Welcome to another edition of the Fully Equipped Mailbag, sponsored by Cleveland/Srixon Golf, an interactive GOLF.com series in which we field your hard-hitting gear questions.
How do different grips affect my golf swing?
Ahh, yes. We get asked this a lot, and it never hurts to get a little refresher on how different grips affect how you swing the club. Before we dive in, let’s be clear about one thing — there’s a definitive right and wrong answer relative to grip textures, sizes and styles.
The wrong is to play with worn-out, misshapen or slippery grips. We know some of you have grips way past their prime (we’ve even seen some worn-out grips in the bags of very own Golf.com staffers) and there’s really no excuse for playing a grip that will compromise how well you’re able to hold onto the club during the swing. Really, if this is you and you’re still reluctant to remove that “lucky grip” on your wedge that’s been there since college — please stop. Now’s the time.
As for the right way to be about it, it’s also simple: start with whatever feels right in your hands and looks good to you. The common misconception is that skinnier grips are only for golfers with smaller hands and/or thinner fingers, and bigger/fatter grips are for players with bigger hands. And while that’s generally true, it’s not always the case for everyone. There are exceptions to every rule. Within reason of course.
Speaking of rules, the USGA really isn’t that much of a stickler when it comes to grips other than they have to adhere to the shaft and plain in shape/straight. There’s no rule as to how much the grip ought to taper from top to bottom, and generally, most golfers prefer the feel of a tapered grip since it establishes a firmer hold on the upper hand (which is the dominant hand in the swing) and a supporting grip on the lower hand. Some golfers also like what are called reminder grips, which have a slightly raised rib down the full length of the shaft, which when used under, to the side, or even on top of the grip can you remember where the hands ought to hold the handle.
Other than that, almost anything goes. Be it leather (you can still find them online), rubber or polymer in velvet, wrap, corded, etc.—there’s ample variety out there to choose from. Some models are even made of mixed materials and different densities for soft/firm combinations—let’s just say if you look hard enough you’ll eventually find something you like.
Srixon ZX7 irons
But that’s only the beginning. Looks and feel certainly matter, but so do grip diameter, weight, and firmness. As alluded to, grip diameter isn’t just relative to the type of hands you have. It also has a lot to do with your shot tendencies and what you want to do and/or avoid. If you’re a player who slices, having thicker grips can lessen your ability to rotate the club through the hit leaving the face open at impact. A thinner diameter can help add more hand action to your swing. On the other hand, the reverse works for those who hook. Having a thicker grip can mitigate overactive hands through the hit.
