Anyone who takes proper care of their golf clubs knows that regripping is one of the most expensive maintenance costs involved in the game. Regripping can easily cost $10 or more per club, making it an off-putting procedure for the more casual golfer. The problem is, a deteriorated grip doesn’t actually help you grip the club properly in the first place. Even with routine care and cleaning, your grips will need replaced eventually. Know how to regrip golf clubs yourself can save you a lot of money over the life of your clubs.
How Long Should My Grips Last?
Grips can be made from all sorts of materials, but they experience a lot of wear & tear throughout the course of a game (let alone a whole season of play). And, beyond the course, grips are sensitive to high heat, dirt, and residue from your hands. As a result, even players who only hit the links every once in a while need to regrip their clubs. These players might be able to get away with regripping every 18 to 24 months. However, if you play more than weekly during the summer, it’s wise to regrip your clubs every year.
Remember, even when you’re not on the course, destructive oils and exposure to the elements are deteriorating the sensitive materials in your grips. This is a good reason never to handle your clubs without a glove on!
How to Regrip Golf Clubs Yourself
So if you, like many golfers, are deterred by the high cost of regripping your whole set every year, you’ll just new to invest in a few simple to get yourself started:
- A utility knife
- A regripping kit – This includes the appropriate adhesives and chemicals, along with a rubber vice to hold your clubs in place.
- A hook blade (this helps you take off the old grips)
- Your preferred grips
- Towels and paint liner for your work surface
1 – Take off the Old Grips
Your new hook blade is your best tool for taking off those old grips. Slide the hook up under the grip where it meets your club, then make one long cut all the way along the grip. The grip will pull off with ease once you’ve loosened it up enough. Just be careful to do this with the blade facing away from your body!
2 – Take off the Old Tape
This part is a little trickier. You’re going to use your utility knife to shave off the tape around the shaft under the old grip. Steel will be fine and won’t be affected by your knife, but if you have a graphite shaft, you’ll want to avoid using a knife. In this case, you can warm up the tape with a hot blow dryer to loosen up the tape enough to remove by hand. This can take some time, but you don’t want to scratch up the sensitive graphite in your expensive clubs.
3 – Re-tape Your Clubs
Your double-sided grip tape can also be a little tricky to apply correctly.
Hold the new grip up to the end of your club to see how far down the tape should go. It’s OK for it to start a quarter inch or so above the bottom of the grip, so long as it covers most of the grip area. Tear off a strip of your tape and attach it long-ways to the end of your club (the opposite of how you’d tape a hockey stick). Use your palm to rub half side down flush against the shaft, and unpeel the adhesive backing from that half. Then do the same on the other half. Tear off the excess hanging off the end, and fold it down.
4 – Attaching the Grip Itself
Now, you have to be fast.
Prep
The next step should happen in as quick & seamless a motion as possible. If you take too long and the grip clings to the club before it slides all the way on, you’re going to be starting that club over. It may be wise to purchase a few spare grips if you haven’t done this before.
Set up your vice in advance, and firmly clamp your club into place. Make sure it’s nice and secure, as you may be using a fair amount of strength to get the grip attached firmly. This is also where it can be messy, so lay down that paint liner!
Execution
Get your grip solvent out of your kit, and drip some into the open end of the grip. Be sure to plug the top so it doesn’t leak out the small hole! Apply liberally- you should use a lot of grip solvent to ensure it’s well-coated on the inside, plug up the grip, and quickly shake it around. Drip any excess liquid out over the grip tape itself and spread it evenly across the surface of the tape.
Immediately slide the grip over the club and push, with as much strength as needed, to slide it all the way into place. The faster you get to this step after applying your solvent, the smoother this will go. So, lay out all of your equipment and practice through the motions before you actually try regripping- just like you might take a practice swing before your actual stroke!
While it may seem like a big task, knowing how to regrip your golf clubs at home can save you a lot of money over the whole lifespan of your clubs. Got any hot tips for DIY regripping? Drop us a comment and share your knowledge!
