First attempt at re-gripping

[AmishJason]

Good afternoon everyone.  I'm trying my hand at re-gripping this afternoon.  With a little patience I think I can get it done.  I don't have a garage or shop to work out of, but fortunately I remembered this countertop mountable vice that I got a few years ago.  I will post a couple updates as I go.

[cnosil]

Good afternoon everyone.  I'm trying my hand at re-gripping this afternoon.  With a little patience I think I can get it done.  I don't have a garage or shop to work out of, but fortunately I remembered this countertop mountable vice that I got a few years ago.  I will post a couple updates as I go.

It really isn’t that hard and the vice will Make it easier. Do you have the rubber shaft clamp? That is I Important so you don’t damage the shaft in the clamp.

Just take your time and use plenty of solvent. You can even do it without a vice, just makes it a little tougher to get everything lined up.

You got this!!!

[Middler]

Good luck. Regripping is very easy, it’s just really messy without the rig golf shops use, e.g. soft vise, tape dispenser and solvent catch pan. You DON’T want to be stingy with the solvent, hence the mess for the DIYer. It takes less than 15 seconds per club with the right equipment. You probably know you need to let the grip “relax” once it’s on, they usually stretch out or compress lengthwise depending on how you push/pull them on, you’ll want to coax them back to their natural length, not stretched or compressed - another reason to use LOTS of solvent so they can slide easily at first. And of course aligning them is nice but not essential for most grips (without alignment aides).

[AmishJason]

19 hours ago, cnosil said:

It really isn’t that hard and the vice will Make it easier. Do you have the rubber shaft clamp? That is I Important so you don’t damage the shaft in the clamp.

Just take your time and use plenty of solvent. You can even do it without a vice, just makes it a little tougher to get everything lined up.

You got this!!!

I bought a kit that came with one and as a bonus, that vice is for wood working and comes with rubber pads as well.

Thanks for the encouragement.

Edited March 25, 2021 by AmishJason

[AmishJason]

It took a little figuring on the fly, but iron #1 is done.  Before anyone gets carried away, it's an 8 iron and not an actual 1 iron.  

[dlow206]

I now have a solid setup with the right equipment, but i used to do it outside with basically no equipment. Put a bunch of solvent on the tape and in the grip and push it on. With a proper shaft vice now its much easier and i can better line up grip logos, etc.

EDIT: I saw that its an Align grip, so yeah, need to be more precise with lining it up with that grip

[AmishJason]

I do have a 1 iron that matches the set....is it useful?  Nope.  It's just a conversation piece.

[AmishJason]

7 minutes ago, dlow206 said:

I now have a solid setup with the right equipment, but i used to do it outside with basically no equipment. Put a bunch of solvent on the tape and in the grip and push it on. With a proper shaft vice now its much easier and i can better line up grip logos, etc.

EDIT: I saw that its an Align grip, so yeah, need to be more precise with lining it up with that grip

Yes indeed.  I watched the video from Golf Pride on how to properly install the Align series.  It seems to just take a hair more patience and attention to detail, but that could just be me.  To quote a popular saying on here, "Your miles may vary."

[Tom the Golf Nut]

Watch those wood floors with the grip solvent. You will get in the dog house real quick!

Tip. Put a golf tee in the hole of the new grip at the butt end to keep the solvent in while coating the inside of the grip.  Cut a soda bottle or milk jug in half lengthwise. Place the container under the grip location. Remember to put the cap back on the bottle then as you pour the solvent over the tape the excess will go into the container. Then you can reuse it on the next grip. Remove the bottle cap and pour it into the next grip. The more solvent the better to get the grips to slide on easily. Most grips have an alignment mark by the end of the grip that is open. I mark the shaft with a sharpie marker on the spot. Then cut off the old grip. After taping and applying the solvent to the tape when sliding on the new grip you will know exactly where to align the new grip. Then wipe off the marker with some solvent. 

after the first few you will have it down pat. I've done hundreds of grips over the years. 

[AmishJason]

Well, now I have hit a major set back.  For those who may not now, this set is not original to me and is at least 25 years old.  I bought them online and they came to me from South Dakota.  This shaft has rust all the way from the butt to the hosel on the inside.

[AmishJason]

@Tom the Golf Nut, the kitchen is on the short (but not shortest list) list to be replaced anyhow.  In the mean time, I'm doing my best as I go and cleaning I'm between each club.

[AmishJason]

I've decided to keep going with the regripping.  The rust doesn't look like it is in danger of causing a shaft failure.  Plus, I play once or twice a month a best, so I should have a lot of life left in these.

And on a related note: DO NOT regrip clubs while wearing a silicone wedding ring.  Mine is now several sizes bigger than it should be.

Edited March 24, 2021 by AmishJason
Typos

[tony@CIC]

Get yourself a Golfworks catalog. You'll find lots of trinkets to buy there for either regripping or even replacing shafts. It's a big boy catalog. 

[AmishJason]

3 hours ago, tony@CIC said:

Get yourself a Golfworks catalog. You'll find lots of trinkets to buy there for either regripping or even replacing shafts. It's a big boy catalog. 

I have spent a lot of time on their website.  It's a dangerous place....for my bank account.

[AmishJason]

Anyhow, there is the finished product.  4-PW with Tour Velvet Aligns.

[Tom the Golf Nut]

Nice work. sorry about the ring though.

[AmishJason]

3 hours ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

Nice work. sorry about the ring though.

Thanks.   It was a case of learning on the go.  I didn't suspect that the solvent would have an affect similar to acetone on a rubber product.  So, I thought I would share in the hopes that someone on here learns from my mistake.

