Two-thirds of all golfers never regrip their clubs.

Two-thirds.

Think about that number for a moment. Grips start to wear significantly after 30 rounds. Friction, sweat, dirt, cold, dry air – all of these factors are enemies of your clubs’, leading to slick, non-tacky grips. And when your grips are no longer functioning correctly, you’re forced to tighten your hands on your clubs, which of course, inhibits a free-flowing swing.

“Your grips are your connection to the club, and that’s what makes them so important,” says Bruce Miller, retail product manager for Golf Pride. “Golf grips wear out—they are only moulded rubber and given the conditions and how much they are used, they need to be changed. But a lot of golfers don’t do that.”

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Sure there are ways to extend the life of your grips—washing them occasionally in warm water with dish soap is a good start—but the truth is that they are going to need to be changed.

The off-season is the perfect time to regrip your whole set. It gives you time to thoroughly clean up your clubs, consider the makeup of your set, and examine your grips. And truthfully, new grips always feel great, and instill new confidence in your swing as your start a new season.

Are your clubs due for new grips? Here’s what to look for.

• Examine wear patterns on your irons. If you play and practice enough, you might even notice small indentations where your fingers hold the club. If so, it is time to make a change.
• UV light can impact grips and make them slick. If they are a bit shiny, time to change them up.
• General usage, especially in warm Canadian summers, results in grit and grime building up on your grips and they’ll lose they tackiness. If that’s the case, make a switch.

Tips For Choosing The Right Grips

• Make sure your grips are the same. Miller says a great number of golfers, especially casual players, may have grips that are different on different clubs. “I’m around tour pros a lot and they always have the same grips on all of their clubs,” says Miller. “The average player should do the same.”
• When choosing the correct grip size, pay attention to your top hand. When holding the grip in your top hand, your fingers and the palm of your hand should just barely make contact. If your fingers are touching or digging into the palm of your hand, the grip is too small. If there is a gap between your fingers and the palm of your hand, the grip is too big.
• Consider the type of grip you want. Depending on the conditions you play, and personal preference, different styles of grips might be beneficial to your game. For example, in hot conditions, grips that incorporate cord might make it easier to make a solid swing.
• Grips have evolved. Golf Pride, for example, offers grips that help players align their hands using a slightly raised ridge, something the company created based on what players on tour wanted.
• There’s also been advancements in materials and the way grips are created. Golf Pride’s MCC Plus 4 grip builds up the bottom hand so added tape isn’t necessary. It keeps golfers from turning their hands over too much and promotes a straighter ball flight.