Guide
How to regrip golf clubs
Cut the old grip off, strip the old tape, wrap the shaft in fresh double-sided grip tape, wet the tape and the inside of the new grip with grip solvent, slide the grip on in one push, line it up and leave it to dry for at least four hours. That is Golf Pride's own method, and it needs no special skill.
What you need
- New grips in your size: the grip size chart gives yours from your hand or glove.
- A hook blade, the curved knife that cuts the old grip without scoring the shaft.
- Double-sided grip tape, one strip per club.
- Grip solvent, which lets the grip slide on and then evaporates.
- A towel and a bucket to catch the solvent. A bench vise with a rubber shaft clamp helps; you can brace the club with your feet instead.
The steps
- Cut off the old grip. Slice it along its length with the hook blade, cutting away from you, and peel it off.
- Strip the old tape. A hair dryer or heat gun softens it, but it is not needed. If there is no tape, wipe the shaft clean with a damp towel.
- Hold the club steady in a vise or between your feet.
- Cut the tape an inch longer than the new grip.
- Tape the shaft. Lay the strip along the shaft with the extra inch hanging off the butt end, smooth out bumps, then twist the overhang and push it into the end of the shaft. Extra layers go on here if you want a bigger grip.
- Wet the inside of the grip. Cover the hole in the cap with a finger, pour in some solvent, shake it to coat the inside and pour it out over the tape.
- Wet the tape all over with solvent.
- Slide the grip on in one firm, steady push. Cover the cap end with a towel, because solvent can spray out.
- Line it up and tap it home. Use the logo or the alignment marks at the cap and the mouth of the grip, wipe off any solvent, and tap the cap end on the floor to seat it.
- Let it dry. Golf Pride says at least four hours before you play.
The steps follow Golf Pride's installation guide.
Making a grip bigger with tape
Each extra wrap of tape under a grip makes it a little thicker. By Golf Pride's installation FAQ, one extra wrap adds about 1/64 inch, two wraps 1/32 and four wraps 1/16, which is roughly the step from one grip size to the next. Two or three wraps on a standard grip take you about halfway to a midsize. Try one club before you do the set.
Not sure which grip to fit? Our guide to the best golf grips sorts them by what your hands need: a softer feel, cord for wet hands, or a thicker lower hand.
Doing it yourself or paying a shop
Golf Pride puts a new grip at $7 to $15 and shop fitting at $1 to $4 a club, so a shop regrip of 13 clubs comes to about $104 to $247 with the grips. Doing it yourself saves the fitting charge and needs the tools above once. How long golf clubs last gives the store prices we read and how often to regrip.
Questions golfers ask
Can I use something other than grip solvent?
Golf Pride's guide uses solvent, which evaporates and leaves the grip fixed. Some golfers use other liquids, but a grip that never sets can twist in your hands, so solvent is the safe choice.
Can I put a grip on with air instead?
Some shops fit grips with compressed air and no solvent, which lets a grip come off again in one piece. That needs an air compressor and a nozzle; the solvent method above needs neither.
How often should I regrip?
Golf Pride says at least once a year, or about every 40 rounds, and sooner if a grip is worn smooth, faded or starting to crumble.
Do putters regrip the same way?
Yes, with the same tape and solvent. Many putter grips are flat on top: line that flat side up with the face square before the solvent dries.