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 Golf Clubs - Get A Grip Of Your GameGolfers are all ages, sizes and shapes with big differences in physical strength, yet tend to buy standard massed produced golf clubs, which cannot suit all the same. Take for example grip size. Most clubs are fitted with standard grips. Yet men’s hands in particular vary greatly in size. Grips that are too thin can encourage a wristy action, producing a hook with a tendency to loose the club at impact as turns in the hands, a bit like trying to hold a pencil firmly in the palm of your hand if someone tries to twist it.
In recent times some manufacturers have experimented with oversize butt end graphite shafts in an effort to reduce dead weight. These shafts which are quite huge in circumference at the grip end compared to a standard graphite shaft and have to be fitted with a specially designed thin bodied grip, with Taylor Made and Yonex amongst the companies using this type of shaft. On having grips replaced to this type of shaft ,you must have exactly the proper grip size fitted. If a standard grip is fitted instead, and it can be done if fitted by an expert grip fitter, it feels so inflated that for anyone with other than huge sized hands, almost impossible to grip properly. The true test for proper grip thickness is to grip the club with the left hand and if your two middle fingers are just touching the base of your thumb muscle, that’s perfect. If the fingers go under the thumb muscle the grip is too slim and if the fingers do not touch the thumb muscle your grips are too fat. You can buy grips that are oversize or mid size. These are especially made with more rubber content, so it saves from having to have them built up with under tape. But sometimes if your hands do not feel comfortable with any of these grip variations, build up tape will have to be used for the perfect fit. Likewise golfers with small hands using men’s clubs can always have a ladies grip fitted which are slimmer and contain less rubber than a mans standard grip. This will give a much leaner feel and help in gripping properly.
Also note that fitting a grip different from the original can alter the swing weight or feel of the club. For instance replacing a standard grip with an oversize type will make the club head feel lighter, because the grip is heavier. Replacing a man’s grip with a ladies grip will make the head feel heavier because the ladies grip is lighter. Again check with your grip fitter to maintain the original swing weight. Finally as the cold weather of winter approaches, old grips will feel hard and shiny and nothing can be done to restore them properly. So invest in a new set of grips to give you a secure feel in the months ahead, but make sure that they are the correct thickness for your hands. |
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Grips that are too thick for a golfer will prohibit hand action, stiffening up the wrists at impact, producing a fade or slice. Imagine trying to hit a ball with a grip as big as tennis racquet handle, it would be near impossible to release the club with proper wrist action. Quite often golfers will feel that a thicker grip is quite comfortable for them, but if does not pass the proper thickness test (see below) do not have them fitted. Always try to avoid extremes of thickness if they do not apply. The exceptions being golfers with arthritic hands that need a thickened grip to hold on to as their hands are too painful to grip with a standard grip.
Be aware when having grips replaced that they are available with different core dimensions. That is the circumference of the grip that should be fitted to the corresponding shaft size. This size can be seen inside the opening of the grip. There you can find for men usually M58 and M60. For ladies L56 or L58. If a replaced grip is fitted to the wrong shaft size you can finish up with a different grip thickness, making the clubs feel more uncomfortable than they were before. For instance if your iron shaft is a standard .580 butt size and was fitted with an M58 grip, but unknowingly replaced with an M60 grip instead, it will feel thinner than before. It should have had 2 layers of build up tape to keep it to the same thickness. It does seem complicated but if you ask the proper questions to your grip fitter he will be able to advise. Webmaster |
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