When fitting golf equipment, we are pursuing continuity within the set.
A set of clubs accompanied by the perfect grip size and design results in comfort, relaxation and confidence. The last thing any golfer should be thinking about over a shot is how to adjust to a club's grip.
Today there are many styles and compositions. The simple choice between ‘leather or rubber' has evolved into a series of decisions on materials, durometers and colours that go way beyond the once standard ‘black'.
Selecting the right grip
Unlike fitting irons for lie angle or shafts based on swing speed, grip selection is a personal choice. Optimal grip size can be measured, but style selection and material simply depends on personal preference. It remains important to know what's out there, so here's a run-down on grip styles.
As technology in materials and manufacturing advances, so do product options. Over the past decade, the number of grip styles has expanded rapidly. For starters, we have seen the demise of the traditional leather grip. Golfers now expect better performance through material technology which leather cannot offer. Grips are manufactured today from two primary materials, natural rubber and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) elastomer. EPDM grips are also referred to as synthetic or polymer grips.
Rubber & Cord Grips
Natural rubber grips have been used for over half a century. Their styling has changed over the years but their two basic compositions have largely remained: the all-rubber grip and the cord grip (which has cotton string impregnated into it), or a combination of rubber and cord.
The all-rubber composition generally has a softer feeling even though it can be manufactured in a variety of durometers (hardness). Grips with cord in them are much firmer. The cord itself acts like an aggregate rock in concrete, strengthening the structure of the grip. Many golfers are drawn to the corded grips because of improved hand traction. This is especially true for golfers who experience sweaty palms or play frequently in humid or rainy conditions. The cord acts similarly to snow tires on a slippery road.
In recent years, the greatest advance in rubber grip technology has been the introduction of various colours. For many decades, rubber grips were primarily black. Now, manufacturing advances allow these rubber grips to be multi-coloured, thereby taking styling to a new level.
Synthetic Grips
In the past two decades EPDM grips have undergone the fastest technology advances. EPDM can be moulded into a single-piece or used in multi-layered constructions. Polymer wrap styles are available, much in the same design as the traditional leather, wrapped grips, but with vibration-dampening materials and water-resistant surfaces. Some of the greatest advances in EPDM are single-seam designs constructed by wrapping an outer sheet over an under listing, with a single seam on the grip's backside. The artwork that can be put on this style of grip is relatively limitless.
EPDM grips are generally lighter than their rubber counterparts. To many golfers, they are softer and have greater torque, resulting in more twisting in the hands than with a natural rubber grip. However, there are now numerous EPDM designs that are quite firm.
The Variables
There are a variety of ways to distinguish grips from one another:
Weight: Grips can be as light as 20 grams. However, due to their narrow wall thickness, these have a tendency to transmit harsh vibration. Thicker-walled grips have more material to dampen vibration and are much more popular. Some lightweight models have cavities inside. The air pockets remove weight but keep wall thickness.
Vibration Dampening: Internal cavities are also a means of dampening vibration, and they are oriented in channels running either parallel or perpendicular to the shaft. Materials of various durometers are married together to control the grip's feel. A firmer rubber is used as a base with a softer rubber designed to contact the hands. In EPDM models, a very soft polymer material is used as an outer wrap to dampen vibrations.
Arthritis relief: Golfers with arthritic hands often appreciate grips that couple vibration dampening with a jumbo size. Arthritic golfers can struggle to wrap their fingers snug around the grip, so a larger diameter provides a comfortable hold. These styles usually have cavities to reduce weight.
All Weather: The most versatile grip for combating moisture used to be the cord. However, due to the harshness many golfers felt with cord, there are now natural rubber designs with a coarse texture that provide as much friction as cord. Coatings have been added to the polymer outer wrap of EPDM grips to provide tackiness, even in the rain. Every modern grip does not automatically combat moisture, so you need to pay attention to grip specifications to determine which models work best when wet.
Ribbed vs. Round: Except for putter grips, all golf grips must be cylindrical. The internal cavity of the grip is completely round, but a minority of models incorporate an internal rib of material, on the back side of the grip. As this rib of mass rests against the shaft, it creates a ridge that can be felt along the back outer side of the grip. Many golfers like the feel of this extra mass, as it rests within the fingers and provides a guide by which they can consistently position their hands. Golfers that like to open and close the face of the club at setup may not desire the rib, as it becomes a distraction.
Don't forget, the golf grip is the only contact point between the golfer and the golf club. That makes it an integral part of the equipment, yet it is amazing how many golfers under-estimate its significance.
