What Size Grip Should I Use on My Golf Clubs?

Choosing the right golf grip size can feel like one more complicated variable in a game already full of them, but it’s one of the most direct ways to control your clubface and improve your ball striking. This single piece of equipment connects you to the golf club, and if it’s wrong, your hands will create compensations that lead to frustrating hooks and slices. In this guide, we'll walk through exactly how to find the perfect grip size for your hands, so you can stop fighting your equipment and start swinging with confidence.

Why Grip Size Is So Important to Your Swing

Your grip is the steering wheel for your golf shots. If it's the wrong size, you're essentially trying to drive with a steering wheel that's either too big or too small for your hands - it’s possible, but it makes everything harder. The size of your grip has a direct influence on how your hands and wrists work during the swing.

Think about what we want the hands to do. They need to be relaxed enough to allow for a proper wrist hinge in the backswing and a natural release of the club through impact. This release is what squares the clubface and produces powerful, straight shots.

• If a grip is too small, it's easy to get too "grippy" and overactive with your hands. Golfers will often squeeze the club too tight, causing the wrists to become overly active during the swing. This can lead to the club turning over too quickly, resulting in a snap hook or pull to the left (for right-handed golfers).
• If a grip is too large, it restricts the natural motion of your wrists. It becomes difficult to hinge your wrists properly and even harder to release the club through the ball. This leaves the clubface open at impact, which is a classic recipe for a weak slice or a push to the right.

Getting the size just right allows your hands to sit on the club in a neutral position with light, consistent pressure. It frees you up to make a full, unrestricted swing without your equipment fighting against you.

Signs Your Golf Grips Are the Wrong Size

Not sure if your grips are a good fit? Your ball flight and even the wear patterns on your hands can offer some valuable clues. Here are a few common red flags to look for.

Signs Your Grips Are Too Small:

• You frequently hook the ball: Your hands may be rolling over too quickly through impact because you have too much control.
• You feel tension in your forearms: This often comes from squeezing the smaller grip too tightly to feel secure.
• You see excessive wear or get blisters at the base of your thumb pad on your top hand (the thenar eminence). This means your hand is sliding and trying to find leverage that isn't there.
• You tend to pull shots left (for a right-handed golfer) without necessarily curving the ball. Your overactive hands are closing the face at the moment of impact.

Signs Your Grips Are Too Large:

• You frequently slice or push the ball to the right: The larger grip is preventing your hands from releasing and squaring the clubface at impact.
• You feel like you have a "weak" grip or lack control, almost like you can’t get your hands fully around the club.
• You have trouble hinging your wrists properly in the backswing, leading to a loss of power and a feeling of being disconnected.
• You end shots with a "chicken wing" left elbow, which can be a compensation to try and force the clubface square because your hands can't do it naturally.

If any of these sound familiar, it’s worth taking a few minutes to measure your hands and see if a change is needed.

How to Measure For Your Correct Grip Size

There are a few reliable methods to determine your ideal grip size. You don't need any special equipment - just a ruler and your own two hands. We’ll cover three different approaches, from a precise measurement to a quick practical test.

Method 1: The Hand Measurement Method

This is the most time-tested way to find your starting point. You need to take one simple measurement of your top hand (the left hand for a right-handed golfer).

1. Extend your top hand, keeping your fingers straight and together.
2. Take a ruler and measure from the dominant crease in your wrist to the very tip of your middle finger.

Once you have that measurement, you can compare it against this standard sizing chart:

• Less than 7 inches: Undersize (or Junior)
• 7 inches to 8.75 inches: Standard
• 8.25 inches to 9.25 inches: Midsize
• 9.25 inches or more: Jumbo (or Oversize)

You’ll notice some overlap in the measurements (for example, between 8.25" and 8.75"). This is because this static measurement is primarily a starting point. Feel and preference play a big role, which we’ll cover next.

Method 2: The Glove Size Method

This is a much quicker, though slightly less precise, way to estimate your grip size. Your golf glove size is a great indicator of your hand size, and you can use it to find a recommended grip.

• Men's Small or Medium / Women's Small, Medium, or Large: Undersize or Standard
-

Standard or Standard with extra wraps.
• Men's Large: Standard or Midsize
• Men's Extra-Large: Midsize or Jumbo
• Men's XX-Large: Jumbo

Again, this is a starting point. If you wear a Men's Large glove, for example, a Standard grip might feel too small, while a Midsize might be just right. This test gives you a great initial range to experiment with.

Method 3: The Fingertip "Feel" Test (The Most Practical)

While measurements are great, the true test is how the grip feels in your hands. This physical check is what most club fitters use asproprietary and it’s the most important one you can do.

1. Take your normal grip with your top hand (left hand for righties).
2. Look at your middle and ring fingers. Where do they end up?
3. In a perfectly sized grip, the tips of your middle and ring fingers should just barely graze the pad of your thumb.

If there’s a gap between your fingertips and your thumb pad, the grip is likely too large for you. If your fingertips dig deep into your palm, the grip is too small.

Fine-Tuning Your Grips with Tape

What if you find yourself between sizes? Maybe a standard grip feels a tiny bit too thin, but moving up to a midsize feels like you’re holding a baseball bat. This is where grip tape comes in.

A club fitter can add extra layers of tape underneath your grip to incrementally increase its size. It’s a fantastic way to achieve a truly custom feel. Here’s a general rule of thumb:

• 1 extra layer of tape = +1/64 of an inch (what fitters call "standard +1")
• 2 extra layers of tape = +1/32 of an inch
• 4 extra layers of tape = +1/16 of an inch

Many golfers who fall on the edge of standard and midsize find that a standard grip with two or three extra wraps of tape is the sweet spot. It provides that extra bit of substance without making the grip feel too bulky. Don't be afraid to ask your local pro shop or club repair specialist to build up your own grips this way.

Should All Your Club Grips Be the Same Size?

For the vast majority of golfers, the answer is a resounding yes. Consistency is one of the most important elements in golf, and having a uniform grip size across all 14 of your clubs is a massive advantage. If your 7-iron grip feels different from your driver grip, you are subconsciously making micro-adjustments in your hold and swing from club to club.

A consistent grip size means your hands learn one specific feel. This builds muscle memory and allows you to a make a repeatable swing, regardless of whether you're hitting a delicate wedge shot or a big drive. While some tour pros may use slightly different setups for specific clubs, for amateur golfers striving for consistency, keeping your grips the same size is the smartest play.

Final Thoughts

Finding the right grip size is a fundamental part of club fitting that gives you an immediate performance advantage. By taking a few simple measurements and paying attention to how the club fels in your hands, you can make sure your connection to the club is helping, not hurting, your swing mechanics.

Getting your equipment dialed in is a huge step, but the game is always throwing new puzzles at you on and off the course. If you’re ever unsure about how to hit a tricky shot or which skill to practice, our goal with Caddie AI is to put an anser right in your pocket. Having an on-demand golf expert means you can ask about anything from course strategy to swing fundamentals, helping you play with more confidence and less doubt.