Changing a Grip on a Golf Club
By Steve Silverman
You may think that your golf clubs are worn out just when your grips start to get worn down. That is hardly the case. An active golfer should be able to get 5 to 10 years from her clubs. If you play only occasionally, you can get even more than that. However, grips tend to get worn down every season or two and should be changed.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderate
Inspect your clubs with your eyes and your fingers. Your grips may seem like they are frayed, smaller or not as robust as they once were. This should show up visually. However, your grips may look just fine but they may not feel as robust as they once did. If your grips have started to lose a little of their size or substance, it's time to change them.
Take a razor blade or utility knife and make four cuts lengthwise in your grip. The cut should go down to the shaft or at least close to it. By making four sharp cuts it will be easy to get the old grips off your club.
Pop off the cap at the top of your club and loosen the grip stop, which is about midway down the shift. You should be able to pop the cap with your fingers or a screwdriver. Once the top cap is off and the cuts have been made in your grip, it should be easy to remove the grip stop.
Take solvent and pour it liberally on a towel or a rag to remove all remnants of the old grip as well as any glue or cement that was used to put on the old grip. Dry the club with a dry towel. If no particles remain, you are ready to put on your new grip. If any particles remain, repeat the application of the solvent.
Place grip tape along the upper shaft of your club. There is no need to use rubber cement or glue because grip tape will adhere to the shaft and keep your grip in place. Pull the new grip on over the top of the shaft, and it will snap in place. Pull up the grip stop to secure the grip, and insert the cap back into the top of the grip.
Tips & Warnings
Taking off your old grip and putting a new one on will save you money. You can do this yourself without taking the club to the local pro shop or sporting goods store.
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.
