Instructions for Installing Golf Grips

By Jim Thomas
Pros such as Luke Donald demand grips with a precise feel.
Pros such as Luke Donald demand grips with a precise feel.

When you swing a golf club the only part you touch is the grip.

When your grips become cracked, worn or slick, it's time for new ones, and replacing them is one of the easiest ways to improve your game. According to Golf.com, a survey found that 66 percent of amateurs who changed their grips improved their scores by as many as four strokes.

Step 1

Secure the club horizontally in a vise with a rubber shaft protector.

Cut off the old grip, using a hooked blade and pushing the blade from the bottom edge of the grip away from you toward the top of the grip. Use a firm and steady motion. The hooked blade will lessen the chance that you will cut into the shaft.

Step 2

Peel or scrape off the any old adhesive tape attached to the shaft. A paint scraper is fine for steel shafts, but softer graphite shafts require a scraper with a hard plastic edge, which is less likely to damage graphite than a paint scraper. Apply mineral spirits to a clean rag and wipe away any tape residue.

Step 3

Apply double-faced tape around the shaft vertically one side at a time The tape will slightly overlap.

If you want to build up the grip, add another layer or two of tape. Size the grip so your fingers just touch the palm of your hand when you take your normal grip on the club.

Step 4

Step 5

Put a golf tee into the hole at the end of the new grip and pour mineral spirits into the open end until it is half-full. Cover the open end with your finger and shake the grip to coat the inside with the mineral spirits. Then pour the mineral spirits in the new grip over the exposed tape on the shaft.

Step 6

Install the new grip by placing it over the butt end of the shaft and sliding it into place Line up the grip so it is centered properly. The outside of most grips contain a straight line or logo to assist you in centering the grip correctly on the shaft.

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