Replacing Your Own Golf Club Grips

How often you replace your grips depends onarm, grip end facing forward. Hook the utility knife
how often you play and what climate you live in.under the grip (remember to use a hooked blade)
It may also depend on where you keep yourand cut away from the shaft. Be careful not to
clubs stored.nick the shaft, particularly if it is graphite. Peel off
If you play four times a week or more inthe old grip.
extreme temperatures and humidity, then you willCaution: Ensure that no part of your body is in
likely need to change the grips every six monthsthe way in case the knife slips, and that nobody is
or so because the sweat, heat, humidity, dirt andin front of you or to your side. Always cut away
sand will all tend to break down the grip finish.from your body.
They will lose their elasticity quickly when you useSTEP 2
them that much. If you leave your clubs in theRemove the old grip tape underneath, this will
trunk of your car on a hot day the extreme heatmean peeling and scraping. You may also use
will deteriorate material even more quickly. If yousolvent, such as grip solvent or paint thinner, to
only play occasionally and store your clubs awaywipe off any remaining residue.
you can go longer but most golf experts indicateSTEP 3
that you should replace the grips every 18Allow the shaft to completely dry.
months to two years at the longest.STEP 4
Replacing your own grips is fairly easy repair, youPlace the golf club into the vice ensure that you
just need a few simple tools. Replacing grips is notuse a rubber shaft holder so as not to damage
expensive even when you take them in to yourthe finish. Be careful not to over tighten, especially
local golf shop, but if you are like me its theif you are working with graphite shafts. Just make
taking them in and waiting the two or three dayssure the shaft does not move. Position the club
for them to come back that is the problem. Nowperpendicular to the floor.
I simply select the grips that I want at my localApply the double sided grip tape to the shaft the
golf shop and then make the repair myself.same length as the new grip. Wrap around the
Materials required:shaft, and leave a half-inch overhanging the end.
- New grips.Remove the backing from the double sided tape.
- A tee.Twist the overhanging half-inch and push inside of
- Bench vise (will make it easier).the shaft.
- Rubber shaft holder for the vice to protectSTEP 6
them from damage while the shaft is clamped inPush a golf tee into the vent hole of your new
the vise.grip and pour grip solvent into the the other
- Double-sided grip tape.(open) end.
- Scissors.Now pour the solvent from the grip over the
- A grip tape scraper.entire length of the new grip tape (you will need a
- Utility knife with a hooked, rather than a pointed,container under the club to catch the excess
blade (pointed blade might damage graphite shafts.solvent).
- Grip solvent.Remove tee from grip hole
- Container to catch the solvent.STEP 7
- Old rag.Quickly position the opening of the new grip over
Preparation:the shaft (align carefully facing up). Squeeze the
Pick out the grips that you like at your local golfgrip and slide the grip onto the shaft. Continue
shop, you can pick up double sided grip tape andsliding and pushing until you feel the end of shaft
any other materials that you need.against the end.
The first time I replaced my grips I was slightlySTEP 8
nervous about cutting my grips off, I started withRemove your re-gripped club from the bench
my least used club which for me is my 3 iron, myvise. Hold the club in your normal playing stance
thinking was that if I messed it up, I could at leastand position and ensure that the grip is on straight.
still play and take the one club in to repair at theIf adjustments need to be made, twist the grip
shop. After the first 3 iron I realized it was fairlyto achieve the desired alignments.
simple, but if you have the same concern goWipe the grip and shaft with a clean cloth.
ahead and try just one first.STEP 9
The process is fairly simple but its important toLet the re-gripped club sit and dry out. I always
plan out the steps. The grips are held on withlet my clubs sit for 12 hours to ensure that they
double sided tape, the tricky part is sliding theare completely set.
new grip over this tape, and for that you simplyThat's it, you now have a whole new feel for
use grip solvent which allows the grip to slide ontoyour clubs. Once you realize how easy it is you
the sticky tape and then it quickly evaporates.will likely replace them more often, and that
STEP 1should help you lower you golf scores.
Hold one end of the golf club securely under your