As a general recommendation, a regular golfer (ie. those playing 1-2 times a week) should replace their grips at the start of every season. After roughly 50-60 rounds of use, they will inevitably start getting shinier and firmer due to the sweat and oils from hands and gloves, (not to mention the weather conditions), so it’s worth being mindful that a new set of grips will breathe life into even the most modest set of clubs.
Having grip displays, marketing messages and perhaps a ‘window’ into your workshop services will no doubt keep re-gripping with you top of mind for your customers when the time comes. Simply asking a question or making an observation about their club grips may even make them aware that it’s time to change immediately!
What grip size should they be using?
If a grip is too big, there’s a chance that the hands will struggle to square the clubface at impact. If the grips are too small, there’s a danger that the hands will be too active and initiate an early release – make sure your customers are aware of this.
Many Pros will recommend that as a general rule, the fingers on the left hand should just be touching the pad below the left thumb when they make a grip. If there is a big overlap where the fingers meet, they’ll probably need an extra layer of tape to stop the club twisting in their hands. If the fingers are nowhere near reaching their hand, the grips are too big.
Making your customers aware of these small details will help you add value, as well as even lead to a grip upsell and the correct replacement for them.
What advice can you give them about maintenance?
Grips will probably require a clean once a month to help with prolonging their usability and they should really avoid using harsh cleaning products, as the chemicals that can break down the compounds in the grips. Simply using hot water and a soft bristle brush works fine, with a small amount of soap if necessary.
Once clean, pat dry with a towel rather than rubbing them – this will help maintain that tacky texture. If you’re feeling extra helpful to your customers, then why not setup a cleaning station in or outside of the club shop (if you haven’t already)?
If you’ve got any more ‘top tips for grips’ then feel free to let us know on socials, as we’d love to hear what you’re doing to help your customers improve their game.
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*Image courtesy of Derek Wright Golf Golf Professional, Hamilton Golf Club
