New grips / regripping

[nevets88]

I watched the guy regrip my woods and noticed he didn't remove the old tape. He said that's their stock practice, but I noticed my grip being just a tad fatter. Next time I regrip, I'm going to ask for the old tape to be removed or remove it myself.

When I regrip myself, I do a so so job - there are places I can feel the tape bunch up. I noticed other places who do this do this as well. This shop used the wide tape and thusly, no bunching up.

If you regrip yourself, what tips do you have for making the process easier, faster, better?

[Gummi Bear]

I like to replace my own grips, and I don't like built up tape either.

I picked up a grip tape removal tool from Golfsmith, it does make the task much easier.

I've got a rectangular shaped Rubbermaid container that's just a little longer than the grip of an average club. I stick the club in the rubber jaws, then clamp it down in my vice on the workbench.

After removing the old grip (I use a hook blade on a utility knife, so's not to damage the shaft) I put the bin under my grip tape. I soak it liberally with solvent, and let it sit for a minute (the bin goes under the grip tape, to catch the solvent, angle the shaft slightly downhill toward the butt end, so you don't have solvent running all over the darned workbench, that was a silly lesson to learn). I then start to scrape off the old tape, and add more solvent as I go to dissolve the old tape adhesive, and residue. I usually have to unclamp and turn the club a time or two during this process. You can re-use the solvent, I just filter it with a paint filter that I stick in the funnel, and pour it back into the solvent can.

A couple minutes of effort, and I'm ready for fresh tape and grip.

Tape removal tool:
http://www.golfsmith.com/products/8228

Vice Clamp:
http://www.golfsmith.com/products/8288

[nevets88]

I never thought of that - using the solvent to make it easier to remove the tape. I assume it's alot faster to remove the old tape that way. Thanks for the tip.

[bflat450]

I'll usually use water to get the old tape off. Just soak it and it peels off like a charm. Then dry it off and put the new tape on.