How to Repair Golf Club Grips

The grip of a golf club is the only place where your body comes in contact with the tool that is doing the work. So there is nothing that instills confidence as you set up over the ball than a new grip and its rubbery, slightly tacky texture gently but firmly nestled in your fingers.
Despite all the high-tech advances made in golf equipment, regripping your clubs is still an area where the passionate golfer can work on his or her own clubs without advance degrees in mechanical engineering. Mass production being what it is, you probably won't save any money doing it yourself, but you can achieve a certain oneness with the tools of your passion as only working on them yourself can deliver.

Using the utility knife, carefully slice the old grip along its length being careful not to cut into the shaft. On either metal or graphite, nicking the shaft is no big deal, but you certainly don't want to be gouging hunks of material. Peel off the old grip, and scrape away the old tape with the utility knife, your fingers and some elbow grease. Then finish the job with a rag moistened with lighter fluid to remove all the tape remnants. Do this to all the clubs.

Place the mouse pad in the vice so the vice jaws will not mar the club shaft, and then place the club in the vice about 18 inches from the butt end of the shaft with the line of the top of the club facing squarely vertical. The vice should be snug enough to keep the club from twisting and sliding backwards and forwards, but don't overdo it. Start with a light pressure, test the fastness of the grasp and incrementally tighten until the shaft is snug.

Cut a piece of the double-sided masking tape about 10 inches long or about an inch shorter than the length of the grip. Peeling one side of the tape, run it lengthwise, starting with just a hair over the butt of the shaft and carefully folding it over and smoothing it down as you go. Then remove the other piece of protective backing from the tape and tuck any straggling tape inside the club shaft.

Place the old cake pan on the bench underneath the taped end of the shaft to catch the lighter fluid. Then squirt some lighter fluid onto the tape lightly but thoroughly wetting the tape, ensuring all sides are moist. Pour a splash of lighter fluid into the grip itself, plugging the little hole with your finger. Plug the large opening with your other finger and swirl or shake the grip to coat the inside with the mineral spirits, and then empty the grip onto the taped part of the shaft so it spills into the cake pan.

With top of the grip facing you, slide it onto the shaft. It may take some twisting and turning to start it on the shaft at first, but you'll get it. Smoothly slide it down the length of the shaft until it stops, and smooth the grip from the butt end toward the club head with your hands, using a light pressure to ensure that it is smoothly seated. Squat down and sighting along the top of the shaft, align the grip's graphics or other alignment aid so that it is straight and points directly down the top of the shaft and aligns to the top of the club head.

Remove it from the vice and set aside. It will be ready to play after just a few hours. Repeat this procedure with the remaining clubs and go play your best.