Golf Grips should be changed yearly. If you play as little as two times a week through the summer your grips will show wear and should be replaced. Rubber composition grips absorb perspiration and dirt which will cause them to harden and get slippery. The air itself attacks rubber compostion grips ( ozone ) causing them to get hard and slippery.

This is the time of the year to inspect your golf clubs and determine what repairs, if necessary, are needed before the golf season begins. Check for bent shafts, worn grips etc. and take care of them now, before you need them in the spring. When I was a club pro, we would go through our bag storage area, evaluate each members set and attach an evaluation with recommendations. If your club does not offer this service or if you do not belong to a club, do the evaluation yourself or take your set to a qualified club fitter to get your golf clubs tuned up and ready for play.

If you decide to change grips ( most of you should ) it is an inexpensive fix and will make your clubs feel new. Have a qualified golf professional check to make sure you are using the right size grip. ( Yes they do come in sizes ). A good way to determine grip size is if the middle and ring fingers of your left hand just bare touch your thumb, the grip is the right size. If there is a sizable gap, the grip is too big and if the middle and ring finger dig into your thumb they are too small.

If your grips are the wrong size you will be forced to grip the club too tightly which will inhibit your arm swing. If your grips are to large or too small the club will prone to twisting and turning at impact.

Remember that your hands are the only part of your body attached to the club and the way you grip the club is your only influence on the position of the club face at impact. Where the club face points at impact determines where the golf ball will ultimately end up. It should make sense to you that keeping your grips fresh and having the correct size is very important to your enjoyment of the game.

Studies have been done that have shown that 50% of all golfers never change their grips and that the average golfer is playing golf with grips that average 5 years old. I hope this article will encourage my readers to take a long look at the state of their golf grips and take steps to to evaluate or have their golf clubs evaluated each year.

Years ago you only had two choices for grip material, leather or rubber composition. Now there4 are blens of rubber and thermoplastics  that offer you grips with different durometers ( hardness ) to offer a feel that is most comfortable for you. A visit to a qualified club fitter or golf professional will give you the opportunity to see the different grip styles and materials but they can also recommend the size that is best for you.

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