New golf grips can feel a little odd the first couple times you take them out on the course. It is typical for amateurs to use the same clubs for a long time, so when it comes to installing new golf grips, there will be an adjustment period.
This is particularly true for your first time replacing your golf grips as you may not know what to expect. One thing you should not experience if you recently regripped your clubs is slippage during your swing.
If you have recently purchased new golf grips and they are slipping out of your hands you have a problem.
In the article below, we are going to cover all you need to know about new golf grips that are slippery. We will look at potential causes of slippery grips and how to fix it. We have a lot to cover so let’s get started.
Why Are My New Golf Grips Slippery?
Excessive Grip Solvent
The most likely reason for slippery new golf grips is excess grip solvent still present on the club. Golf grip solvent is used during the installation of new golf grips. This solvent is used as a lubricant to insert the new grips over the freshly taped clubs.
If an excessive amount of solvent is used during the regripping process, your hands will slip when swinging the club. To fix the issue, the extra golf grip solvent will need to be removed.
Cheap Golf Grips
Cheap golf grips can also be causing you to slip with your club. While there are plenty of great budget golf grips on the market, not all of them are created equal.
Extremely cheap golf grips will be constructed of sub optimal materials and unimpressive designs leading to slippage during your swing.
Incorrect Golf Grip Size
Selecting an incorrect golf grip size for your hands can also cause the club to slip during your swing. Golf grips are available in different sizes to accommodate different hand sizes.
If the grip is too small, it may be more difficult to hold onto. If the grip is too large it will feel too bulky, which can also make it harder to grip.
Sweaty Hands
In some cases, your golf grips are not to blame. Sweaty or wet hands can also be an underlying issue for slippery clubs.
Keeping your hands dry when swinging the club will improve traction and prevent the grip from slipping.
Those who live in wet areas or regularly play golf in the rain may need another solution. Using a grip designed for wet conditions to increase friction in moist or sweaty hands is your best bet.
How Do You Fix A Slippery Golf Grip?
The fix for slippery golf grips will depend on the underlying cause of the issue. If excess golf grip solvent was applied during installation, then simply cleaning them with soap and water should do the trick.
Just be sure to let them dry out thoroughly before using again.
If you purchased discount or too small of golf grips, that could also cause slipping during your swing.
Unfortunately, the only fix for this is to replace your golf grips. If you are in the market to purchase new golf grips that don’t break the bank, check out our article on the Best Budget Golf Grips.
For golfers suffering from sweaty hands, there are a couple solutions to your problem. Golf gloves are the best friend of a golfer that has problems holding on to the golf club.
Wearing gloves can help to absorb sweat and prevent it from getting on your grip.
Golf gloves are available in a range of materials, so you can choose one that works best for you. But, make sure you take care of your golf glove or it wont provide much grip help.
If you are not a fan of golf gloves don’t worry, there are alternatives. There are several hand drying products on the market designed to keep golfers’ hands dry.
These products typically contain a combination of talc and cornstarch, which can absorb moisture and help to keep your hands dry.
How Do You Break In New Golf Grips?
The simple answer here is that new golf grips should not need to be broken in. It’s not like putting on a new pair of golf shoes for the first time to find that they pinch a little and thus need some breaking in.
Golf grips may become slippery when they wear over a long period of time, but brand new golf grips should not be slipping, and therefore, shouldn’t require breaking in.
Nowadays, with the rising cost of golf equipment, amateur players opt for second hand clubs. If you have bought some second hand clubs and you’re noticing that your hands are slipping when playing a shot, this could be because the grips have become worn over time.
In this case, new grips are needed. However, if you’ve bought brand new golf clubs and you’re the first player to use them, there’s no real reason as to why your hands would slip.
The bottom line here is that, while it may take a short period of time to adjust to new clubs, new golf grips typically do not require being broken in.
How To Make Golf Grips Tacky
Perhaps you’ve been unfortunate enough to purchase brand new clubs where the grip solvent has leaked or has been left on the grip, or maybe your grips just don’t feel that tacky.
Either way, fear not, because this can be fixed. As mentioned above, washing the grips with some degreasing soap detergent and leaving to dry should do the trick.
Once the grips have been cleaned thoroughly and left to dry out fully, they should feel more tacky.
Another method here is to take either a small knife or some sand paper and scrap the grips. This should remove any excess oils, which if the grips are new, will be from the grip solvent.
If the grips are used, then any excess oil or sweat from your hands could be on the grip, preventing it from being as tacky as it should. Scraping lightly should expose more fresh rubber which will have a much more tacky feel.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, slippery golf grips are not normal, and more importantly, they help nobody. In fact, if your golf grips are slippery, then your ability to perform at your best out on the course will be hampered quite significantly.
It’s important to identify the cause of your slippery grips. Realistically, new golf grips should not be slippery, and for the most part, they’re not.
However, if you’re one of the unlucky few, then simply cleaning the grips should do the trick. If your grips are really old, there are some quick fixes, as detailed above, such as scraping back the top layer using a knife, but this won’t last long, and chances are, you’re going to need new grips.
Hopefully you liked this article and found it informative. Check out our other blog posts if you liked this one!
