How To Regrip Golf Clubs

As a golfer, learning how to regrip golf clubs is really valuable and not just from a money-saving standpoint! Worn-out grips can cost you precious shots, especially in damp and wet conditions, and replacing them with some of the best golf grips can have a real impact.

Cleaning them often will help, but all grips have a lifespan and will eventually need replacing. However, for those who carry the full allotment of 14 clubs in their bag, the cost of the job can often be a major deterrent.

Do you go for a new set of grips, or do you purchase that new wedge you’ve had your eyes on? All too often, it will go the way of the wedge. But changing a golf grip is a lot easier than many golfers imagine. There will no doubt be subtle variations from pro shop to pro shop, but the basics haven’t changed much over the years, and it can easily be done at home.

How To Regrip Golf Clubs Yourself

You will need the following…

• New grips
• Double-sided tape
• White Spirit
• A sharp Stanley knife or similar (ideally with a hook blade)
• A cloth
• A receptacle as long as a grip
• A vice with a shaft protector

Step 1: Removing the old grips

First, you will need to cut and peel off the old grips, which may or may not be straightforward depending on how long they’ve been on. Take a sharp Stanley knife (ideally with a hook blade so as not to damage the shaft) and make an incision the length of the grip. With steel shafts, you can be relatively ‘aggressive’ with the knife, always making sure to work the blade away from you, not towards you. (You may find it easiest to do this with the club secured in a vice.)

With graphite shafts, you must proceed more carefully to avoid damaging them as they are most susceptible to breakage from slicing into the graphite fibers.

Next, you need to remove the old grip tape to prevent lumps and bumps from forming underneath your new grip. If you’re lucky, a careful incision at the narrower end of the grip may allow you to peel off easily, but sometimes it will be a painstaking process that you have to carefully repeat as you pick off all the remnants of old grip and tape. It can be useful here to heat the old grip tape gently with a heat gun. This softens the adhesive and makes peeling the tape off a lot easier. Take care not to overheat graphite shafts, however, as this could once again cause significant damage.

Dab an old cloth in White Spirit and rub it up and down the shaft where the old grip was to remove the final bits of residue.

Step 2: Preparation

Next, hold the grip up against the shaft and with a washable marker pen, draw a small mark to signify the end point of the grip. This will provide a reference point for how far down the shaft to apply your grip tape and also for how far down to pull the grip when installing. This is important to ensure the grip will play its designed thickness. Stretching a grip will make it feel thinner, and not having enough grip tape will make the bottom part of the grip unstable.

If you are working with spiral tape, start at the butt end, wrap the double-sided tape round the shaft working downwards and allowing sufficient space so that it doesn't start overlapping lower down as the shaft gets narrower.

You can also get double-sided tape in sheet form rather than on a reel. Leave a little extra at the top and don’t unpeel the other side of the tape until you are ready to fit the new grip.

Wrap the extra bit around the top so it is covered with tape as this will make it easier to slip the new grip on.

Step 3: Fitting the new grips

Place the club in a vice with the head pointing up, taking care to use a shaft protector (or similar) to avoid damage as you tighten. Now take one of the new grips, cover the little hole at the end, and pour in a little White Spirit. Cover both ends of the grip with your fingers and swill the White Spirit around so the whole of the inside is coated.

Place your receptacle under the grip (if your vice arrangement allows you to do so), then pour the White Spirit from the inside of the grip over the double-sided tape with any excess falling into your receptacle to re-use.

Take the grip and slide it on, making sure any alignment tweaks are done quickly, as there is a limited window in which you’ll be able to manoeuvre the grip. Ensure the bottom of your grip reaches the line you marked earlier.

Take it out of the vice and check it in the address position to make sure it’s correctly aligned, taking care not to damage the head on the ground. Give the butt of the grip a gentle tap on the floor to ensure the grip has gone all the way on and the grip cap is seated nicely on the end of the shaft.

If you’re quick enough, you’ll still be able to make final adjustments at this stage before it sets too firmly. Depending on how much lubricant you have used, generally your grips will be set and usable in around 30 minutes.

Repeat this process a further 13 times if you’re replacing a full set!

How to tell if you need new grips

There are a few tell-tale signs that it might be time to regrip a golf club. Firstly, any indentations on the grip, usually around the thumb positions, are a good indication of a worn grip. This is simply where the rubber has actually been worn away by the friction of the hand movement during the swing, and can actually make a club non-conforming to the rules if it has gone too far.

Secondly, when a grip is shiny and slippy to the touch. If this is the case, it can have a detrimental effect on your grip pressure, causing you to hold on to the club too tightly for security. This can quite often be addressed with some warm, soapy water and a scrubbing brush, but sometimes even this won't return the grip's original tackiness. If that is the case, it's definitely time for a change. 

What size grip do I need?

Grip size is a very subjective area. Traditional schools of thought suggested that the correct grip size was one that allowed the finger tips of the top hand to lightly touch the fleshy pad of the thumb when holding the grip.

Many top touring professionals do not subscribe to this theory however. Bubba Watson for example uses up to 18 additional layers of tape underneath his grips to achieve the thickness he wants, whereas Padraig Harrington has previously used no tape, and even stretched his grips to make them play as thin as possible. For context, these two players both play the same glove size, so it is clear there is no right or wrong! Trial and error is the key here. Find out what feels and performs best for you.

What type of tape do I need to regrip my clubs?

There is no industry standard when it comes to grip tape. Generally speaking, any double sided adhesive tape will do the job. It should be noted that tapes can differ in thickness, so keep that in mind if you are looking for consistent thickness throughout your set. Most grip tape will come in 2" widths now to be used as a solid strip, however some people prefer thinner tape that spirals around the grip as this doesn't leave a seam. 

How much do golf grips cost?

Prices can vary dramatically here, from as little as $3 for some budget options up to $30 for some of the best grips. Factor in that you may require up to 14 grips if you are intending to regrip your whole set, including your putter grip.

Some of the specialist, oversize putter grips can be even more expensive.

How soon can I use my clubs after regripping?

Depending on the amount of lubricant used, generally speaking, you will be safe to use your clubs around 30 minutes after regripping. Using the clubs too soon after regripping can cause the grip to slip and misalign.