The size of your golf grip is very important for your golf swing. A grip that is too big or too small can cause you to swing poorly. Finding the correct golf grip size helps you hold the club right. This leads to better shots.
Why Golf Grip Size Matters So Much
Many golfers focus on the driver or their irons. They forget about the part they actually touch: the grip. The grip is the only link between you and the club. It connects your hands to the tool you use to hit the ball. If this link is wrong, everything else can go wrong too.
The impact of grip size on golf swing is direct and significant. It affects how you align your hands. It changes the pressure you put on the club. It also influences your wrist action through impact. Getting the size right is a key step to better scores.
The Mechanics of Grip and Size
When you hold a golf club, your hands need to fit snugly around the grip. Think about shaking hands. You want a firm, comfortable grip, not one that crushes or feels too loose.
If your grip is too small, you must squeeze hard to keep control. This extra squeezing causes problems:
- Tension: Tight hands mean tight forearms and shoulders. This robs your swing of speed and smooth motion.
- Hook Tendency: A small grip can make it easier for your hands to turn over too much at impact. This often leads to the ball hooking left (for a right-handed golfer).
- Poor Clubface Control: You might struggle to keep the clubface square through the hitting zone.
Conversely, if your grip is too large, you cannot close the clubface easily.
- Weak Grip: A large grip forces your hands into a weaker position. You might struggle to rotate your hands naturally.
- Slice Tendency: Because you cannot close the face, the club often stays open at impact. This sends the ball slicing to the right.
- Lack of Feel: Large grips can numb your hands, reducing the feel for the clubhead position.
Factors Determining Your Ideal Golf Grip Diameter
Deciding on the right golf grip diameter is not guesswork. It involves looking at a few key physical attributes. The primary factor is the size of your hands.
The Relationship Between Hand Size and Golf Grip
The relationship between hand size and golf grip is the starting point for all adjustments. A simple test can give you a baseline measurement.
Measuring Your Hand Size
To measure your hand size, follow these steps:
- Take a ruler or measuring tape.
- Place your non-dominant hand flat on a table, palm up.
- Measure the distance from the crease at the base of your middle finger down to the bottom of your palm (the heel pad).
- This measurement, usually in inches, helps point you toward the right base grip size code (e.g., Standard, Midsize, Jumbo).
Golf grips are typically sized using letters or standardized codes:
- Ladies (L) / Undersize (X): Smallest diameter.
- Standard (S): Most common size for average male hands.
- Midsize (M): Slightly thicker than standard.
- Oversize (L): Significantly thicker grips.
Deciphering the Official Golf Grip Size Chart
Manufacturers provide charts to match hand measurements to the correct size. This chart is essential for selecting the right starting point.
| Hand Measurement (Inches) | Recommended Grip Size Code | Typical US Size Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Under 7.25″ | Ladies (L) or Undersize (X) | 0.580″ Core |
| 7.25″ to 8.00″ | Standard (S) | 0.600″ Core |
| 8.00″ to 8.75″ | Midsize (M) | 0.600″ or 0.620″ Core |
| 8.75″ and up | Oversize (L) | 0.600″ or 0.620″ Core |
Note: These measurements are guides. Feel and swing fault preference play a big role.
The chart uses the core diameter measurement (e.g., 0.580, 0.600) as a baseline. The actual installed size is the final product after wrapping tape is applied.
The Spectrum of Grip Options: Oversized to Undersized
Golf grips come in a wide range of sizes to fix different swing issues or fit unique hands.
Examining Undersized Golf Grips
Undersized golf grips are thinner than the standard size. They are often chosen by women, juniors, or men with smaller hands.
Who should use undersized grips?
- Players who generate a lot of hand action or have very fast hands.
- Those who tend to hook the ball severely. The thinner grip allows for easier squaring of the clubface.
- Players needing to maximize wrist hinge for increased power (though power should come from the body, not just the wrists).
Using an undersized golf grips when you have large hands forces you to grip too tightly. This leads to tension and loss of distance.
Looking at Oversized Golf Grips
Oversized golf grips, sometimes called Jumbo grips, are much thicker. They are popular for players seeking stability or those with large hands.
Who benefits from oversized golf grips?
- Players with very large hands who struggle to fit a standard grip.
- Golfers with hand strength issues or arthritis, as the larger grip reduces the need to squeeze tightly.
- Players who consistently struggle with a slice. The added bulk discourages the hands from rolling over too much, helping keep the face square or slightly closed.
The risk with oversized golf grips is that they can slow down hand rotation. If your hands are small, a Jumbo grip can make it hard to engage the lower hands properly, leading to a push or slice.
