Improve Your Game? Get a Grip!

What would you say if the most overlooked but least expensive part of your golf clubs could mean a 20-yard difference in your shots?

How often do you realize that the one part of your clubs that’s typically the biggest afterthought is also the only part of it that ever makes contact with your body?

So, regardless of whether you’re a scratch golfer or a 30 handicapper, why would you allow worn or improper club grips to take away from your performance – and, more importantly, your enjoyment of the game?

We may not be as conscious of this as, say, improving our ball striking off the tee, taking better swings out of the deep rough, or finding the right putting stroke to best suit our game. But as painstaking as perfecting these tasks can be in our perpetual quest to improve our scores, something as simple as ensuring proper grips on our clubs is one of the quickest ways to get us down that road.

It’s a simple fact: most golfers grip the club too tightly, squeezing and not allowing the club to release properly during the follow-through. When grips get worn, they get slick – forcing you to squeeze the club even tighter to keep them from slipping. See where this is all going?

Though the article is five years old and grip technology has likely changed a bit in that time, the basic points Scott Kramer makes in this 2002 Golf Magazine piece on “Choosing the right grips for your clubs” are worth reviewing. Kramer discusses the recent advancements in grip manufacturing; how the pros maintain their grips; and some helpful advice for you to add to your “to do” list for proper club maintenance.

When you’re ready, and the next time you plan on playing at Litchfield Country Club, they’ve got two club repair technicians on staff who are ready to help. They’ll change out your old grips and install the latest in grip technology, to provide the ultimate feel and maximum comfort.

And whether you do it yourself or let the pros do it for you, we welcome your thoughts on what’s worked best for you. Let us know!