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While so many players focus on potential issues with their clubface, clubhead and club shaft, one element of the club that’s often overlooked is the golf club grip.
An essential component of our time on the golf course - from our driver grips straight through to our putter grips - golf grips allow us to grasp the club with enough tension to maintain constant control, from the top of our swing all the way through the follow-through. When combined with a golf glove, rubber grips offer our golf game a very welcome level of stability.
But because the golf club grip is a part of the club that, perhaps surprisingly, endures a lot of pressure and friction, it is often wise to regrip our clubs before the original grip becomes a problem, rather than a helping hand.
If you’re wondering whether or not it’s time to bless your favourite clubs with a new golf club grip, here are a few things you should look out for.
Factors that may cause you to regrip your golf club
Wear and tear
The most obvious time when you should regrip your golf club is when you first notice imperfections in the rubber. Amateur golfers tend to grip their clubs too tightly, which could speed up the appearance of imperfections and degrading, but they will eventually appear on any club if you use it for long enough.
Cracks, abrasions and other issues are a surefire sign the grip won’t be performing to the correct standard anymore, even if you’ve only noticed a minimal change in the way your hands grip the club or a change in your scores.
Due to the consistent intensity our hands and fingers place on the rubber grip, it is only natural that the rubber eventually begins to give way. Which is why it’s also only natural to regrip your clubs when this happens.
Otherwise, as your golf club grip gradually alters due to these imperfections, you may find your hands and fingers unknowingly shifting position, which will undoubtedly harm your game. That's when it's time to choose the right golf grip as a replacement.
A lack of traction
You’ll be aware that golf club grips are far from smooth; their designs featuring precisely-placed indentations and patterns aren’t just an aesthetic choice, they’re a scientific one. These indentations (along with the naturally abrasive nature of the rubber) make golf club grips an ideal tool for maintaining hand position no matter how your club moves throughout the swing.
But the more we use our golf clubs, the less effective this traction can become, to the point where it may feel like our club is trying to slip out of our hands every time we take a shot. This effect is often noticeable in the appearance of the club, too.
If you’re using a traditional black golf grip, a slight shimmer may be viewable on the surface of the rubber, compared to the matte black effect it will have had when new. This is a result of the natural oils and sweat from our hands seeping into the rubber, gradually creating an oil-slick-like texture, which can lessen our firm grip.
If the club grip has been like this for a while, it’s not something that can be solved with simple cleaning, either, and it would be wise to replace the grip.
Discoloured golf grips
This fault won’t be noticeable in classic black grips, like the ones mentioned above, but it will be for those of you using clubs that feature different coloured grips, with whites, blues, reds and similar.
If your golf grips are painted to create a classy effect in line with the club’s branding, this paint can also begin to smudge and fade over time, the more we use our clubs.
Again, this is a pretty obvious sign that your club needs to be regripped, or is well on the way to needing to be regripped.
Should I regrip my club or get a new club?
Generally speaking, if the club as a whole is still in good working order, with no visible damage to the head or shaft, installing a new golf grip should solve the problems you’ve been experiencing. In this case, buying a new club outright might be considered overkill.
If you’re unsure, why not speak to the experts at Clarkes Golf?
Choose Clarkes Golf for new golf club grips and regripping
At Clarkes, we’re home to a great selection of brand-new golf club grips from all the major brands, so you’ll always be able to find the perfect golf grip to fit your club like a glove.
Alternatively, if you don’t feel confident regripping the club yourself, speak to some of our experts who could guide you through the process.
Or, if you’re in the nearby area, why not stop by the Clarkes Golf shop in Rainford and take a look at our regripping service first-hand? Whether you need a new putter grip, driver grip, or a grip for any of your other favourites, we'll be happy to help.
