Regripping Basics

[PiKapp23]

I've been doing my own grips for the last few years after watching guy at golf shop do it and realizing how simple it really is. I have regripped all my irons and hybrids twice now and my woods once. The only 'gotcha' I've found is regripping my driver (and to some degree, my 3 wood). I do not have a vise (or even a place for one), which has never been an issue, but with woods, because the shaft has a larger diameter at butt end, it can be difficult to get the grips all the way on. I can't hold the club firm enough and also be using enough pressure to pull the grip over the butt of the shaft. No matter how much solvent or how slick the tape is, it's not easy (at least not for me). I even bought a little plastic thing that is supposed to help - it slides over the shaft and inside the grip to help get the grip started on shaft, but it didn't help much. Next time my driver needs regripped I might pay the $5 to have it done at golf shop.

[TheWarHound]

A friend of mine is going to cut down a couple of putters for me, and show me how to regrip them next week. This spring, I think I am going to put cord grips on all my irons and wedges . . . I just love the cord grips after playing a few rounds with one.

[bighandman]

I've run into a re-gripping problem - perhaps someone here can help.

I've been re-gripping my own clubs for years and enjoy it quite a bit. In my previous home, I had a workshop in my basement. Re-gripping there was easy.

Now I'm in a different home and have my vice grip set up in our detached garage. It gets pretty cold in there.

I mention the temperature because I'm having a ridiculously hard time getting the new grips onto my clubs. I'm using the same technique I always have and the same grips I've used for years. I've tried using more solvent than necessary because the process has been so tough but that has not really helped.

So... does anyone know if colder temperatures affect the tape or solvent or something? I'm really surprised - and frustrated as all hell - by this, largely because I'm doing exactly what I've done in the past. Thus far, I've ruined about 4 grips because I keep getting stuck about halfway through the installation and have to rip the grip off with a utility knife.

I'd appreciate any help or feedback on this. I'd rather not drop my clubs at the local golf ship because, like many others here, I enjoy doing them myself.

Thanks for your help.

[ChiChiIsMe]

  bighandman said:

So... does anyone know if colder temperatures affect the tape or solvent or something?

I think more than anything it would affect the grip itself depending on how cold.........

[pshizz]

  ChiChiIsMe said:

I think more than anything it would affect the grip itself depending on how cold.........

that was my thoughts. I would reccomend keeping your grips in your house, that way the cold air won't cause them to shrink up.

[bighandman]

  ChiChiIsMe said:

I think more than anything it would affect the grip itself depending on how cold.........

  pshizz said:

that was my thoughts. I would reccomend keeping your grips in your house, that way the cold air won't cause them to shrink up.

Thank you both. I'll try working inside without the vice and see if that helps.

[C-J]

Just a little tip for people that haven't done grips before (i know this because I have had people bring in clubs that they tried to do and they were a mess) ....
Double side grip tape and double sided carpet tape are NOT the same!!! spend the few dollars and do it right.

[Iowa Hawkeye]

So, if I take a ball needle and put it in the hole with the bottom of the grip around the top of the shaft will I be able to slide it on and be done?

[pshizz]

  Iowa Hawkeye said:

So, if I take a ball needle and put it in the hole with the bottom of the grip around the top of the shaft will I be able to slide it on and be done?

if you have an air compressor, and the needle doesn't leak any air out, then yes. There are some videos of ppl doin it on the internet. Take a look at those.

[Iowa Hawkeye]

  pshizz said:

if you have an air compressor, and the needle doesn't leak any air out, then yes. There are some videos of ppl doin it on the internet. Take a look at those.

Thanks. I do a lot of work with air compressors, air pressure, and the likes. Just never occurred to me to use it to regrip clubs.

[VMAN]

  bighandman said:

I've run into a re-gripping problem - perhaps someone here can help.

It's not the temperature of the solvent but of the grips themselves. When I did mine during the winter in my garage i could not get them on right, and I was doing the same thing I had always been doing.

Tip: warm the grips...on the hood of a car in the sun or with a hair dryer...anything that will warm them up. Once they're warm the rubber has a bit more stretch and they go on smooth, it doesn't take much but it makes a huge difference.

[Pat007]

when I regrip clubs for people at the shop, the hardest ones by far are the Winn grips because of the way they're made with the solid tube in the middle. You need to use extra solvent and pinch the tip of the grip to get it to slide on.

[bighandman]

  VMAN said:

It's not the temperature of the solvent but of the grips themselves. When I did mine during the winter in my garage i could not get them on right, and I was doing the same thing I had always been doing.

Worked on them last night. It's absolutely the cold affecting the grips and nothing more.

I'll admit to being pretty surprised at how much the cold affects them. I worked on them in my house and things went much more smoothly.

[kfowler]

FYI, I made the "Gripmate" air tool for about $6 using parts from Harbor Freight and Home Depot. It works great. I changed my grips this past weekend. One advice I did find that was helpful was to take a needle and poke 4 holes in the grip before putting it on. This will keep it from blowing up on your. Works really well.