Choosing a Golf Grip
When you read golf sites like ours, there’s a lot of talk about how important golf grips are. Whether we’re preaching it’s important to regularly change your grips, or performance benefits from different materials and technologies, the fact of the matter is that the golf grip is very important and should never be overlooked. Of course, there are so many options out there that it can be intimidating trying to pick the right one. Hopefully this post will help you choose the right golf grip for you moving forward. Be warned, I had surprisingly more to say about this than I initially thought.
Materials & Textures
Many of the variables relating to materials and textures for a grip come down to personal preference. That said, there are certain things to be aware of that may help influence your decisions. Most people use some form of rubber grip. Rubber is durable, a natural vibration dampener, and can be tacky. If you want high tack, many brands have started making grips using “thermo-plastic materials” which are also softer. Some players may even go for leather grips, but that’s a beast I suggest testing before making the investment.
Within these different materials are different textures. These textures directly impact your connection to the grip and can play a big role in whether or not it’s right for you. For starters, you should pick a texture that feels comfortable in your hands, but that you’ll be able to hang onto in your normal conditions. I personally like a rougher texture because I feel I get a better grip and more control. If you really want good friction in your grip, you can even go with a cord grip. A cord grip has a cotton material woven through the rubber to create more traction and prevent slip. I struggle with holding the club with any moisture on my hands so I’m a big fan of cord in my grips.
Material and texture options may seem pretty straightforward, but there are a wide range of combinations out there so make sure you know what you’re looking for.
Grip Size
Grip size is another area that can be somewhat subjective, but I bet there is more of an impact on performance than you realize. A good start is going with what feels most comfortable in your hands. There are basically four sizes out there: undersize, standard, mid-size, and oversize. That said, you need to be aware of what impact grips size can have on your game.
When you use a larger grip, your wrists shouldn’t turn over as much. This could be good for someone looking to take their hands out of the swing, but could also cause a problem with leaving the ball out to the right because you can’t turn the club over. A larger grip also tends to be friendly on arthritic hands and reduces grip tension.
If you go too small with a grip, you could have the exact opposite problem. It may become too easy to turn the club over and get that ball moving left.
Figuring out the right size may require some trial and error. If you go to a high-end club fitter, grip size will usually be part of the fitting process.
Consider the Conditions
The simple explanation of this section is to consider the weather you play in. If you play in a lot of wet conditions, whether it’s from rain or humidity, you might want to consider a grip with a lot of traction. As mentioned before, I know I really struggle with holding onto the club with the least bit of moisture on my hands so I use a cord grip. (I also go straight to the rain gloves as soon as there’s the least bit of moisture in the air.) Some players may find they have no issue hanging onto the club and the added traction rips up their hands. This whole section is personal preference, but it’s definitely worth taking into consideration when choosing the right golf grip.
Choosing Your Golf Grip
Ultimately choosing the right golf grip comes down to what makes you feel most comfortable holding the club. What I really want you to takeaway from this, however, is that the decision should be much more than holding the worn out grip on a stick at your local golf store. There are quite a few things to consider when picking a new golf grip and they can make a huge difference in your game.
Check out our Grips section to see some options we’ve reviewed in the past.
