Sometimes it can seem like just another tasteless golf expense, but its importance can’t be understated. Knowing when to change your golf grips, for many golfers, is something that often alludes them.
So to give you a better idea, we spoke to Golf Pride’s Conor Dillon to find out.
RELATED: Are you using the right size golf grips?
RELATED: Are worn grips affecting your score?
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Why is the grip such an important part of the golf club?
“The grip is the only part of the club a golfer actually touches. Often overlooked but in fact it is extremely important. Replacing one’s grips at the beginning of every season allows the golfers to hold the grip with minimal grip pressure which allows them to swing the club properly with acceleration. One simply cannot do this with grips that are glazed, hard, and slick.”
What impact is having worn grips going to have?
“Several negative things can happen when golfers play with worn grips. Worn grips can cause slippage, which in turn causes off-center strikes and can lead to poor scoring. Obviously worn grips do not provide the proper amount of traction, so golfers squeeze the club tighter to maintain control.
“Worn grips become harder as a function of time and use and thus the grip’s responsiveness changes, as does the level of comfort. In a nutshell, new grips provide both confidence and performance. Think about it like tyres on a car. Would you drive a car with smooth tires with zero tread? No. The same can be said for golf clubs and grips.”
What benefits will players get from a fresh set of grips?
“The benefits are endless. Increased traction, more tackiness, better performance in wet weather, comfort, less tension in your hands resulting in smoother swings. And ultimately all these benefits lead to lower scores and more enjoyable golf.
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How can a player tell they need new grips and how many rounds would you expect a set of grips to last?
“That’s easy. Visually examine the grip. Does it look shiny or glazed? Does the material show visible wear spots? Does the material appeared cracked or split? Does the material feel rock hard? Is the paint or cosmetics rubbed off the grip? Does the end cap look worn? How many rounds of golf do you have on the grip? We tell people grips need to be changed every 40 rounds or once a year. Just because a grip doesn’t look worn does not mean it is not.”
Why is it important to get the right sized grip?
“The size of the grip is critical to hitting quality shots. The best way to determine what works best for you is to try different sizes. Most players are okay to use standard size grips, but some feel more comfortable with undersize or midsize/jumbo. But it comes down to personal preference. Golf Pride makes different sizes throughout our entire product range to fit golfers of all hand sizes.”
There’s lots of different materials too, do they have performance benefits or is it just about what feels most comfortable?
“Absolutely they have performance benefits. Golf Pride uses a multitude of different materials to achieve specific playing benefits and characteristics. For example, in our new TOUR SNSR putter range, we use a very soft material that is precisely tuned to a specific durometer to provide both feedback and encourage lighter grip pressure.
“And in our MCC range, we utilize our hybrid grip technology by fusing cord with high performance rubber to offer both moisture management control and outstanding traction and feel. Material innovation is at the forefront of Golf Pride’s development agenda.”
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- Conor Dillon is Golf Pride’s European Manager
For more information visit www.golfpride.com
RELATED: Are you using the right size golf grips?
RELATED: Are worn grips affecting your score?
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