Who Can Regrip Golf Clubs?

Thinking about putting new grips on your golf clubs? The good news is that you have plenty of options, and doing it yourself is a skill that any golfer can learn. This article will break down exactly who can regrip your clubs, from seasoned professionals to you in your own garage, and provide a complete step-by-step guide so you can handle the job with confidence.

Who Can Put New Grips on Your Golf Clubs? Breaking Down Your Options

When your grips become slick, cracked, or worn, you're giving up control and confidence. The connection between your hands and the club is fundamental, and fresh grips restore that tacky, secure feeling. When it’s time for a change, you generally have three choices, each with its own benefits.

1. Your Local Golf Professional or Club Fitter

Taking your clubs to your local PGA Professional or a dedicated club fitter is the premium, white-glove option. These individuals regrip clubs day in and day out, and their experience is invaluable. They understand the nuances of grip size, material, and how different grips affect swing weight.

Pros:

• Expertise: You're getting the job done by someone who does it for a living. They can offer advice on the best grip type and size for your hands and swing, often using specialized tools to measure your hand size for a perfect fit.
• Quality Assurance: A professional will ensure every grip is perfectly aligned and installed correctly. They’ll also handle the little details, like ensuring a clean shaft and proper solvent application, which makes a big difference.
• Convenience: For many, dropping off the clubs and picking them up the next day is the easiest path. You don’t have to buy tools or spend time on the project yourself.

Cons:

• Cost: You’ll pay for the grips plus a labor charge, which typically ranges from a few dollars per club. While not exorbitant, this fee can add up if you’re regripping a full set.
• Turnaround Time: Depending on how busy they are, you might have to leave your clubs for a day or two, which can be tough if you have a tee time planned.

2. Big-Box Golf Retail Stores

Places like Golf Galaxy or PGA TOUR Superstore have dedicated club repair shops inside their locations. This is a very popular and reliable choice for the average golfer, offering a blend of service and selection.

Pros:

• Vast Selection: These stores carry a massive inventory of grips from every major brand. You can go in, feel different textures and sizes in person, and pick exactly what you want.
• Specialized Technicians: The staff in the repair department are trained specifically for these tasks. While they may not have the deep coaching background of a PGA Pro, they are proficient at club work.
• Often Quick Turnaround: Because they have a full workshop and multiple technicians, they can sometimes regrip your clubs while you wait or browse the store, depending on their workload.

Cons:

• Less Personalized: This is a higher-volume business. You may not get the same level of one-on-one consultation about which grip is best for your specific game as you would with your local coach.
• Can Be Impersonal: While efficient, the experience can feel more transactional than building a relationship with a local club professional.

3. DIY (Do It Yourself) In Your Own Home

For a growing number of golfers, regripping clubs at home has become a satisfying and cost-effective ritual. It might sound intimidating, but it's a surprisingly simple mechanical process. Anyone who is a bit handy and can follow a few basic steps can successfully regrip their own clubs.

Pros:

• Cost Savings: This is the most significant benefit. You only pay for the materials (grips, tape, solvent), eliminating all labor costs. Over the life of your clubs, this can save you hundreds of dollars.
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• Satisfaction and Control: There’s a special sense of accomplishment that comes from working on your own equipment. You learn about your clubs and can experiment with different wraps or grip sizes to find your perfect feel.
• Convenience: Once you have the tools, you can regrip a club anytime you want, day or night, without having to make a trip to the golf shop. Got a tournament this weekend and noticed your driver grip is slick? You can fix it in 20 minutes.

Cons:

• Initial Tool Investment: To do the job right, you’ll need to buy a few basic tools. The initial outlay might be more than one-time labor at a shop, but the tools last forever.
• Learning Curve: Your first club will take the longest. There’s a small learning curve, and it can be a bit messy at first.
• Risk of Mistakes: If you’re not careful, you could install a grip crooked, damage a shaft with the knife, or fail to use enough solvent, making the installation difficult. However, these are all easily avoidable with a little care.

Your DIY Regripping Toolkit: Gathering the Essentials

Ready to try it yourself? The job is much easier with the right tools. You can buy these individually or find them packaged together in a convenient DIY regripping kit online or at a golf store.

