Golf grips are one of the most important equipment choices in the game. The grip is the only point of contact between your hands and the club. With repeated swings, grips wear out over time and need to be replaced. But how often should you change grips, and what does it cost to have it done?
Re-gripping your clubs is an inevitable and periodic expense for all golfers. But there are ways to balance quality grips with budget considerations. In this guide, we’ll explore when and why grips need replacing, the different types of grips available, cost factors to consider, and tips for getting the best value on your next re-grip project. We’ll also look at whether DIY regripping can save money compared to having a club technician handle it.
Proper golf grip maintenance is essential for optimum performance on the course. Read on to learn some best practices around grip upkeep, how grip choice impacts your game, and what to budget when it’s time to install fresh new grips on your clubs. With the right information, you can avoid regrip sticker shock and keep your clubs and hands working together in harmony.
Why Do Golf Grips Need to Be Replaced?
Over time and repeated use, golf club grips start to wear down and degrade. The constant friction of your hands causes the outer material to break down, leading to smoothing and flattening of the grip surface. This causes you to lose traction and grip strength. Worn grips are often slippery, especially when your hands get sweaty during a hot round of golf. The materials can also dry out and crack over time. Grips used in rainy conditions are more susceptible to wearing out. Dirt and debris gets embedded into the pores of the grip, accelerating wear. Oil from your skin also gets transferred to the grip surface, reducing tackiness.
As grips wear out, you lose proper hand alignment and your swing consistency suffers. Old, worn grips allow the club to twist slightly during the swing, costing you distance and accuracy. Replacing worn grips restores proper traction, texture, and tackiness so you can grip the club firmly and have total control over your shots. Regularly replacing your grips ensures optimal performance and is cheaper than constantly replacing gloves to compensate for worn grips.
What Are the Different Types of Golf Grips?
The most common type of golf grip is the rubber grip. Rubber grips are inexpensive, durable, and provide good traction with a classic feel. They are made from various rubber compounds like thermoplastic or thermoset rubbers. Rubber grips need to be replaced more frequently than other types, every 40-60 rounds, but are the most affordable option.
Leather grips used to be very popular in golf. Leather provides a softer, tackier feel preferred by some golfers. Natural oils from your hand help break in the leather over time. Leather is more durable than rubber but needs to be maintained properly to avoid drying out. Leather grips last longer, up to a year or more for some golfers. However, they are less tacky and can become slippery when wet.
Cord grips offer a compressed fabric feel with cotton, nylon, or polyester cords wrapped around the shaft. They provide excellent traction and are very durable, lasting multiple seasons if maintained well. The cord fibers absorb sweat and oil from your hands and need to be cleaned periodically. Cord grips are more expensive but a great option for golfers who don’t want to replace grips frequently.
Hybrid grips combine materials to optimize feel and performance. Rubber/cord blends join rubber underlisting with a cord outer layer. Rubber/polymer grips feature a durable polymer coating added to the rubber surface. These grips aim to provide the benefits of various materials in one grip. They are moderately priced and last longer than basic rubber grips.
Finally, custom exotic grips use materials like kangaroo leather, rare woods, or synthetic polymers to provide personalized, high-end performance. These ultra-premium grips can be ordered in custom colors and etched designs. They cater to golfers seeking a luxury grip and unique look to customize their clubs. Exotic grips are expensive but make a statement.
What Factors Determine the Cost of Re-gripping?
The biggest factor in re-grip cost is labor. Re-gripping clubs requires specialized tools and expertise, so you must pay for the time and skill of the club technician doing the work. Simple regrips take 10-15 minutes per club, so labor costs add up quickly. Expect to pay $2-$5 per club for basic re-gripping service. Complex repairs or exotic grips will cost more.
The type and quality of the replacement grip is another major cost factor. Basic rubber grips can be as cheap as $2 per grip, while high-end leather or custom grips can cost $10-15 each. Premium grips will increase the total project cost considerably. Also, some club types like putters require specialized oversized grips that are more expensive.
Additional preparation work can add incremental costs. Removing old tape, solvent cleaning, shaft sanding, building up undersize shafts, and taping grips all take extra time and may increase the price. Simple installs on newer clubs cost less than restoring old worn clubs.
Regional factors like cost of living and local competition also impact pricing. Re-gripping costs more in high-wage urban areas versus rural regions. Independently owned golf shops often offer better rates than big-name golf stores. Calling around for quotes is wise to find the best value.
Buying grips and doing it yourself saves tremendously on labor fees. However, it requires an initial investment in re-gripping tools and learning proper technique. Even DIY, quality grips still cost money. But self-installation cuts typical regripping bills in half or more.
How Much Does It Cost for a Basic Re-grip?
For a basic rubber grip installation by a club technician, expect to pay $2-$5 per club, with a minimum service fee around $10-20. So for a set of 8 irons, assuming a $3 per club rate, it would cost $24 to have them re-gripped, plus the minimum shop rate. At major golf retailers like Golf Galaxy, basic re-gripping averages $3-7 per club.
The grips themselves will add cost on top of the labor fee. Basic rubber grips cost around $2-3 each for brands like Golf Pride, Winn, Lamkin, etc. So grip costs for a full set of irons will be another $16-24. That brings the total for grips and labor to $40-50 for 8 irons.
Putters with oversized grips will be another $5+ per grip and extra labor time, so budget approximately $10-15 to have a putter re-gripped. For a simple re-grip of a driver, you’re looking at around $10-20 total for new grip and installation.