[ejgaudette]

Looks good, I also did a home regripping this winter without really any equipment, but thankfully had a spot with a concrete floor. It was not the easiest with that set up but they ended up well. Though I avoided something like align as I was not confident that I could line it up that perfect, much braver than I on that front.

[Middler]

42 minutes ago, ejgaudette said:

Looks good, I also did a home regripping this winter without really any equipment, but thankfully had a spot with a concrete floor. It was not the easiest with that set up but they ended up well. Though I avoided something like align as I was not confident that I could line it up that perfect, much braver than I on that front.

I would have thought so too, but go watch a pro golf shop do grips - they align by eye! They take care to put the club in the vise with the head up square, but once they slide the grip on, they just sight down the shaft to align - and there are subtle marks that help. It’s not overly scientific. Even Golf Pride uses sighting for align grips https://www.golfpride.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017-05-11_ALIGN_installation-guide-1.pdf

[ejgaudette]

1 minute ago, Middler said:

I would have thought so too, but go watch a pro golf shop do grips - they align by eye! They take care to put the club in the vise with the head up square, but once they slide the grip on, they just sight down the shaft to align - and there are subtle marks that help. It’s not overly scientific. Even Golf Pride uses sighting for align grips https://www.golfpride.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017-05-11_ALIGN_installation-guide-1.pdf

It make sense I am sure as you do it that becomes easy, just a trust yourself issue I guess.

[russtopherb]

Good job on the grips! I started regripping all of my clubs a few years ago and I'm really glad I did. It's dead easy to do. One thing I figured out to make things easy is to put a plastic tub under the grip and part of the shaft. I regrip in my garage, so I put the tub on some saw horses. Helps catch any extra solvent. 

[Middler]

I don’t regrip my clubs myself because it only costs me $39 ($2.99x13) once a year at most. Between the solvent, tape and other (one time purchase) equipment to do it right/safely, it would take a couple years to break even. But I fully understand the appeal of DIY. YMMV

[Shapotomous]

I got started changing grips back in the 70's when i worked at a CC and changed a few thousand while there.  Its a small investment to get what you 'need' to change your own grips - rubber shaft gripper for the vise, hook blades for the utility knife, small dispenser bottle for the solvent, grip tape.  After 40 years changing 100's of grips the investment has paid for itself many times over.  I use a paint roller pan to catch the gas I use as solvent so I don't have a fancy changing station.  Besides my grips, I get asked by quite a few friends to change their grips for them and they pay for whatever grip they want and I charge a small fee per club to do it.  I am probably doing 5 - 10 sets per year.  Plus whatever grip upgrade I need to do for a shaft I am testing out in a club that month to satisfy my club - ho'ing character flaw!

[TBS]

I have a few more things to organize in my garage but after that, I want to make space for a regrip station. I've been wanting to figure out how to do it myself because I hate paying the shops to do it. It may be a blessing and a curse to be the regrip guy for my golfing friends but it looks enjoyable and relaxing. I love the feeling of new grips.

[puttnfool]

Don't overlook the air compressor method to completely cut out the solvent mess.

[TBS]

12 minutes ago, seeking70's said:

Don't overlook the air compressor method to completely cut out the solvent mess.

I've been looking at that. I have an air compressor and it looks like that could be the easier way to go. I also have a vice but I'm really scared about damaging my graphite shafts. How worried should I be about using those rubber inserts in the vice?

[release]

10 hours ago, TBS said:

I've been looking at that. I have an air compressor and it looks like that could be the easier way to go. I also have a vice but I'm really scared about damaging my graphite shafts. How worried should I be about using those rubber inserts in the vice?

I don't use the vice for installing grips with air.  It's really easy if you get the hang of it.

Of course one could use a low pressure compressor to install a rubber grip ( tougher with the multi material or multi layered grip ).  I like to use one with capacity of powering air tools.  Just dial down to the level suitable for the task.  Use more power when removing an old grip installed with tape and dial down to install a new grip.  There is a few tricks to learn along the way , including simple tools to prevent the ballooning of the grip while removing it.

A piece of cake to install the "align grips " with the reminders.  Adjust as many times as you please.  Which is a blessing with these grips.

One thing I had noticed from your posted photos.  Did you tap the end of the grip on the floor mat after you finished installing ?  The tapping is to make sure the end of the shaft is seated completely into the end of the grip.   Several of the grips in the photos looked like they were not 100% seated in . 

Edited May 11, 2021 by release

[TBT]

I just regripped my entire set for the first time using masking tape and an air compressor. I did but the rubber Vice insert to help hold the clubs.

I need to figure out the right air pressure, when installing they didn’t go on as easily as videos I’ve seen and they tried to blow back off a few times 

[cnosil]

3 minutes ago, TBT said:

I just regripped my entire set for the first time using masking tape and an air compressor. I did but the rubber Vice insert to help hold the clubs.

I need to figure out the right air pressure, when installing they didn’t go on as easily as videos I’ve seen and they tried to blow back off a few times 

What pressure were you using?  

[Kenny B]

10 minutes ago, TBT said:

I just regripped my entire set for the first time using masking tape and an air compressor. I did but the rubber Vice insert to help hold the clubs.

I need to figure out the right air pressure, when installing they didn’t go on as easily as videos I’ve seen and they tried to blow back off a few times 

What videos did you watch?  What air pressure?  Did you use short bursts of air instead of steady pressure?  Blue painters tape is nicer than masking tape, IMO.

I started using air about 10 years ago, and I have had no problems.  Some grips are a little more difficult than others, but it does work.  I use the Pure grips and the installation gun that Pure Grips sells, but it's not necessary; just handy and should last forever.

This video describes the process very well: