could changing grip, change the head weight?

patricks148

Global Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Jun 9, 2009
Messages
24,646
Location
Highlands
Visit site
I recently ( two weeks ago) had the grip changed on my SLDR driver. It had just a standard m32 golf pride, but the pro only had some multi compound mid sized so had that put on.

the head now feels very light and im not hitting the driver anything like as well as i was. Feels very strange.

could just changing the grip be the problem?
 

BTatHome

Tour Winner
Joined
Sep 15, 2011
Messages
4,128
Location
Hampshire
Visit site
Effectively putting a heavier grip on you've made a counterbalanced driver :)

When I had wedge fitting the Srixon fitter mentioned that they prefer to add wraps of tape, rather than use midsize grips, as the heavier grips changes the swing weight much more than the wraps do.
 

patricks148

Global Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Jun 9, 2009
Messages
24,646
Location
Highlands
Visit site
Effectively putting a heavier grip on you've made a counterbalanced driver :)

When I had wedge fitting the Srixon fitter mentioned that they prefer to add wraps of tape, rather than use midsize grips, as the heavier grips changes the swing weight much more than the wraps do.

it feels terrible now, was hitting the ball well with it before, oh, well.
 

Imurg

The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
Joined
Mar 15, 2008
Messages
37,722
Location
Aylesbury Bucks
Visit site
Do you know the difference in the weight of the grips?
It just shows that a few trams here or there can make a club feel wrong.
Many of us change grips without considering the weight and what effect it can have.
TM and Cleveland spring to mind as putting very lightweight grips on as standard - change them and it can put the balance right out of kilter.
 

patricks148

Global Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Jun 9, 2009
Messages
24,646
Location
Highlands
Visit site
Do you know the difference in the weight of the grips?
It just shows that a few trams here or there can make a club feel wrong.
Many of us change grips without considering the weight and what effect it can have.
TM and Cleveland spring to mind as putting very lightweight grips on as standard - change them and it can put the balance right out of kilter.

no idea only that it is a Golf pride mid sized multi compound. The one that was on it was a very thin Tm branded standard that was a bit on the thin side.
 

Imurg

The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
Joined
Mar 15, 2008
Messages
37,722
Location
Aylesbury Bucks
Visit site
Bit of digging later and...
GP Mid size MC is 62g
Standard SLDR grip is 54g
So assuming you have the same amount of wraps underneath you have 8 grams difference. Not much but maybe enough

Maybe going mid size from standard has made it feel "off"..?
 

patricks148

Global Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Jun 9, 2009
Messages
24,646
Location
Highlands
Visit site
Bit of digging later and...
GP Mid size MC is 62g
Standard SLDR grip is 54g
So assuming you have the same amount of wraps underneath you have 8 grams difference. Not much but maybe enough

Maybe going mid size from standard has made it feel "off"..?

8 gram's is nothing, but its changed the feel completely, guess i will have to change it back
 

3565

Journeyman Pro
Joined
Sep 2, 2013
Messages
2,177
Visit site
Yes it can make a huge difference to how it swings, i have a hybrid that kept giving a draw hook which had a multi compound grip on and change it for a leather grip and I've been hitting the hybrid straight. My club maker has shown me the difference of just adding tape under the grip can alter its swing weight. If I was you get the same grip put back on.
 

Region3

Ryder Cup Winner
Joined
Aug 4, 2009
Messages
11,860
Location
Leicester
Visit site
According to info found on t'interweb, it's 5g grip weight per point of swingweight, so you've made the clubs just under 2 swingweight points lighter.

You just need to put a ~54g grip back on.

Unless the previous grip had a load of tape under it, it might also be possible that the thicker grip (midsize) is causing you to lose feel through your hands?
 

patricks148

Global Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Jun 9, 2009
Messages
24,646
Location
Highlands
Visit site
According to info found on t'interweb, it's 5g grip weight per point of swingweight, so you've made the clubs just under 2 swingweight points lighter.

You just need to put a ~54g grip back on.

Unless the previous grip had a load of tape under it, it might also be possible that the thicker grip (midsize) is causing you to lose feel through your hands?

Thanks.

Ive changed grips before and never had this problem.

Stuck the spare standard stiff shaft in it yesterday that has the original grip on and felt so much better and went far better.

looks like the cost of the mid size was a bit of a waste of money:(
 

delc

Blackballed
Banned
Joined
Aug 19, 2011
Messages
5,375
Location
Hertfordshire
Visit site
I recently ( two weeks ago) had the grip changed on my SLDR driver. It had just a standard m32 golf pride, but the pro only had some multi compound mid sized so had that put on.

the head now feels very light and im not hitting the driver anything like as well as i was. Feels very strange.

could just changing the grip be the problem?
If you fit a heavier grip to a club it will reduce its swing weight (moment arm about a point 14" below the top of the grip). As a first step you could try adding some lead tape to the club head to restore its original swing weight and see if that helps. If not, it could be that the thicker grip is affecting your hand action. Over thick grips can cause you to slice or block shots to the right.
 

Smiffy

Grand Slam Winner
Joined
Oct 17, 2008
Messages
24,070
Location
Gods waiting room.....
Visit site
I recently bought an almost new Cobra Bio-Cell driver off the bay.
Lovely club, but the owner had a mid sized grip fitted.
Felt really weird in my hands so I quickly swapped out to a standard sized grip and I'm hitting the ball much better with it.
 

CMAC

Blackballed
Banned
Joined
Aug 5, 2011
Messages
15,121
Visit site
I like bigger grips (bigger hands).

My Squash rackets all had 3 towelling grips on to make the head lighter for whippy action.

Irons all have 2 extra tapes at right hand and 3 at left hand for a less wristy swing apparently.
 

Foxholer

Blackballed
Joined
Nov 16, 2011
Messages
24,160
Visit site
Changing to a different weight grip WILL change the swing weight (not the head weight) but that's not as likely to affect performance as much as changing the grip size!

I've always preferred fatter grips, annoyingly just under mid-size, though they work Ok. Same with bats, sticks and racquets!

The 2 right 3 left (or similar) was a classic adjustment (along with 0.25 longer) that some fitters used to show they'd individually customised clubs! A 24 stone, tattoo-ed, pill-addicted (allegedly), Nigerian skinhead, to whom you just answered 'Yes Sami' when he told you his recommendation, was renowned for that (excellent fitter though)! :rolleyes:
 

CMAC

Blackballed
Banned
Joined
Aug 5, 2011
Messages
15,121
Visit site
Changing to a different weight grip WILL change the swing weight (not the head weight) but that's not as likely to affect performance as much as changing the grip size!

I've always preferred fatter grips, annoyingly just under mid-size, though they work Ok. Same with bats, sticks and racquets!

The 2 right 3 left (or similar) was a classic adjustment (along with 0.25 longer) that some fitters used to show they'd individually customised clubs! A 24 stone, tattoo-ed, pill-addicted (allegedly), Nigerian skinhead, to whom you just answered 'Yes Sami' when he told you his recommendation, was renowned for that (excellent fitter though)! :rolleyes:

I'd never heard of it, I just asked for it as the top of the grip can move a tad in my swing
 

sawtooth

Tour Winner
Joined
Jul 1, 2009
Messages
5,234
Location
Berkshire
Visit site
I changed to midsize grips on all my clubs, they are equivalent to a std grip with 8 wraps of tape I think. I guess you may need a little time to adjust, not to the weight so much, but the way the club feels in your hands. I like midsize because I have smallish hands but longish fingers, I get a secure feeling now that I am holding the club with hardly any tension in the grip.
 

One Planer

Global Moderator
Joined
Feb 11, 2011
Messages
13,430
Location
Modsville
Visit site
It's amazing how personal grip feel is.

I prefer to build a standard grip up to 1/32" oversize which, depending on core size is 4 layers total.

I did try a midsize, but wasn't keen on how the club felt in my hands (too big) and felt I had to grip a little tighter.
 

patricks148

Global Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Jun 9, 2009
Messages
24,646
Location
Highlands
Visit site
It's amazing how personal grip feel is.

I prefer to build a standard grip up to 1/32" oversize which, depending on core size is 4 layers total.

I did try a midsize, but wasn't keen on how the club felt in my hands (too big) and felt I had to grip a little tighter.

the grip feels fine and i like the feel of the grip, its the feel of the club head or lack of it i should say.. thats the problem.
 
Top