When did you last replace your grips?
Not clean them. Replace them.
If you have to think about it, they’re probably due. Golf Pride and SuperStroke, the two brands you’ll find on more clubs than just about anyone else, recommend regripping at least once a year or every 40 to 60 rounds. That number is based on how rubber actually degrades when it’s exposed to heat, sweat, UV light and the oils from your hands.
What worn grips do to your swing
I’ve taught a lot of golfers over the years and grip-related swing problems are some of the most frustrating to diagnose because they disguise themselves as technique issues. Here’s what’s actually happening.
Grip pressure creep
When a grip goes slick, you squeeze harder without realizing it. That tension travels up through your wrists and forearms and stiffens the entire swing. You’re fighting your own hands before the club even gets to the top.
The club shifts at the top
A worn grip can’t hold the club square through the transition. Even a small rotation in the hands going from backswing to downswing changes where the face is pointing when it gets back to the ball. You can make a solid move and still miss badly and you’ll blame your swing for something your equipment caused.
The club moves at impact
This one doesn’t get talked about enough. If there’s no traction left in the grip, the club can actually twist in your hands through the hitting zone. The face that was square a half-second ago isn’t square when it matters. You lose control right at the moment you need it most.
Signs it’s time to regrip your golf clubs
Here are a few of the most recognized signs that it’s time for new grips on your clubs.
| Sign | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Shiny or slick surface | Rubber compound has broken down |
| Grips feel hard or firm | Softness and tackiness are gone |
| Cracking or crumbling rubber | Past due! Replace immediately |
| Squeezing harder than usual | Compensating for lost traction |
| Club shifting at the top | Face angle is no longer reliable |
| Club twisting through impact | No grip stability where it matters most |
| Can’t remember the last regrip | Almost certainly overdue |
A good reason to act before season starts
If you’ve been telling yourself you’ll get to it, this is your window.
Golf Pride is running a promotion at PGA TOUR Superstore through March 28: buy eight or more Golf Pride grips (any combination of swing grips and putter grips) and the regripping labor is free. That’s the bulk of your bag handled right at the start of the season when fresh grips make the biggest difference.
Outside of that promotion, regripping runs just $0.99 per club at PGA TOUR Superstore.
While you’re there, have them check everything else
One thing I always do when regripping is take a good look at the rest of the club and make sure there are no adjustments that need to be made. If you know your putter is too long or the shaft in your hybrid isn’t a fit for your game anymore, regripping time is the perfect time to fix the issue.
PGA TOUR Superstore handles most common club repair work in-store, usually within 48 hours—and regrips are often turned around faster than that. Here’s what the repair menu looks like.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Regrip (labor) | $0.99/club |
| Club shortening | $4.99/club |
| Club lengthening | $7.99/club |
| Loft/lie adjustment | $4.99/club |
| Standard re-shaft | $19.99/club |
One other option to consider
If you play regularly, the Players’ Club Plus membership ($299.99/year) covers 30 free grip installations annually, a free fitting ($99 value), a free lesson ($79 value), 50 percent off club repair services, and unlimited daily practice bay access.
For a golfer who plays more than a handful of rounds a year and properly maintains their equipment, it pays for itself quickly.
Final thoughts
Fresh grips let you hold the club with the right amount of pressure, keep the face square through the swing and control the club at impact. Worn grips make you compensate for all three and sometimes you do it without even realizing it.
Once a year is the baseline. If you’re playing more than 40 rounds, practicing frequently or dealing with heat and humidity, go sooner.
Brian
3 months ago
It’s not hard to re-grip yourself, adding an even more convienient option if you have a vice, and some basic skills and tools. Lots of youTube video’s demonstrating. Sadly Pure grips are no more, they were the absolute easiest to install, and lasted the longest.
Fake
3 months ago
Back when I was a kid, I remember someone soaking grips in lighter fluid to get them onto the shaft. Times have changed.