Facts About New Grips for Golf Clubs

By Justin Johnson

Without properly installed golf grips, a golfer cannot perform a consistent golf swing. There are many types of golf grips and grip materials, including leather and rubber compounds.

Golf grips can affect the swingweight of the golf club, so golfers need to be aware of changes in grip weight. By ensuring that golf grips are changed on a regular basis, golfers can set themselves up for success on the course.

Overview

Without properly installed golf grips, a golfer cannot perform a consistent golf swing. There are many types of golf grips and grip materials, including leather and rubber compounds.

Golf grips can affect the swingweight of the golf club, so golfers need to be aware of changes in grip weight. By ensuring that golf grips are changed on a regular basis, golfers can set themselves up for success on the course.

Materials Make A Difference

The material that a golf grip is made of makes a difference to golfers. Golf is a game that requires a sense of comfort in one's equipment, making it important that golfers like the feel of the golf grip.

Players with a fast swing speed will benefit from a firmer grip which produces less torque, or twisting, through the swing.

Players with slower swing speeds, not needing the low torque feature of firmer grips, will benefit from a softer grip. The softer material will allow them to control the shot more.

Most grips today are made of a rubber compound and are good for nearly all playing conditions. Leather golf grips are very tacky when dry, but tend to be slippery when played in the rain.

Grips Affect Swingweight

Golf club swingweight is the weight relationship between the club head end of the golf club and the grip end of the golf club. Swingweight is measured in Alphanumeric combination, with A0 being the lightest and G10 being the heaviest. There is no right or wrong swingweight, as the proper swingweight for each golfer is determined by the "feel" that the golfer prefers.

Golfers can change the swingweight of their club by one point for every four gram increase or decrease in grip weight.

Players must change grips to a lighter or heavier grip to add or subtract weight from the grip end of the golf club.

In lieu of changing grips to add weight, golfers can install weight ports into the butt end (grip end) of the golf shaft. These ports are filled with tungsten powder. Golfers that change grips without knowing the consequences can alter the feel of their golf clubs.

Grip Design Makes A Difference

The design of a grip can affect the feel of the golf club during the shot.

Traditional golf clubs have a slight taper to them, which often leads to having an "active" right hand in the swing. This can lead to a slice if not corrected with swing adjustments. However, grips with a straight taper, or reduced taper, help to keep the right hand "quiet" through the golf swing, which can help the golfer hit straighter shots by squaring the club face at impact.

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