Having the correct grip on any golf club is important – but it is especially important for your golf putter. It is the only place that you will touch the putter so you need to be sure that it is comfortable and performing correctly.
So what do you do when it is time to update the grip? You could pay to have your putter regripped, but that could cost anything up to $150. Do it yourself and you can expect to pay less than $30. But how do you regrip a putter at home?
Fortunately, regripping a golf putter is not all that different from regripping any other kind of golf club. There are, however, some additional considerations that you need to think about. So we have put together this handy guide to take you through the basics of regripping a putter.
You Will Need
There are some key tools and appliances that you need to have access to in order to get the best regripping results. These include:
- Vice clamp
- Vice
- Workbench
- Heat gun – not essential but will make the job decidedly easier
- Hook-bladed utility knife
- Grip solvent
- Grip tape
- Solvent pan – anything appropriate to catch any dripping solvent
- New grips
Remove The Old Grips
Before you can put on the new grips, the old ones must come off. This is quite an easy process but remember that some grips may require more effort than others to remove.
Corded grips, for example, are definitely more of a struggle to get off. Use the hook-bladed knife to take off the grips. Begin at the base of the grip and cut towards the butt end in a straight line. For safety, we recommend that you cut away from your body.
Once this line has been cut, you can now peel off the grip. It may be necessary to make additional cuts to facilitate removal.
If you find it impossible to take off your grip, you can try using an air compressor. You also need to be aware of the material of your putter shaft.
Steel poses a little risk but those that have opted for graphite shafts, for whatever reason, will have to move carefully to avoid damage.
Remove The Old Tape
Unfortunately, tape removal is worse than putter removal, especially if it is old tape! There is also no handy little trick to get it off. You just have to keep peeling.
Using a heat gun or something like a propane torch will make this process a little easier. The heat will break down the adhesive so the tape flakes or peels away from the shaft. You could use a blade to scrape away the heated-up tape if needed.
Any remaining adhesive residue can be cleaned off with solvent or mineral spirit on a range. Make sure that the shaft is clean before continuing.
Again, be sure to exercise caution with a graphite shaft putter. Heat will cause structural damage and a blade scraping off the tape is likely to scratch the finish.
Add New Tape
Once the old tape is off and the shaft is clean, you need to tape it up again. You can either use something like masking tape or double-sided grip tape.
Basically, you need to use something that will fill in any gaps left between the putter shaft and the grip for a little bit more friction. We prefer using a good quality double-sided grip tape, but use whatever suits you.
There are lots of different ways to apply new tape. The only thing that you need to focus on for sure is that there is no tape hanging loose out of the bottom.
We find it easier to measure the grip so we know the absolute maximum length of the shaft we can tape. No tape is applied below that grip line.
Others tape in excess and then trim. Feel free to experiment a little to find what works for you. Some brands of grip require more than one round of taping to stick securely. Check with the manufacturer if you are unsure.
You need to finish off taping with around half an inch (1.5cm) of tape over the butt of the putter. This excess then needs to be twisted around into a point and then prodded back into the shaft. This will stop any solvent from getting into the shaft and causing issues down the line.
Apply The New Grip
Like the tape, a new grip can be attached in a couple of different ways. You can use an air compressor without solvent, with some soapy water, or even with mineral spirits.
If you choose not to use an air compressor, we find it best to fill the new grip with solvent and then shake it to evenly distribute the solvent along the inside.
You do need to make sure that the hole in the bottom is kept covered to stop the solvent from going everywhere. You then need to pour the excess solvent out onto the freshly taped shaft with an appropriate container underneath to catch the drips.
If possible, rotate the shaft as you pour to get a more even distribution but this is by no means essential. You should now find that the grip will easily slide onto the tape.
Be sure that the grip is straight, and looks ok, but most importantly it feels good when you grip it. You need to make any adjustments while the tape is still wet.
Remember that, unlike other golf clubs, alignment in a putter matter. Most grips have a specific shape that lines up in a certain direction – this is usually perpendicular to the face of the putter.
If you did more than one round of tape, you may find that the grip is more difficult to slide on. Using more solvent to act as a type of lubrication will work best.
Leave It To Dry
You need to leave your putter alone for a while to make sure that nothing twists out of alignment. We find it easiest to leave any freshly gripped clubs upright against a wall overnight, but anything more than six hours will work well.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have successfully regripped your putter. As a rule, you should regrip every 40 rounds or eighteen months. If you regularly play or practice in a humid environment, you may need to regrip more often as the adhesive will deteriorate quite rapidly.
This is why we decided to set up our site, Better Golf, to provide high-quality information that’s accessible to everyone. From newbies, to seasoned golfers, this site covers everything you need to know. Through this site, we will be discussing all the important details.
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