Regripping: Clamp and Proper Grip Removal Technique

[xrayvizhen]

Two – part question here. After carefully watching the “technician’s” at a local golf store butcher several graphite shafts, I have decided I’d like to start regripping my own clubs. First though, I would like to ask those who do their own regripping two questions:

1. Clamp: Is the cheap rubber vise cushion that you would insert in between the jaws of a regular vice sufficient to protect the shaft or should I invest in one of the spring loaded clamps sold by Golfworks such as this one.
2. Graphite Shafts: I know you need a hooked blade on a utility knife but what is the proper technique for removing a grip from a graphite shaft? When I was watching the guy in the store even though he was using a hooked blade he carved a score into the shaft like you wouldn’t believe. Of course, it was hidden by the new grip and the owner of this particular set of clubs will never know (until maybe the shaft starts falling apart at some point in the future) but there must be a way to cut off the grip with the hooked blade without ruining the shaft. Is there a You Tube video somewhere that shows the correct way?

Edited October 3, 2020 by xrayvizhen

[iacas]

1. Yes. Perfectly adequate. It's not the "pro" setup, but I've used this for years.
2. I just try to hook it under the grip and keep the nose under the grip but away from the shaft. You can occasionally get a light scratch - no big deal, it's just in the paint. If you scratch down into the graphite… that's bad.

[Bonvivant]

@topoftheline89 was my teacher on Monday for my first regrip ever. The cheap rubber was absolutely fine for steel shafts and I would imagine the same for graphite. It doesn't take lots of pressure to keep the shaft still, so don't overdo it. 

We kept my old grips (used clubs and grips were still fine) by using an airgun down the top hole. They were GolfPride tour wraps and they came off like a dream. My 3 specialty wedges had tour velvets on, and those had to be cut off. Just be careful cutting off old grips (with hook of course) and you shouldn't do any damage

[arturo28mx]

The best thing I've ever done is learn to regrip my own clubs.  Totally agree with Iacas.

[Adam C]

Any clamp will work. The $3 rubber one is fine, just slower than a specific shaft clamp. In either case, the important thing is to make sure you don't over tighten the clamp and crack the shaft which is by far the bigger issue than scratching the shaft with a hook blade.

The hook blade won't cut into the shaft unless you really try to do it. That's the whole point of a hooked blade. A light scratch won't do anything to the shaft integrity. That being said, I prefer not to scratch the graphite so I just angle the blade at 45 degrees when I cut and that takes care of it. If you are really paranoid about scratches you can use scissors to cut off the old grips also.

[Club Rat]

I mostly remove grips with air pressure now.
Pure Grips has a plastic tool for air hoses which will inflate air and pressurize the grip through the butt end.
Then the grip will expand and slide off the shaft.
Often a slight twist helps removing them while pressurized.

Also, their is a tool which inserts into the lower end of the grips
and allow pouring solvent to loosen the adhesive and then pull off the grips. 
It takes much longer, but some people use this method.

[golfer2b2000]

On 10/3/2020 at 4:43 PM, xrayvizhen said:

Two – part question here. After carefully watching the “technician’s” at a local golf store butcher several graphite shafts, I have decided I’d like to start regripping my own clubs. First though, I would like to ask those who do their own regripping two questions:

1. Clamp: Is the cheap rubber vise cushion that you would insert in between the jaws of a regular vice sufficient to protect the shaft or should I invest in one of the spring loaded clamps sold by Golfworks such as this one.
2. Graphite Shafts: I know you need a hooked blade on a utility knife but what is the proper technique for removing a grip from a graphite shaft? When I was watching the guy in the store even though he was using a hooked blade he carved a score into the shaft like you wouldn’t believe. Of course, it was hidden by the new grip and the owner of this particular set of clubs will never know (until maybe the shaft starts falling apart at some point in the future) but there must be a way to cut off the grip with the hooked blade without ruining the shaft. Is there a You Tube video somewhere that shows the correct way?

I have used the same cheap rubber clamp for probably better than 20 years. Still using it and it works great.You can use just a plain utility knife, but you have to be careful not to go into the shaft. Its best to use the hooked style though, because a much less chance of scoring the shaft.

 I have now started to install grips using compressed air, and it works great, once you get the hang of it. I also like to try different putter grips, and by installing them with air, it's easy to remove them without destroying the grip. Anymore its easy to spend 30 dollars on a putter grip.

 I was also worried about the grips I put on with compressed air to have them move on the shaft. I have never had an issue with this. Air is the way to go...