Save Money and Improve Your Game By Regripping Your Golf Clubs

Why regrip? Think about it: Your grips are theon the butt.7) Put something to catch the mineral
only connection between you and your golf clubs.spirits under the butt end. I use an aluminum paint
A worn out, slippery grip forces you to hold thetray for paint rollers.8) Pour some mineral spirits
club tighter, which in turn leads to flaws in yourinto the grip while holding your finger over the
swing mechanics.Fortunately, changing your golfhole at the bottom. Slosh the spirits around inside
grips is easy. My son regripped his own set whenthe grip. Make sure it is good and wet.9) Hold the
he was eight years old. If an eight year old cangrip over the taped end of the club and release
do it, so can any reasonably intelligent adult.Whatyour finger, letting the spirits run over the tape.
You NeedThen, pour more of the spirits over the tape.
A utility knife (preferably with a hooked blade)Make sure that all of the tape is wet and that it is
Mineral spirits (get the odorless kind)slick. This is critical. If the tape isn't good and
A vice (mine clamps on a table)slippery, you won't be able to get the grip on -- it'll
Double sided grip tape (from Golfsmith orget stuck and you'll have to cut it off and start
Golfworks)over.10) Push the grip onto the shaft. Hold the
A soft rubber clamp (from Golfsmith orbutt end of the grip in one hand, and the shaft in
Golfworks)the other. Start the grip on the end of the shaft,
Slip on grips of your choice (again, fromand then push hard. Do it quickly. Push the grip
Golfsmith or GolfworksStep By Step Instructionsuntil it covers all of the tape. Once the butt end is
(read all first)1) Put the club in the rubber clamp,all of the way on, push on the middle to lower
and the rubber clamp in the vice. Tighten until itpart of the grip to extend it to its full length.11)
won't slip if you tug on it. If you have graphiteMost grips have a couple of little marks at the
shafts, be careful not to tighten too much. It's nottop and bottom ends to help with alignment. Make
as big an issue with steel shafts - I can't imaginesure that these align with each other. Otherwise,
anyone crushing those.2) Cut off the old gripsthe grip might be slightly twised, which may
with a utility knife. Slip the hook of the utility knifeaffect your swing.12) You can put the logo up (I
under the edge of the grip and pull upward. Splitdo), or down (as most pros do). Just make sure
the grip to the end. Then, peel it off.3) Strip offthat the marks line up parallel to the shaft.13) You
the old tape with a straight edge knife. Use a haircan change the diameter of the grip (slightly) with
dryer to melt the glue if the tape is stubborn. Ifa couple of tricks. If you prefer a slightly fatter
you have graphite shafts, be careful not togrip, put a heavy layer of tape on the shaft. The
damage the fibers.4) Figure how far down theextra tape will make the grip seem fatter. If you
shaft the lower end of the grip will fall. You wantprefer a slightly thinner grip (I do), then when you
the tape to come within a quarter inch of thatare marking the low point of the grip (step 4),
mark. I usually mark that point with a small dotmake the mark a quarter inch lower than usual.
with a sharpie magic marker.5) Apply the tape.When you stretch the grip out to reach the lower
There are two ways to do this: You can start attape mark, it will become thinner.John Retzer has
the mark you made and run it in a spiral patternworked as a professional journalist, photographer,
up the shaft. Or, you can run it lengthwise up oneeditor, public relations professional and golf coach.
side of the butt and down the other. Peel theHe currently teaches economics, political science
backing off the tape so the sticky side isand history.
revealed.6) Put another small strip over the hole