape an extra wrap of tape underneath. This subtle adjustment makes a world of difference in feel and performance for him, and it showcases the level of detail the best players consider.

The lesson here isn’t to copy Bubba or Tiger, but to understand the principle: your grips should be tailored to you. They are your only connection to the golf club, and if that connection isn’t right, you’re constantly making subconscious compensations in your swing to make the ball go where you want.

Understanding the Main Golf Grip Sizes

Before you can customize, it helps to know the basic building blocks. Retail golf grips are generally categorized into a few main sizes, which usually correspond to a player's glove size.

Standard Grips

This is the default size installed on most off-the-rack clubs. They are typically designed for players who wear a Men's Medium or Medium-Large glove. A standard grip has a core size of .580 or .600 inches in diameter. Grips are just one part of the equation, as shafts have different circumferences that also contribute to the final sizing outcome - something to have your local club builder help with if you’re unsure.

Midsize Grips

As the name suggests, midsize grips are a step up from standard, usually about 1/16 of an inch thicker. They are often a good fit for golfers who wear a Men's Large glove or those who simply prefer a larger feeling grip in their hands. Many players find that a midsize grip helps them maintain lighter grip pressure, reducing tension in the hands and arms.

Oversized/Jumbo Grips

These are the largest grips available, measuring 1/8 of an inch larger than standard or more. Oversized grips can be immensely helpful for players with very large hands (XL or XXL glove) or for golfers who suffer from arthritis or pain in their hands. The larger diameter requires less grip strength to hold securely, which can alleviate joint pain and strain.

How Grip Size Affects Your Swing (This Is Big)

Now we get to the core of it all. Why does this even matter? Because the size of your grip has a direct and significant influence on what your hands and wrists can do during the swing. The wrong size actively encourages a major swing flaw, while the right size promotes a free, correct release of the club.

Too Small: The Hook Machine

When your grip is too small for your hands, your fingers wrap too far around the club. This gives your hands and wrists too much freedom and Mobility. It might sound like a good thing, but it often leads to them becoming overly active during the swing. Think of it like trying to control a thin stick versus a thick staff, the thin stick is much easier to flip and manipulate with your wrists.

In the golf swing, this overactivity typically causes the clubface to shut down too quickly through the impact zone. The result? A shot that pulls left of the target or, even worse, a sharp, diving hook. If you battle a nagging hook and have never considered your grips, this could be a simple and game-changing fix.

Too Large: Hello, Slice!

On the other end of the spectrum, a grip that is too large for your hands does the opposite. It restricts your hands and wrists from releasing the club properly. The larger diameter makes it difficult for your hands to rotate naturally and square the clubface at impact. It’s like trying to swing a tree trunk - your hands are so full just holding on that they can’t perform the fine motor skills needed to release the clubhead.

This restriction often leaves the clubface open at impact, sending the ball meekly to the right for a right-handed golfer (a push) or with left-to-right spin (a slice). Players who fight a slice, particularly those who feel they can't "turn the ball over," should almost immediately experiment with a slightly smaller grip.

The Secret Weapon: Building Up Your Grips with Tape

Here’s where we get into the real pro-level customization. Most Tour players don't just jump from a standard to a midsize grip. They fine-tune their grips using layers of specialty grip tape under the rubber grip itself. This is the single best way to dial in your perfect feel and performance.

A club fitter can do this for you, but it’s helpful to understand the language. A single, extra layer of standard masking-style grip tape beneath your grip adds approximately 1/64 of an inch to the thickness. This means:

• 2 extra layers will build your grip up by 1/32 of an inch, putting you halfway between standard and midsize.
• 4 extra layers will build your grip up by 1/16 of an inch, effectively turning a standard-sized grip into a midsize grip.

This incremental approach gives you way more control. Why is this so powerful? Because you might find that a standard grip is a little too thin, but a full midsize grip feels like a baseball bat. Two wraps of tape could be your perfect setup.

You can even customize the an extra section on what matters most. Some players, including Tiger, prefer extra wraps of tape under only the lower half of the grip. This reduces the grip’s taper (the gradual thinning from top to bottom), making the lower-hand section feel thicker. This modification can help quiet a dominant bottom hand, preventing it from getting too “flippy” through impact and contributing to a hook. This is an advanced technique, but it shows the level of personalization available.

How to Find Your Perfect Golf Grip Size: A Simple Guide

Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t be. Finding your ideal grip size is simpler than you think. You can start with a simple static test and then confirm your findings on the range.

Step 1: The "Feel" Method

This is the an extra section on what matters mostic starting point used by club fitters for decades. It's not a perfect science, but it gets you in the right ballpark.

1. Take your normal top-hand grip on a club (left hand for right-handed players).
2. Look at Your Hand: Where do the fingertips of your middle and ring fingers end up?
3. Correct Fit: Your fingertips should be lightly touching the fleshy part of your palm (your thenar pad). A slight indentation is okay.
4. Too Small: If your fingertips are digging deep into your palm, the grip is likely too small.
5. Too Large: If there is a noticeable gap between your fingertips and your palm, the grip is probably too big.

Step 2: Hit a Few Shots

The static test is just a theory. The only way to prove it is with real-world ball flight. If you have the chance, go to a fitter who has demo clubs with different grip sizes installed. Or, if you're a DIY kind of person, take an old club, install a different size grip, or build yours up with tape and head to the range.

Pay close attention to your typical miss. If you are a slicer and try a slightly smaller grip (or your current size with less tape), do you see the ball starting to straighten out or even draw? If you’re a hooker and a midsize grip or a few extra a wrapssuddenly produces a straight flight, you have your answer! Your ball flight doesn't lie.

Above all, remember that comfort and confidence are huge factors. Don't get so obsessed with a "technically perfect" fit that you ignore what feels good and produces the best results. If a grip feels secure, comfortable, and allows you to swing freely without thinking about it, that’s the grip for you.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, professional golfers don't use one single grip size, they use the size that's perfectly customized for their hands and their desired shot. Understanding how grip sizing impacts hand action is a massive step toward better golf, and experimenting with tape is an affordable, pro-level secret for dialing in your equipment and improving consistency.

Personalizing your game doesn't have to stop with your grips. When you encounter more complex questions about equipment, on-course strategy, or thorny swing thoughts, a tool becomes incredibly powerful. Here at Caddie AI, we provide instant access to an expert golf brain that can offer guidance anytime you need it, whether you're trying to figure out if your driver shaft is right for you or you’re standing over a a trickyapproach shot and need a second opinion.