Replacing Your Golf Grips

It's really easy to change your grips. The hardestthat tape together and push it into the end of the
part is making sure the grip size is right for yourgolf shaft to seal the end of the golf shaft and
hands. There are different diameters of grips toprevent anything from getting into the golf shaft.
suit different hand sizes as well as for people whoOnce the grip has been slid onto the shaft, any
have arthritis. Assuming you're right handed andtape that protrudes beyond the grip can be easily
you put your left hand on the grip; your last 3trimmed with a razor blade or you can measure
fingers should wrap around the grip and justhow far the grip extends down the shaft in
slightly touch your palm or have a slight gap. Ifadvance and put a mark on the shaft and trim
there is a large gap the grip is too big. If yourthe tape a little shorter than the length of the grip
fingers press into your palm then the grip is toobefore you put the grip on. As mentioned earlier
small. You can make a grip that is a little too smallregarding the diameter of the grip, if you need a
bigger by adding a couple extra layers of griplittle wider grip, you can put an extra wrap or two
tape around the club shaft.of tape on the shaft to enlarge the diameter of
Step 1- This isn't mandatory but it makes the jobthe grip.
easier if you have one. Hold the golf shaft in aStep 5- Slide the grip on the shaft.
vise. There are rubber shaft holders that goWhile covering the little hole in the end of the grip
around the shaft before you place it in the vicewith a finger, put enough grip solvent into the grip
so that it doesn't damage the shaft. I've alsoso that it can coat all the inside walls of the grip.
changed grips without the vice and it's not veryPut enough in so that while now covering the
difficult so don't worry if you don't have one.holes of the grip at both ends with your fingers
Step 2- Remove the old gripthat you can shake the grip and feel the solvent
A sharp utility knife works great to cut the oldslosh around in the grip. Carefully dump/pour any
grip down the length of the shaft. If you haveexcess solvent that is in the grip out over the
graphite shafts, avoid cutting or marking theentire surface of the grip tape on your golf club
shaft.shaft. Now both the inside of the grip and the
Step 3- Clean the tape and adhesive off of theexterior surface of the grip tape should be coated
shaft.with solvent.
A razor blade and/or just using solvent worksNote: the grip solvent prevents the grip tape
well for this. I personally use mostly just theadhesive from setting up for a short period of
solvent because my shafts are graphite and Itime, so you will only have maybe 10 seconds or
don't want to scrape the shafts with a sharpso to get the grip on and get it aligned before the
blade. A good solvent that I use is paint thinner. Ifadhesive sets and the grip cannot be moved any
your shafts are steel, then a razor blade workslonger.
great to remove the tape and then remove anyNow slide the grip onto the shaft. If your grip has
remaining adhesive with the solvent.grip alignment marks for your hands on the grip
Step 4- Place grip tape on the shaft.or a grip reminder ridge that runs down the
Grip tape has adhesive on both sides. Double sidedbackside of the grip, try to make sure the grip
adhesive tape comes in narrow widths and widegoes on as straight as possible in the first place
widths. Depending on which tape you getso that you don't have to twist the grip much
determines the easiest way to place the tape ononce its on the shaft to get it aligned correctly. If
the shaft. The narrower tape may require you toyou have a shaft vice, aligning the grip will be a
wrap the tape in a spiral circular motion down thelittle easier at this point however it's not very
shaft. Try to get it spaced evenly so that ithard to align the grip without the vice. Holding the
doesn't overlap or leave big gaps. If you get thegolf club in front of you with the clubface
wider tape, you can just place a long strip downperfectly vertical pointing upward, places the
the shaft a little longer than the length of the grip,topside of the golfshaft on top. Line up the
and remove the backing and wrap it around thealignment marks for the top of the grip down the
shaft. Place the grip tape on the shaft so thatcenter of the shaft.
there is an extra ¼" of tape or so extendingLet the grips cure overnight before using them.
out beyond the butt end of the shaft. Squeeze