• New Golf Grips: The most important ingredient! Make sure you get the right number of grips for the clubs you plan to update.
• Hook Blade or Utility Knife: A hook blade is strongly recommended because its design allows you to cut the old grip without ever having the sharp point touching the shaft, dramatically reducing the risk of scratching a graphite shaft. A standard utility knife works, but requires more care.
• Bench Vise: While you can do it without one, a vise makes the job about 100 times easier. It holds the club perfectly steady while you work.
• Rubber Vise Clamp: This is an absolutely essential partner to the vise. It’s a small, grooved piece of rubber that wraps around the shaft. When you tighten the vise, the clamp holds the club securely without scratching or cracking it. Never put a golf shaft directly into a metal vise.
• Double-Sided Grip Tape: This special tape is what adheres the grip to the shaft.
• Grip Solvent: This liquid is the secret sauce. It activates the adhesive on the tape, making it incredibly slippery for a short time. This lubrication allows you to easily slide the new grip on. Mineral spirits from a hardware store can also be used as a substitute.
• Rags and a Small Tray: The process can be drippy. A small paint tray or cardboard box underneath your vise will catch excess solvent, and rags are useful for cleanup.

A Step-by-Step Guide: How to Regrip a Golf Club

Once you have your tools, you're ready to go. Find a well-ventilated space (like an open garage) and set yourself up. Let's walk through the process one club at a time.

Step 1: Secure Your Club in the Vise

Open the jaws of your vise. Wrap the rubber vise clamp around the golf shaft, a few inches below where the old grip ends. Place the clamped shaft into the vise and tighten it just enough to hold the club securely. The clubface should be positioned perpendicular to the floor so you can align the new grip correctly.

Step 2: Carefully Remove the Old Grip

Take your hook blade. Start at the bottom opening of the old grip and insert the hook. Pushing AWAY from your body, cut a straight line all the way up through the butt end of the grip. With a utility knife, use extreme caution and a shallow angle to avoid digging into the shaft. Once cut, the old grip will peel off easily.

Step 3: Remove the Old Tape

This is often the most time-consuming step. Peel off as much of the old tape as you can with your fingers. For stubborn, dried-out tape, you can warm it gently with a heat gun or hair dryer to loosen the adhesive. A little solvent on a rag can also help dissolve stubborn reside. Get the shaft as clean and smooth as possible, any lingering bumps will be felt through the new grip.

Step 4: Apply the New Tape

Take a strip of double-sided grip tape. Measure it against the shaft, starting about a quarter-inch from the top edge. Peel the backing off and apply it lengthwise down the shaft, avoiding wrinkles. There should be about half an inch of tape extending past the butt end of the shaft. Peel the paper covering off the tape, then twist the excess half-inch and tuck it inside the shaft butt. This prevents solvent from getting inside the shaft.

Step 5: Activate the Tape with Solvent

Place your tray or box under the club. Generously pour grip solvent over the entire length of the taped area, anointing it from top to bottom. Now, take your new grip. Place a finger over the small hole in the butt-end and pour a good amount of solvent inside. Cover the main opening with your other hand and shake vigorously to coat the entire inside of the grip.

Step 6: Slide the New Grip On

Don’t be shy here! This step requires a swift, confident motion. After shaking the grip, pour the excess solvent out of its mouth and directly over the tape on the shaft - you can't use too much solvent. Quickly align the mouth of the grip with the butt of the shaft and push it on in one smooth, continuous motion. Use your lower hand to push from the butt end, avoid pulling the grip from its opening as this can cause it to stretch.

Step 7: Align the Grip Perfectly

Before the solvent begins to evaporate and the tape gets sticky (you have about a minute or two), you need to get the alignment right. Look down from the top. Use the logo or alignment markings on the grip to make sure it is perfectly square with the clubface. You can twist and adjust it as needed during this short window.

Step 8: Let It Dry

Once you’re happy with the alignment, take the club out of the vise and wipe off any excess solvent with a rag. Lean it against a wall to dry. While the grip may feel set after an hour, it’s best to let it cure for a full 12-24 hours before you hit any balls. Repeat the process for the rest of your clubs!

Final Thoughts

Regripping your clubs is a fundamental part of golf maintenance that is well within the reach of any player. Whether you prefer the expert service of a pro or the satisfaction and savings of doing it yourself, the most important thing is to play with grips that give you a confident, secure connection to the club.

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