Methods for Testing Golf Grip Size Effectively
Choosing the right grip size is better done by testing golf grip size than by simply looking at a chart. Feel matters most.
The Finger Overlap Test
This is the simplest way to gauge your current grip size comfort level:
- Grip a club as you normally would, holding it firmly but relaxed.
- Place the fingers of your non-dominant hand (left hand for righties) over the fingers of your dominant hand.
- Check where your fingers meet your palm.
- Fingertips Dig In: If the fingers of your lower hand dig deeply into your palm, the grip is likely too small. You need a larger size.
- Gap Present: If there is a visible gap between the fingertips of your lower hand and your palm, the grip might be too large. You need a smaller size.
- Just Touching: Ideally, the pads of your lower hand’s fingers rest gently against the base of your top hand’s thumb pad, creating a smooth transition.
The Trigger Finger Test
Another quick check focuses on the dominant hand’s index finger (the “trigger finger”):
- Grip the club comfortably.
- Lightly pull your index finger away from the middle finger of your top hand.
- No Space: If your index finger is pressed tightly against the middle finger, the grip might be too large.
- Too Much Space: If you can pull your index finger away easily with a large gap, the grip might be too small, forcing you to grip too tightly with the other fingers.
How to Choose Golf Grip Size: A Step-by-Step Guide
Selecting the perfect grip size involves more than just hand size. It requires looking at your swing faults and feel preferences.
Step 1: Determine Baseline Hand Size
Use the hand measurement technique described earlier. This gives you a starting point from the golf grip size chart. If you measure between sizes, lean toward the slightly larger size if you have slower swing speed or tend to slice. Lean toward the slightly smaller size if you have high swing speed or tend to hook.
Step 2: Consider Swing Speed and Clubhead Speed
Faster swing speeds generate more centrifugal force. This force naturally tries to pull the club out of your hands.
- High Speed: Often benefits from a slightly larger grip to counteract slippage and maintain control without squeezing too hard.
- Low Speed: Might need a slightly smaller grip to encourage proper hand rotation and engagement.
Step 3: Analyze Your Dominant Swing Fault
This is where experience comes into play.
- If you struggle with consistency and a slight fade, a standard or slightly larger grip might help stabilize the face.
- If you battle a severe hook, trying an undersized golf grips might be beneficial to limit over-rotation.
Step 4: Go to a Fitting Specialist
The best method for how to choose golf grip size is getting fitted professionally. A fitter uses specialized tools and watches your swing. They can see if your grip technique changes based on the size they put on the club.
Customizing Golf Grip Size for Precision
Even after finding the base size (Standard, Midsize), players often need minor adjustments. This is called customizing golf grip size using tape.
Grip tape, which is applied underneath the grip during installation, changes the final diameter. Each layer of standard grip tape adds approximately 1/64th of an inch to the diameter.
| Tape Layers Added | Approximate Diameter Increase |
|---|---|
| 1 Layer | + 1/64 inch |
| 2 Layers | + 2/64 inch (1/32 inch) |
| 3 Layers | + 3/64 inch |
| 4 Layers | + 4/64 inch (1/16 inch) |
A standard grip with a 0.600-inch core diameter, installed with three extra wraps of tape, will feel similar to a slightly larger standard grip or a small midsize grip. This allows for micro-adjustments that charts cannot provide.
When to Add Tape (Slightly Larger Feel)
Add tape if:
- Your hand size is on the cusp between two sizes.
- You feel your top hand is slightly weak but don’t want to switch to a full Midsize grip.
- You have large hands but feel Standard grips don’t quite fill the palm enough.
When to Use Less Tape or Shorter Grips (Slightly Smaller Feel)
If you are using a standard grip but want a slightly thinner feel, some fitters may use fewer tape wraps or use specific installation techniques that compress the grip material slightly more during installation.
The Technical Side: Core Size vs. Installed Diameter
It is crucial to grasp the difference between the core size marked on the grip packaging and the final installed size you feel in your hands.
The golf grip diameter is determined by two things:
- The core opening of the rubber grip (e.g., 0.580 or 0.600 inches).
- The amount of double-sided grip tape wrapped around the shaft before installation.
Most modern shafts have a 0.600-inch base diameter. If you buy a grip labeled “0.600,” it means it fits a standard shaft. If you buy a grip labeled “0.580,” it is designed to stretch more easily onto a 0.600 shaft, resulting in a larger final size, or it is intended for a shaft with a smaller base diameter.
- 0.600 Core: The base size is 0.600. Adding tape makes it larger.
- 0.580 Core: These are sometimes called “Build-Up” grips. When installed on a 0.600 shaft with no extra tape, they feel slightly smaller than a standard 0.600 grip installed with no tape.
