Big Grips, the Rebalancing Act. DIY Info

[Wade Patton]

If you do your own clubwork and most of your fitment, then do be aware that slapping fat grips on 'em will have a big impact on swingweights. BITD I had some callous issues that I do think were caused by too-small grips. The minute I started looking at larger grips in modern times, I knew that was likely the case.  I require a midsized grip and like them very much. I suppose BITD it was just a bunch of tape under to get the diameter I need.  I used extra tape on my wedges (more on lower portion), used less taper on my woods, then used 2-wraps extra in all others. Why all the different? So I could see what I like. So far I like it all as I've done it.

I started out using SW calculators to approximate SW's but this is slow and tedious at best compared to a scale designed for SW.

I wasn't truly impressed with SW importance until I FELT the difference during a round of golf. I had two 4-irons in the bag, one with midsized grip (Wilson STB), and no adjustment (probably around C9-D0 at that time), the other an "as-issued" Hogan PC at D2.  I cracked off a good shot with the Wilson, so I grabbed the Hogan to hit another for comparison. It was raining and I was the only guy out there. In my practice swing with the Hogan I felt something immediately different.  Instead of the clubhead disappearing in my backswing I could FEEL IT!!!.  This was my AHA! SW matters a lot moment.  I was really struggling to get my feel back (decades off) and at that exact moment I KNEW part of the problem.  When I hit the Hogan I caught it a little too much on the toe and put it up there in the vicinity of the Wilson shot-playable but not as pretty as I'd hoped.

So over the next few weeks I started adding Pb tape to my blades and measuring and weighing for the online SW calculators. Eventually I found a good used SW scale and bought it. In the process I found that I had two poorly matched clubs from Wilson.  My 8 and PW were way underweight in relation to the rest of the set.  MOF I measured my spare 8-iron and found it to match my set better (at one time my original 8 was lost).  I had gotten most of my Wilson set SW adjusted with the calculators, and then I rechecked and fine-tuned with the Maltby scale.  Now It's all done but my 4-wood (still OEM, but needs gripping up).  Unsightly as it may be, I've got a bunch of tape on my clubs, fresh/fitted grips, and now they're all swinging with proper feel throughout the set. 

I suppose my "saving grace" on the 8 and PW being so underweight (but always faves) was that I swing them more than any other club.  For chips and pitches those are my go-to clubs and the ones I practiced with constantly. Now I change up more. For modern folks: I think my PW is 50 and the SW is 55.

When I re-grip the Hogans, it'll go a lot faster.  Also there were no big outliers when I calculated them up-unlike the Wilson set.

I may try tungsten tape on them. Or I could add some weight to the shaft. I may do both. 

Just thought I'd share my experience for those who piddle with their own stuff. I know most folks don't, but I'm a handy craftsman sort of guy and like tweaking things for optimum performance and functionality.

edit: Finding those two miss-matched Wilsons has impressed upon me to check every set I ever acquire from now on. The scale will make that a much faster process. Life is too short to swing mixed up clubs unknowingly.

Edited September 5, 2022 by Wade Patton

[iacas]

People switching putter grips have to be aware of the same type of thing, perhaps even more so.

[boogielicious]

2 hours ago, Wade Patton said:

I may try tungsten tape on them. Or I could add some weight to the shaft. I may do both. 

Golfworks has tip weights for this purpose. I use the brass ones because they are reusable and don’t fall apart if you need to re-epoxy the head. I’ve found that going from a standard grip like a GolfPride Tour Velvet at about 50g to and MCC+4 Midsize, 66g, requires an 8 to 10g tip weight depending on the shaft.

https://www.golfworks.com/brass-tip-weights/p/btwv/

One trick I developed is saving an old grip that I cut off and mounting it on the shaft and preassembling the club with the tip weight in it plus the ferrule. Then I put this on the SW scale and see the results. This only works if the shaft has already be butt trimmed to length.

[bking]

On 9/5/2022 at 9:55 AM, iacas said:

People switching putter grips have to be aware of the same type of thing, perhaps even more so.

Ouch, I never thought of that.