A “Balanced” View Of Golf Grips
A “Balanced” View Of Golf Grips
All Golf Grips Are NOT Equal!
About a year ago, I did a great fitting and club build for a very strong golfer – he has a 90 to 95 mph 7 iron swing speed. I MOI matched his clubs to the fitting club spec, and he loved them.
Recently though, he asked me to build him a new set of irons – different iron head, same shaft (KBS $ Taper X), same club lengths, and desire for the clubs to be built to the same MOI specs of his previous specs. Sure can do. HOWEVER, he wanted to have me use a different grip for the build – now THERE is something to be a bit careful about.
The grips on his previous set of clubs were 50 gram “midsize” grips – the grips for his new irons were requested to be 68 gram “midsize” grips. Making this change to grip weight can have consequences to the overall feel of a golf club – in particular the BALANCE of the club.
Changing the grip weight by 18 grams moved the club balance points about 1 inch closer to the butt end of the new golf clubs – compared to his previous set. This is a LOT of change. Heavier grips act a bit like “counterweights” in the butt end of the club – producing less club head feel. Not necessarily a bad thing – but it can be.
My view of grip weight changes for golfers is that changes in weight less than about 5 grams will not typically have a big influence on club feel. But more than 5 gram weight changes can have a substantial influence on club feel.
Now – my golfer with the new MOI matched irons and heavier grips? – in fact, he calls his new clubs sniper rifles – so a good change for him. But if the change in grip weight had not worked, we most likely would have gone back to a much lighter midsize grip.
Grip Weight Is Important! (By The Way – IN PUTTERS TOO!!).
I Create EXCEPTIONAL GOLF CLUBS
You Shoot LOWER SCORES!
Tony – STAY SAFE!
