Round or ribbed grips?

[delc]

I am thinking of re-gripping one of my sets of clubs. The ones I want to fit are available in round or ribbed versions. I have always fitted ribbed grips in the past, but the round grip on my adjustable driver doesn't seem to cause me any problems, and if anything feels more comfortable. Any views on this? :mmm:

 

[Lump]

I like the reminder of a ribbed grip, takes that doubt of grip position out of the equation for me.

 

[delc]

I like the reminder of a ribbed grip, takes that doubt of grip position out of the equation for me.

As long as they are put on straight! :mmm:

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Whatever feels best and offers confidence in your hands would seem the logical answer

 

[Lump]

As long as they are put on straight! :mmm:

Thats why you do them yourself and not let some trained chimp put them on for you.

 

[KenL]

I thought grips (other than putter) had to be round?

 

[delc]

I thought grips (other than putter) had to be round?

From the Rules of Golf, Appendix II:

The grip consists of material added to the shaft to enable the player to obtain a firm hold. The grip must be fixed to the shaft, must be straight and plain in form, must extend to the end of the shaft and must not be moulded for any part of the hands. If no material is added, that portion of the shaft designed to be held by the player must be considered the grip.
(i) For clubs other than putters the grip must be circular in cross-section, except that a continuous, straight, slightly raised rib may be incorporated along the full length of the grip, and a slightly indented spiral is permitted on a wrapped grip or a replica of one.
(ii) A putter grip may have a non-circular cross-section, provided the cross-section has no concavity, is symmetrical and remains generally similar throughout the length of the grip. (See Clause (v)).
(iii) The grip may be tapered but must not have any bulge or waist. Its cross-sectional dimensions measured in any direction must not exceed 1.75 inches (44.45 mm).
(iv) For clubs other than putters the axis of the grip must coincide with the axis of the shaft.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Ribbed for me. Which ones are you thinking about getting Del? Apart from Tour Velvet I can't think of any others?

 

[KenL]

I would not like a "sticky out bit" on my grips!

 

[delc]

Ribbed for me. Which ones are you thinking about getting Del? Apart from Tour Velvet I can't think of any others?

Yes they are Tour Velvet, but a lot of grips have a bit of a rib. The ones that don't are generally intended for adjustable drivers, where you unlock and rotate the shaft in the hosel to adjust the loft or lie angle. The round ones are easier from a fitting point of view (which I normally do myself), because you don't have get them on absolutely square. I always aim the face of the club down the target line anyway, rather than relying on ribs or markings on the grip to get my alignment and hand positions correct.

I would particularly like to hear the opinions of anyone who has changed from ribbed to round grips, or vice versa.

 

[Blue in Munich]

Yes they are Tour Velvet, but a lot of grips have a bit of a rib. The ones that don't are generally intended for adjustable drivers, where you unlock and rotate the shaft in the hosel to adjust the loft or lie angle. The round ones are easier from a fitting point of view (which I normally do myself), because you don't have get them on absolutely square. I always aim the face of the club down the target line anyway, rather than relying on ribs or markings on the grip to get my alignment correct.

Round grips were around well before adjustable drivers were thought of.

 

[BTatHome]

Whatever feels best and offers confidence in your hands would seem the logical answer

id go along with this, surely the experiences of someone else make no difference whatsoever in how you will be effected by the grip .... it's a bit like asking people's experiment of swapping to a black glove.


Btw. delc why have you always fitted ribbed grips when you also say that you don't use the rib for alignment ?!?!

 

[delc]

id go along with this, surely the experiences of someone else make no difference whatsoever in how you will be effected by the grip .... it's a bit like asking people's experiment of swapping to a black glove.


Btw. delc why have you always fitted ribbed grips when you also say that you don't use the rib for alignment ?!?!

a) Because most of the grips that were easily available came with a slight rib down the underside.

b) I assumed that the rib would give a more secure and comfortable grip. However I now have an adjustable driver with a round grip, and can't really say I notice any difference.

 

[BTatHome]

A) I'm surprised as I can't remember the last club I have had, or grip I have bought that had a rib.

B) I was asking because you said you didn't use the rib .... which I assumed meant you didn't use it on your irons/woods/wedges.

 

[delc]

A) I'm surprised as I can't remember the last club I have had, or grip I have bought that had a rib.

B) I was asking because you said you didn't use the rib .... which I assumed meant you didn't use it on your irons/woods/wedges.

I don't use it to aid my set up. Some players seem to depend on the markings on the grip or a slight rib to place their hands on the grip, but this depends on the grips being accurately fitted, which they very often aren't, even on some reputable makes of clubs. I will exclude Ping from this as they use a laser device to get them on square.

 

[BTatHome]

Surprised that any of the clubs in your sig came with a ribbed grip though.

 

[Ethan]

People might be surprised that quite a lot of manufacturers use ribbed grips as standard on iron sets. I use one on my irons and also on my adjustable Titleist driver. The rib is in the same place in the A1 (standard) and B1 (open) settings I switch between, so no problems. The same will be true of some settings on the TM driver and you could test which by putting a small biro mark on the grip and then switching it around between some of your preferred settings.