How to Remove and Replace Golf Club Grips

If you're an avid golfer, replacing your golf club grips every season is a must-do task. Or if you have an old set of clubs collecting dust in the attic or garage, you should definitely replace the deteriorated grips before you take them out on the green for the first time. You can get golf club grips replaced at a golf pro store, or you can do it at home to save time and money. Here is an easy method that requires double sided tape and solvent.



Supplies:
New golf club grip cover
Xacto knife or box cutter
Double sided tape
Clamp
Solvent or lighter fluid
Optional: steel wool pads


(Step 1) Use the cutting tool to strip off the old grip material. It is easier to cut a straight line from the base of the grip to the top of the golf club, but you can also do a spiral cut and unwind it in a long strip. Do not cut too deeply or you will nick the finish, which can expose the metal and promote rusting.

(Step 2) Next, use the solvent to clean off any left over adhesive from the shaft of the golf club. If the residue is too hardened, such as on an old set of clubs, then use a steel wool pad to carefully eliminate adhesive. Don't use an abrasive unless you absolutely have to because again, you don't want to scrape the finish.

(Step 3) With a pencil, mark the point on the shaft where the golf grip tubing should extend. Then, clamp the golf club to a sturdy table or work bench so that you have room to slide on the tubing. To avoid damaging the golf club with the clamps, wrap the golf club with a cloth rag.

(Step 4) Now apply double sided tape to the cleaned golf club shaft, starting at the top, and ending at the pencil mark you made in Step 3. There are two ways you can apply the tape: in vertical strips, or around the shaft in a spiral. Each method has advantages.

Applying the tape vertically helps the tubing slide on more easily. You will need 3 to 5 strips.

Wrapping the tape in a spiral is a good idea if the grip tubing is loose. In fact, you can wrap two spiral layers of tape if the shaft needs more girth to hold the golf club grip in place.

(Step 5) Remove the backing from the double sided tape and brush the taped shaft with solvent or lighter fluid. Also pour some fluid into the grip tube. This lubricates the golf club and grip without dissolving the tape's adhesive.

(Step 6) Finally, slide the tubing over the golf club before the solvent evaporates. Use your hands to squeeze it all the way down to the pencil mark. Make sure the grip does not get twisted or get bubbles trapped underneath.

Let the grips dry for several hours before using the golf clubs. Replace the grips once a year if you are a frequent golfer, and always change the grips on clubs that have been in storage for a long time.

© Had2Know 2010