“Hey, Bill, you have a golf website so you must know a lot about golf. Should I be playing cord grips instead of regular grips?” Man, I get this question ALL the time. So much so, it’s kind of intriguing – I didn’t realize it was such a hot topic. Hopefully you’ll have a little insight by the end of this post to guide your decision a little bit. At the end of the day, 90% (yes, that’s a made up number, not an official stat) of choosing a golf grip is very subjective and you figuring out what works best for you.
What are Cord Grips?
Let’s start by covering what exactly a cord grip is. Cord grips are designed to give your hands more traction – aka better grip – by wicking moisture away. This is achieved by layering strands of actual cotton cord into the rubber layers of the grip. Once the grips are molded, the surface gets lightly sanded to expose the cotton and give your hands that extra traction.
There are a variety of options out there across multiple brands. There are even hybrid models which include mixtures of cord and full rubber portions of the grip. Ultimately, this will come down to preferences and what performs best for you. I personally need a full cord grip these days or I’m in BIG trouble.
On the Course
From a general performance perspective, characteristics like response and torsion don’t really differ in a cord vs regular grip. Both have the same basic construction and technology. The biggest difference comes in your ability to hold onto the club because of the cord. Most of the time, players go for a cord grip to help manage moisture. Whether their hands get too sweaty or the rain is too much to handle, a cord grip can go a long way in helping you hang onto the club.
Some players prefer a cord grip even in dry conditions for added traction. The cord almost gives you a little sense of grit in your hands. I find this to be beneficial when your grips start getting dirty or if there’s dew on the grass. (Who doesn’t drop their wedge on the ground by the green or trap?) Even in dry conditions, I prefer the added friction the cord gives me in my hands. No clubs spinning in my hands at impact!
A slight warning needs to be made. If you don’t play often enough, or are switching from regular to cord, cord grips may beat your hands up a little bit. When I switched to a cord grip, my fragile little baby hands went through a little shock. Once I was using them for awhile, they stopped bothering my hands so don’t worry! We’re also not talking bleeding hands or anything, just a little burn at the end of the round.
Pro tip: if you start to feel that your cord has worn down and could use a refresh, there’s a nice DIY hack. Try taking some sandpaper and lightly sanding the grip to expose fresh cord. Obviously there’s a finite amount of cord and rubber in the grip, but this can help extend the life of some grips out there.
Final Thoughts
Should you play cord grips? That’s still a question only you can answer, but if you find you struggle to hang onto and/or control the club with wet hands, it’s worth a try. Or if you just want a little more traction in your hands, a cord grip may be exactly what you’re looking for. My advice? Check out a few different models, including hybrid cord grips, and try one on a single club before you dive in.
I’ve used cord grips since my first set of Paralyx Lynx Tour irons I bought from Golfsmith back in 1998-1999 (they came with them on Rifle 5.5 shafts I believe). I didn’t wear a golf glove and only started to wear one in Phoenix due to more sweat.
I don’t use them for “grip” as much as the feel – I want a firm grip. Cords feel firmer, and one less thing for me to think about (the club twisting in my hand due to the softer feel grips).
good content. I have been thinking that cord grips reduce torque. Thats what it feels like, and thats also what I would expect embedded fibers in a few millimeters of rubber to do (vs rubber alone).