Regional factors and golf shop prices can vary these numbers a bit. Independent pros may charge slightly less per club for basic installs. At private clubs with on-site club repair, regripping costs are usually lower since they have staff already on payroll. But for the average golfer, expect to pay around $4-7 per iron re-gripped, $10-20 for woods/putters, plus the grip cost.
Doing it yourself with basic tools and grips can cut the total cost in half or more, but requires time to learn proper technique. Overall, basic re-gripping by a club tech will run $40-80 for a full set of clubs.
What Are the Additional Costs Beyond Labor?
The grip cost itself accounts for a significant portion of the total re-grip expense beyond just the installation labor. As mentioned, basic rubber grips range $2-3 each, but premium grips can be $8-15 apiece. Upgrading to high-end grips like Golf Pride Tour Velvet, Lamkin UTx, or Winn Dritac grips will increase costs considerably for a whole set.
Extra preparation work like removing old tape and solvent cleaning will add incremental labor time. Some shafts require building up with layers of tape to fit the new grip properly. This extra tape and work can add $1-2 per club. Old worn grips that are stuck on the shaft take longer to remove and install new grips, adding labor costs.
Additional supplies are needed beyond just grips, like grip tape, solvent, vise clamps, lubricant, etc. This can add $10-20 to the total bill. Proper epoxy adds adhesion but is not required. Some shops also charge small shop fees for supplies/materials.
For obsolete clubs with old worn shafts, new shafts may be recommended, which could run $50-100 per shaft to upgrade. This opens up costs quickly for a full bag refit.
Unique putter or oversized grips require extra installation time and more expensive grips, so budget appropriately higher costs for putters.
Shipping costs apply if ordering grips online vs buying locally. Return shipping on custom orders that need remade also adds costs if grip sizing is off.
While basic re-gripping starts around $40-50 for a full bag, premium grips, add-ons, special order charges, and repairs can quickly increase that total cost to $200+ for a complete regripping job.
When Should I Have My Golf Clubs Re-gripped?
The general rule of thumb is to have your grips replaced once a year if you play regularly. Grips wear out over time and begin to degrade in performance. If you play 1-2 times per week, expect to need new grips after about 40-60 rounds of golf. For avid golfers playing 3-5 times weekly, re-gripping every 6 months ensures fresh grips.
The feel and condition of the grip itself will indicate when it’s time for new grips. Check your grips for smooth, shiny spots with flattened texture. This loss of “cord” indicates the grip is breaking down. Also look for cracks, peeling rubber, or other deterioration. If grips feel slippery, especially with sweaty hands, that’s a red flag for replacement.
Proper grip pressure is also a factor. If you find yourself having to grip clubs tighter to prevent them from slipping or twisting, new grips can restore proper traction and tension. Consistent mishits, loss of distance, and clubhead twisting likely mean your grips are worn out.
Wet weather and dirt accelerate grip wear. If you play often in rain or Dew, inspect grips more frequently for damage. Visible dirt ground into the grip pores is a sign they need cleaning or replacing.
Re-gripping before a major event like a tournament or once seasonally before summer ensures your equipment performs its best when it matters most. Don’t wait until grips are fully smooth and slippery before replacing them. Staying ahead of grip wear should be part of regular club maintenance.
What Should I Consider When Choosing a New Grip?
The feel and texture of the grip is the most important consideration. Grips come in different materials, patterns, and tackiness levels. Try out demo clubs with different grips to determine what type of feel you prefer – soft, firm, rubbery, or cord-wrapped. Everyone’s hands and preferences differ.
Proper sizing is also key for optimum comfort and playability. Standard grip sizes correspond to your hand measurements and glove size. Oversize and undersize grips are available too. Have your grip size evaluated to get the right fit.
The condition of your gloves can influence grip choice. More durable grips like rubber withstand abrasion from worn gloves. Softer leather grips pair better with fresh high-quality gloves. Matching grip and glove life is ideal.
Weather conditions you typically play in should factor into material selection. Softer leathers grips perform better in dry conditions while rubber or cord offers all-weather playability. Sweaty hands do better with more absorbent textures.
Swing speed and style should match with grip firmness – stronger grippers and faster swing speeds benefit from firmer grips that won’t twist. Weaker grippers need softer compounds to optimize traction.
Finally, aesthetics, custom colors, logos, and textures give each golfer a unique look and style. While these don’t affect performance, having confidence in how your grips look is part of the game.
Consult your local pro shop about options to get the right balance of feel, texture, traction, and appearance with your new grips.
Can I Buy Grips And Do It Myself?
Yes, you can definitely save money by purchasing grips and materials to install them yourself. Grips can be bought online or at retail golf stores for much less than what a club technician would charge for the grips alone. Basic rubber grips cost $2-3 each when bought in bulk packages.
You will need some basic tools – a vice or clamp, grip tape, solvent/lubricant, a cutting blade, and vise clamps to do it yourself. These items will likely run you $30-60 up front but are reusable for future regrips. Grip tape ensures proper installation and usually runs a few dollars per roll.
The process involves removing the old grip, cleaning the shaft, applying grip tape, lubricating the shaft, sliding on the new grip at the proper depth, and letting the grip dry completely. Patience and watching tutorial videos will pay off with proper technique.
Doing it yourself does take practice and trial and error to get right. You may ruin a few grips on early attempts while learning. But once you get the process down, the cost savings add up quickly. Labor averages $5 per club, so DIY can save $40+ for a whole bag.
While more time consuming, most golfers can learn to regrip clubs nearly as well as a professional with a little experience. Having the right affordable tools and materials is key. Regripping your own sticks provides huge cost savings and allows you to customize your gear.
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