The Role of Grip Material and Shape
While diameter is key, material and shape also play a role in how a grip feels.
Material Consistency
Different materials feel different even at the same diameter.
- Rubber: Traditional, good feedback, can get slick when wet.
- Polymer/Synthetic: Often softer, better surface texture for traction, may feel slightly bulkier than pure rubber at the same core size.
- Corded Grips: These have interwoven fibers, especially in the top half. They offer excellent traction in wet conditions but can feel harder or less cushioned. They might also compress slightly more than non-corded grips.
Grip Shape and Taper
Most grips have a taper—they get slightly thinner from the top hand position down to the bottom hand position.
- Standard Taper: Most grips follow this pattern.
- Straight Taper (or Reduced Taper): These grips are designed to be almost the same thickness from top to bottom. Oversized golf grips often feature a reduced taper. This is popular for golfers who want a large, uniform feel across both hands to promote less wrist action.
Common Mistakes When Selecting Grip Size
Many golfers make assumptions that lead to improper grip choices. Avoiding these pitfalls is vital for improvement.
Mistake 1: Using Your Glove Size as the Only Guide
Your glove size (e.g., Medium, Large) relates to the length of your hand, not necessarily the diameter you need for grip control. A large-gloved golfer might have long, slender fingers that fit a Standard grip well, while a medium-gloved golfer might have thick palms requiring a Midsize grip.
Mistake 2: Squeezing Too Hard Initially
When testing golf grip size, new grips often feel too small or awkward compared to old, worn-out grips. Old grips compress and wear down, effectively making them smaller and harder. If you compare a new grip to an old one, the new one will always feel big initially. Do not compensate for this initial stiffness by choosing a smaller size.
Mistake 3: Copying a Tour Pro
Tour professionals use specialized equipment. Many pros use custom tape builds or specific shaft alignments. Their hand size and swing dynamics are unique. What works for a tour player with a 125 mph driver swing speed likely won’t work for an average amateur. Focus on your own mechanics and feel.
The Connection Between Grip Size and Swing Mechanics
A properly fitted grip influences nearly every part of the swing sequence.
Swing Plane and Path
When grips are too small, golfers often have excessive wrist movement (flipping) to generate speed. This often leads to an inside-out swing path that can cause pulls or hooks. A grip that is too large prevents this flipping action, promoting a straighter, more neutral path, which can fix slices caused by an open clubface.
Swing Tempo and Rhythm
Tension is the enemy of good tempo. If your grip is too small, the unconscious tightening of the forearms and biceps creates tension throughout the backswing. This tension disrupts rhythm, leading to rushed transitions and poor contact. The impact of grip size on golf swing tempo is directly linked to hand tension.
When to Consider Customizing Your Grip Size
Customizing golf grip size is not just for pros or beginners. It’s for serious players seeking optimization.
You should consider a fitting or experimentation if:
- You frequently change grips but still struggle with the same two faults (consistent slice or consistent hook).
- You notice significant blistering or callus development in unusual spots on your hands.
- You have recently changed your swing mechanics (e.g., moved from strong to neutral grip).
- You have arthritis or hand fatigue that limits your ability to hold a standard grip comfortably.
Summary of Grip Size Selection
Finding the perfect fit optimizes comfort, reduces tension, and promotes better clubface control.
To summarize how to choose golf grip size:
- Measure your hands to find your baseline.
- Consult the golf grip size chart for a starting recommendation.
- Perform the finger overlap test for immediate feedback.
- Adjust the diameter using grip tape wraps for fine-tuning.
- Always prioritize how the club feels when you take your normal practice swing. If it feels neutral and relaxed, you are likely close.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I use oversized grips if I have small hands?
A: You can, but it is generally not recommended unless you have a specific swing fault like a severe slice that you are trying to correct. Oversized golf grips on small hands can lead to a weak grip position and difficulty in squaring the clubface, potentially causing pushes or weak fades.
Q: Does grip size affect driver distance?
A: Yes, indirectly. If the grip size is wrong, it causes tension or improper rotation. Tension slows down your swing speed, reducing distance. An incorrectly sized grip also hampers solid contact, which is the biggest factor in distance loss.
Q: How often should I replace my golf grips?
A: Golf grips should generally be replaced every 40 to 60 rounds of play, or about once a year for regular players. Grips harden, wear down, and lose their tackiness over time, regardless of size.
Q: What is the core size of a standard golf grip?
A: The core size of a standard golf grip is typically 0.600 inches when measured before installation on a shaft of the same size.
Q: Does grip tape change the actual grip size?
A: Yes, grip tape is the primary tool for customizing golf grip size. Each wrap of standard tape adds about 1/64th of an inch to the diameter, allowing you to subtly adjust the feel of any grip.