Golf Club Shafts

The shaft of the golf club will flex when you swing and although the golf club shaft is not directly responsible for the power in your swing it does transmit this stored energy via the flexing to the club head at (hopefully) the precise moment.

In terms of golf shaft materials there are two basic types; steel and graphite. Steel shafts are less expensive but heavier and are preferred by advanced golfers and the pros.

The graphite shafts are lighter, but more expensive and are preferred by average and older golfers. Remembering that the distance you get on your golf shot is a matter of physics is the main allure of the graphite shaft. Since it is lighter than the steel, the average golfer can generate a higher club head speed. And with the lighter weight of graphite, more weight can be added to the head without increasing the actual swing weight of the golf club.

A shaft that is too flexible for your swing speed will produce much inconsistency at contact since the flex of the shaft is going to vary greatly based on your swing. If the shaft is too stiff for your swing you will have a tendency to leave the ball out to the right (for right handed golfers). This is why it is very important to match the type of shaft to your swing once you get your swing to a fairly consistent level of execution.

Golf Club Grips

The size of your golf grips can indeed play an important role in the results of your golf swing. Remember, it is on the grip where you have the only contact on the golf club and such is the on point from which you send information about the feel of your upcoming shot to your brain.

If your golf grips are too small or thin you will have the tendency to introduce more hand action into your shot and vise verse if your grips are too thick. The proper fit for your golf grips would be to have your middle finger just able to touch the pad on your thumb once around the golf grip.

Most grips are either of a cord material or rubber. These materials offer good resistance to wear and good playability. I wouldn’t recommend leather wrap grips for those just starting out as they are more expensive and less durable.

Golf club grip maintenance is a must. You should replace your grips on a regular basis. You won’t have to replace all of your grips each go around only the ones that are the most heavily used.

But it’s important to keep your grips fresh and of consistent feel across all of your clubs. Any pro shop can do this for you or you can certainly replace them yourself.

See my article on replacing your golf club grips.

Depending upon how many rounds per year or season you play, you should seriously consider re-gripping your golf clubs annually. Or, at the very least the clubs that you most often use.

Remember the amount you practice also will have a great bearing on how often your re-grip your clubs and which clubs will be in need of a re-gripping.

Each spring, for example is the time to get this done. You’ll want to begin each season with each of your clubs having the same feel to it. Since golf grips deteriorate gradually over time, you don’t always notice that a club is in need of new grips until they get well past the point of needing it.

Re-gripping your clubs is not a difficult task at all. All you need are just a couple of basic tools and a couple hours of your time and you can save yourself some pretty decent money.

Let’s take a look at what you’ll need.

• Your new golf grips (of course)
• A utility knife (with a sharp blade)
• Double sided tape (available at any retail golf shop)
• Mineral spirits (check the paint department)
• Work bench with a vice

First place your club in the vice with the grip fully exposed.

I like to wrap a towel around the shaft to keep from scratching it. Also, I like to set the vice as close to where the grip begins so as to not to be able to exert undue leverage on the shaft or the hosel of the golf club.

Take your utility knife with just enough of the blade exposed to cut through the old grip, cut the length of the grip.

Start with one cut down each side. Then pull the old grip off the golf club. Use your mineral spirits at this point to soften up the old tape and remove the old tape from the shaft of the club. Once done, let the shaft dry for just a couple of minutes.
Next, getting the double-sided tape on the shaft is a matter of preference, but this is what works for me.

I take the club out of the vice and hold it like a plumb bob. Then I take my double-sided tape and start at the bottom area of the where the new grip will be and begin wrapping the tape up the shaft toward the top.

I go up with the tape at about a 30 to 40 degree angle. I leave a small space in between each wrap of tape so when I have reached the top of the club the tape on the club resembles an old style barber pole look. The key is to just take your time and not to wrinkle the tape.

Now you’ve got re-gripping your golf club whipped.

Once you have the double sided tape spiraled up the shaft, simply remove the outer layer of the tape to expose the other sticky side of the double sided tape.

Next I put the club back into the vice. Take your first new golf grip and with one finger over the small opening on the top of the grip, pour just a bit of your mineral spirits into the grip and give it a couple good shakes the pour out the mineral spirits over the top of your new tape job. I like to work with a bucket underneath to catch the mineral spirits.
With the grip and the tape now prepped with the mineral spirits, work the new grip over the end of the shaft and slide it down the tape.

While the grip and the tape are still wet, take the club out of the vice grip and make the final adjustments to the golf grip.

All of the golf grips will either have some sort of pattern on them or a ‘nick’ just at the bottom of the grip you can use for alignment.
And there you have it. Set that club aside and go on to the next.

Once complete, let your new golf club grips dry for a few hours and you’ll be all set.