A golf club has several components, each of which plays a key part in determining the outcome of a shot. The golf club grip is particularly important because it is the single point of contact you have with the club and its feel can affect the quality of your swing. When customizing your clubs, choose a grip that suits your style of play and overall skill level.
Significance
The placement of your hands on the golf club can affect the speed, direction and accuracy of your swing--the golf club grip is designed to help you achieve solid contact with the club. The size, composition and feel of the golf club grip affects your release on striking the ball. The wrong club grip can cause you to twist your shot or lose velocity on impact.
Grip Size
Golf club grips typically correspond to your hand or glove size. An undersize grip typically fits smaller hand sizes while a standard size grip would fit a player wearing a medium or medium-large sized glove. A midsize grip might be right for players who wear a large glove. A general guideline for determining whether you have the right grip size is to check whether your middle and ring fingers slightly touch the pad of your palm as you hold the club.
Composition
Golf club grips can be made of rubber or leather, which determines its feel, design and ability to absorb moisture. Rubber grips are made from a combination of granulated cork and liquid rubber and are typically more lightweight and less expensive than leather grips. Certain rubber grips also incorporate strands of fabric embedded in the rubber to reduce slippage. Leather grips can be made of cowhide or calfskin and are typically spiral-wrapped around the club. Leather grips offer a softer, more tacky feel and they are also more expensive than rubber grips.
Firmness
Golf club grips come in three basic grades of firmness: soft, medium and hard. A softer grip is appropriate for players who need a grip that is very comfortable and want to avoid soreness or callouses on their hands. A medium grip is considered to be best suited for players who want more control of their shot without a softer feel. Hard grips provide a firmer grip for players who seek maximum control through the swing.
Considerations
Choosing a grip based on its construction or performance rating rather than its overall comfort can negatively affect your swing and cause unnecessary wear to your hands. It's also important to regrip your clubs regularly because they'll become tacky over time and reduce your ability to properly grip the club. Ideally, golf club grips should be replaced every 10 to 15 rounds.
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