The real way to choose the right golf grip, according to a mechanic

With proper fitting, we know that finding the right head and shaft combination plays a crucial role in lowering your golf scores. There’s also another important part of the club that’s often overlooked, which, funnily enough, is the only part we touch: the grip.

At True Spec Golf we see this all the time. A player comes in and uses different grips throughout the set, often made of different materials and even different sizes. Some of these are practically falling apart and should have been removed many seasons ago.

Now I’m not saying it’s wrong to have different sizes for different parts of your bag, because there can be benefits if you approach it logically. This is a part of your club that can make a big difference in the way you swing the club and in turn affects your ball flight and tendencies.

We’ve all heard that if you’re a slice-fighting player, you can get a bigger grip, and voila, your slice is gone. I’m here to tell you that this is something that can help mitigate some of your mistakes, but unfortunately this is not true. We as mechanics have learned that like all things in golf, it is completely dependent on the player and each change can produce different results.

Selecting the right golf grip and size can be tricky and unfortunately take some time as most of your fitting studios and retailers only have testers on site. This will help you get a feel for them, but it’s more than likely they won’t have a physical club for you to swing and take to the course.

I’ve learned that this is something that is completely personal and sometimes involves a lot of trial and error. Of course, a good installer can talk with you to determine what the best options are, as there are some important things we look for when recommending the right size and texture. But this comes down to the player, as you are the only one holding the club, and only you know what feels and works best.

Selecting the right size

When we’re trying to figure out which grip size is best for you, we look for certain things that might cause us to recommend something different. Personally, I like to see the club resting in full grip in your main hand (this is your left hand for right-handers and your right hand for left-handers).

The main thing I will pay attention to is the distance between your fingers and palm, and if I see your fingers digging into the palm, then a larger grip may be the better option. When this happens, it usually means that the club wants to move at some point in the swing, causing the player to hold the club tighter than recommended.

The same goes for the opposite: if there is too much space between the palm and the fingers, then we don’t have as much control over the golf club as we would like, and you may need something smaller. In general, I like your middle and ring fingers to rest gently against the palm of your hand.

But the thing to remember is that nothing in golf is absolute, and everything is relative. This is where I think the best way to find what works for you is through a process of elimination and trying different options on the course. Maybe you’re also a golfer who needs something in between sizes, and that’s where adding extra layers of tape can come in handy.

Just know that every time you start adding a few layers of tape, you will start to change how that grip naturally feels versus a standard single layer of tape.

Choosing the right texture

The grip texture makes it really personal. There are a lot of options when it comes to the composition of the grip and the different feel they produce.

You have cord grips – Golf Pride Z-Grip, Crossline Cord, etc. – which generally make the grip firmer and heavier, but they also perform better in wetter conditions than, say, a softer, stickier grip. They may not be as comfortable as these softer options, but they’ll hold up well if you’re caught in the middle of a downpour.

The other side of the cushion (no pun intended) are your softer grips — Winn Dri-Tac, Golf Pride CPX, etc. — which provide the ultimate in comfort when holding the club, but may not be ideal if you’re playing somewhere with a lot of humidity or where it rains a lot.

Softer handles may not last as long as your firmer handles and may need to be replaced more often.

I also like to recommend such grips if you have recurring hand pain (arthritis, for example) as they allow you to apply lighter grip pressure for greater comfort.

There are some very popular intermediate options – Golf Pride Tour Velvet, Super Stroke REVL Player, etc. – that offer a nice feel and perform well in all weather conditions. I think this is why some handles in this category are always the most popular, as they are also easy to maintain and generally last the longest.

In short

There are so many options and it can be difficult to determine which one is best for you. Although tester grips give you a hands-on feel, you may not know the real answer until you take them to the course. Then I recommend trying a few options at once.

True Spec Golf Club Fitting

With over 70,000 club head and shaft combinations, True Spec Golf custom fits and builds a precise set of clubs.

It’s easy: take your most used clubs (driver, 7-iron, and a wedge) and try a few different grips and/or sizes to get a true side-by-side comparison in real time. After spending a few rounds with them, you can determine which one you prefer and make a more informed decision before spending your money on a slew of handles.

If all else fails and this isn’t a rabbit hole you want to go down, don’t be afraid to have these conversations with your installer because I can almost guarantee they’ve been down it once or twice – I know I have.

Before I leave you, my final recommendation is to clean your handles and know when to replace them regularly. If you can see your reflection in the shine your handles produce, chances are they will need to be cleaned and replaced in the very near future. Just like when you try to drive on a wet road with low profile tires, you run the risk of higher scores if you use a death grip to hold the golf club.

Do you want to find the best grips for your game in 2025? Find a club fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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