How to Change Golf Club Grips
By Steve Silverman
Changing golf club grips is one of the smartest and most economical ways to add years to your clubs. Properly maintained, a set of golf clubs can last 10 years. To keep them comfortable and workable, change the grips every 12 months.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderate
Take a utility knife or a box cutter and make four vertical cuts down the length of the existing golf grip. You will peel off the grip, and these cuts will make it much easier.
Pop the top cap off the club with your finger or a screwdriver to gain leverage. Loosen the grip stop at the bottom of the grip and slide it down to the club head. Then remove the grip by lifting up under the cuts and peeling it away.
Use solvent to get rid of the remnants of the grip and the glue underneath. By the time you are done, the shaft of the club should feel smooth and clean. If it is still sticky and dirty, use more solvent. After the shaft has been cleaned, remove the solvent with a wet rag and then dry the shaft with a towel.
Apply grip tape to the shaft. The double-sided grip tape should be unfurled in a counterclockwise motion about 8 to 10 inches down the shaft of the club. There is a mark on the shaft showing where the grip should go, so don't let your tape go below that mark. After you apply the grip tape, smooth out all air bubbles and bumps.
Slide the new grip over the top of the shaft. Follow the markings on the club to position the grip. Once it is in place, slide the grip stop back up to the end of the grip and pop the top back onto the club. Let your club cure for about an hour before you take it to play a round of golf.
About The Author
Steve Silverman is an award-winning writer, covering sports since 1980. Silverman authored The Minnesota Vikings: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and Who's Better, Who's Best in Football -- The Top 60 Players of All-Time, among others, and placed in the Pro Football Writers of America awards three times. Silverman holds a Master of Science in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism.
