Very often we dream about buying the best and newest drivers, irons, and putters and overlook the importance of finding suitable golf grips. Remember that the grip is the only thing your hand is in contact with when you play golf! You should find out what grips suit your hands and that will boost your confidence when you step up for your shot. Comfort and feel are always what you should look out for.
Golf Grip Sizes
Golf grips come in a few different sizes and thicknesses and everyone has different hand sizes. You might be a person with bigger hands therefore might want to use thicker grips to fill out more of your hand. However, it is entirely down to personal preference and feelings when it comes to choosing the thickness. A benefit of thicker grips is that it allows you to use fewer wrist and hand movements to keep the hands quiet during the swing.
Different Golf Grips Sizes
- Junior - various sizes, smaller and shorter than a standard
- Undersize - 0.4 millimeters smaller than a standard
- Standard - 14.7 millimeters in diameter
- Midsized - 1.6 millimeters larger than standard
- Jumbo size - 3.175 millimeters larger than standard
To make minor adjustments to a grip, you can request to add layers of tape between the shaft and grip to fit your style. Typically one wrap of tape will add 0.4 millimeters in diameter to the grip. As for putters, many players prefer the thicker grips as they help take out the hand and wrist movements from the stroke. This encourages them to utilize their shoulder and arms to rock the putter back and through.
An important note to remind you golfers is that it is entirely down to personal feel and preference so remember to try them out in your hands before you make your purchase!
Types of Golf Grips
Rubber Grips
These are the most common golf grips around. Other uncommon materials out there are silicon and plastic. Rubber grips are the first choice for many due to their economic angle and the stock choice of many golf clubs. It is a soft and easy option as it is easy to mold, produce and grip. Well, we recommend you not to go ahead with a rubber golf grip, if you don't want to trade comfort over playability.
Wrap Grips
A lot like badminton and tennis grips where the grip is a piece of leather wrapped spirally around the club. A soft and tacky feeling. The wrap grip will have natural indentations that help to make it easier to grip onto. Wrap grips are more like rubber grips than they are like cord grips and can provide a lot of comforts when gripping the club and swinging.
Corded Grips
A cord is a brushed cotton fiber built into the grip that wicks away moisture therefore it can give you more control over your club when there is moisture in your palms. This material provides more traction in your hands in the rain or in really hot weather where your palms sweat a lot.
Rounded & Ribbed grips
Rounded grips are grips that run evenly around the club therefore when you manipulate the face of the club the grip is still round in your hands. On the other hand, ribbed grips contain a small ridge that runs down the entire grip. This is beneficial as it allows you to be consistent when you grip the club. It can remind you where to put your hands and thumbs to get that neutral position.
Lightweight Grips
As technologies advanced where drivers and fairway woods get lighter, naturally golf grips for these clubs are designed to be light too. Some grips on fairway woods and drivers may be lighter than iron grips. It is still common for heavier grips on irons.
Putter Grips
Putter grips are unique as they are the only club in your bag that is allowed to have a flat edge. This is typically on the front of the club to help place the thumbs on comfortably. The most common brand you see casual and professional golfers use is SuperStroke. They offer rubber, wrapped, corded and other options for you to choose from. Thinner putter grips allow you to have a little more feel in your hands in your putt whereas thick putter grips as mentioned earlier, allow you to eliminate a lot of hand and wrist motions.
Durability & Maintenance
Sometimes you just don't know if it is time to change to brand new grips from your worn-out grips. A good indicator would be the wear. Usually, it feels more slippery than tacky when it is worn out. Additionally, if you golf very frequently, Once every 2 years should be a rough estimate. If you are one that uses rubber grips, be sure to not keep it in the heat for too long as it is susceptible to heat.
Summary of Best Golf Grips
Most pro shops are able to help change your grips. Sometimes you could also get fitted into golf grips! Hopefully, after this, you would be able to make an informed decision on what kind of grips you will buy next!
The best place to test out your newly gripped clubs would be at the driving range before taking them out to the course! Check out Driving Ranges in Kuala Lumpur if you are wondering which one to go to!
Heading to the driving range alone could be boring too. You could also use Deemples to find buddies to hit the driving range with as well as play 9 or 18 holes on the course together! Do download and join or host your games on Deemples today!
Common FAQs about Best Golf Grips
When is it time to re-grip your clubs?
Market leader Golf Pride recommend all players re-grip their clubs every year and more for frequent players. The oils on your hands, sweat, dirt, UV rays, temperature changes and other elements can all contribute to grip wear. Worn grips will become firmer and lose their original tackiness and therefore make it harder to square the clubface.
How can you make grips last longer?
Grips will naturally wear down from exposure to the elements and play. Golf Pride recommend cleaning your grips throughout the season to remove oils and dirt that have built up. It is also recommended to store your clubs inside as extreme temperatures can prematurely break down the rubber.
Which golf grip is best?
Golf Pride MCC Plus4 Golf Grips
What golf grip do most professionals use?
Overlapping (aka Vardon) Grip
What is the most popular golf grip on Tour?
The Tour Velvet grip is the most popular with 32 players choosing it but 23 different grips made by 7 different brands are used by the top 100.
