5 Signs The Grip On Your Golf Club Is the Wrong One

Your golf grip is the only connection you have with your golf club. With hundreds of grips on the market to choose from, there is a significant variation in performance from one grip to the next. As Golf Pride’s Global Head of Engineering Greg Cavill says, “Golf grips are no longer just a handle on the club.” I spoke with Cavill about the signs that suggest you’re playing the wrong grip and what to do if you are.

Slipping at impact or during transition

If you feel the club twisting in your hands during the downswing or slipping during transition, your grip likely lacks the right tack, size and/or texture. Slipping at impact isn’t just about wear. It’s about matching grip material, size and firmness to your swing.

Tour-level players with higher swing speeds often prefer firmer grips for better control. If you swing fast and play a soft grip, it may be working against you. In addition, your hands may be too big for your current grip. Slipping at impact is a red flag that your grip is too small.

Abnormal grip wear or abrasion

Check your grips. Do you see uneven wear, especially in spots your hands wouldn’t normally contact during a proper swing? That’s a red flag.

According to Cavill, abnormal abrasion is often caused by golfers compensating for a poor fit, twisting, over-gripping or adjusting during setup and throughout the swing. When a grip doesn’t fit your hands properly, you’re more likely to wear it down faster which means replacing it sooner than you should.

Soreness, blisters or glove damage

After you’ve inspected your grips for signs of wear and damage, look at your hands.

If you see wear spots on your glove or, worse, your hands, it’s a good indicator that your grip is forcing tension or pressure where it doesn’t belong. A properly fitted grip should feel comfortable and require minimal effort to hold throughout the swing.

When looking for a new grip, first find one that feels comfortable. Once you do, you can make tweaks that will impact performance such as size, no-taper technology and even choosing the right level of tack in the grip itself.

You’re still playing a “standard” grip by default

Most golfers play standard-size grips simply because they’re called “standard.” But that name doesn’t mean they’re the right size for your hands.

Cavill himself used to add three layers of tape under a standard grip to match Tour setups. Golf Pride testing revealed he was better off with midsize grips. The switch made a positive impact on his game.

Many average golfers fall into the same trap. Bryson DeChambeau and John Daly recently echoed this in the video (shown below), urging players to stop using grips that are too small.

You’ve upgraded clubs but never considered the grip

When I spoke with Cavill, he brought up a point I hadn’t really thought about: during most fittings, the grip is the last thing discussed. But that feels backwards. The grip is your only connection to the club. If it doesn’t feel right, do the shaft and head even matter?

Grips aren’t one-size-fits-all. Materials, textures and profiles all affect how the club feels and performs. Golf Pride’s Plus4 grip, now one of their best sellers, mimics four extra wraps of tape in the lower hand to reduce grip pressure and increase control, especially for faster swings. That’s a performance benefit!

If you’re getting fitted for clubs, make sure the grip isn’t an afterthought. It deserves just as much attention as the rest of the club.

Final thought

With today’s grip tech, you can find something that fits your hand, matches your swing and helps you play better. So, if you’re slipping, gripping too tight or stuck on “standard,” it might be time to treat your grip like the rest of your gear: something that should fit you, not the other way around.

Start by looking at the Golf Pride swing grip sizes: Find Your Grip Size.