Cleaning Club Grips

[Scott.Green]

Hey Everyone, 

I play a couple times a month, clean my clubs fairly frequently but not necessarily after every round, although I do clean the faces after each shot to keep the spin on the wedges and irons as pure as I can. My question is does anyone know of a cleaner or technique that helps keep the tackiness and feel of the grips on the new side? Is there a product or process to keep  grips clean? Normal wear aside, especially on wedges, I'd really like to keep my grips as long as I can as I really don't want to keep spending money on new grips every time the irons start to slip a bit more. For argument's sake, I play Golf Pride Velvet grips on my Ping Irons and Titliest wedges

[GolfSpy_APH]

9 minutes ago, Scott.Green said:

Hey Everyone, 

I play a couple times a month, clean my clubs fairly frequently but not necessarily after every round, although I do clean the faces after each shot to keep the spin on the wedges and irons as pure as I can. My question is does anyone know of a cleaner or technique that helps keep the tackiness and feel of the grips on the new side? Is there a product or process to keep  grips clean? Normal wear aside, especially on wedges, I'd really like to keep my grips as long as I can as I really don't want to keep spending money on new grips every time the irons start to slip a bit more. For argument's sake, I play Golf Pride Velvet grips on my Ping Irons and Titliest wedges

Normally grips get dirty and loose their feel due to grease and sweat on your hands. 

Warm soapy water and a scrub or towel to get that off will do the trip. 

I normally wash my grips each week and after each round of it's really hot out.

I also usually dry them after and put grip side down after  in case any water leaks into the shafts.

[russtopherb]

I was going to say get some Lamkin GRIPES but it looks like they've been discontinued. I still have a full package of them, and they are perfect for grip cleaning if you can find them anyplace.

[StrokerAce]

6 minutes ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Normally grips get dirty and loose their feel due to grease and sweat on your hands. 

Warm soapy water and a scrub or towel to get that off will do the trip. 

I normally wash my grips each week and after each round of it's really hot out.

I also usually dry them after and put grip side down after  in case any water leaks into the shafts.

Same!

Regular dish soap works best for me; brings back the stickiness pretty quickly.

I use one of those green scrub pads and follow with a moist towel and let em air dry.

This is a *really* important thing to do. The grip is the only part you have total control over and I can recall too many shots where it slipped in my hands causing the face to open resulting in a bad shot.
DON'T OVERLOOK THIS!!

[Randall Robbins]

Warm water with Dawn for rubber grips, just a damp towel for leather.

[richk9holes]

At one point I had iomic grips on a lot of clubs and would clean them more often because they get discolored from a glove. I only have 1 on my driver now and I clean that grip more frequently than the rest (it's white) My routine is to use dish soap and water on my clubheads with a brush, then rinse and dry with a towel. After cleaning all the clubs I use that damp towel to clean the grip. 

Since switching to lamkin utx corded and crossline 360 on my FW and irons, I don't clean these grips as much because the corded feel is accentuated by having some grit and dirt and hand oil, maybe a dead bug or two, mixed in there imo.

[Bartfaster]

I use Zep Orange Heavy Duty Hand Cleaner. It cuts through grease/ oils and has a fine pumice. Make sure to rinse with water afterwards. It leaves my grips clean and tacky.

[Hendu33]

I play 4 to 5 days a week. I try to clean my grips every 2 weeks using dishwasher soap and a soft brush.

For me that keeps my grips tacky and playable.

[Jonesie]

Good stuff everyone! 
same goes for my collection of golf/baseball hats. Once the “sweat ring” is showing after a couple of rounds, dunk in a warm water dish soap solution for 30-40 second soak then gently brush ring around the cap area and hose rinse out on the deck. Air dry on a flat space or clipped to a hanging rack and you’re all set!

Ive got some 5year old hats with many rounds and wash cycles that look great! Just don’t over soak. Like 5 min or more or your cardboard bill will suffer integrity  

 

[fixyurdivot]

I've used Dawn or 409 with a stiff nylon brush and aggressive scrubbing with warm water.  Thanks @Scott.Greenfor creating the thread... reminded me to go clean my grips .

[WDobe]

Also clean grips on a regular basis. Soap and water with an old toothbrush. Rinse and dry with towel.

Regarding golf hats- once the sweat rings show, I save up a few and then put them through the washing machine on gentle cold water. Spin dry then shape and air dry. Have probably too many hats! But some are 15-20 years old and still look great. Of course with so many no one gets more than a few wears per season

[Woodrow72]

Scrub brush and Pinesol is what an old tour pro told me years back , also carry a piece of extra fine sandpaper in your bag and buff up your grips if they feel slippery 

 

[Scott.Green]

These have been awesome answers, thanks! I wash my cars then use the soapy water to douche the clubs. I've taken the towels used to dry my cars to wipe the clubs then wipe down the grips, but now I've got some great ideas for better care. Also some good ideas for new grips when the time comes. Thanks again!

[AndySP]

I don’t use a glove so I clean everything pretty regularly. I like to make a little bowl of regular dish soap soapy water and brush the grips off with a stiff horse hair brush, rinse and dry. Not sure where the brush came from, but it seems to work better than the nylon bristles or a sponge for what it’s worth. 

[Brooky03]

I have young kids.  Their baby wipes seem to work pretty good on grips.

Edited June 21, 2023 by Brooky03

[toncol]

All the suggestions for cleaning grips will work.  Most important thing is to actually do it    As to the hats, there's a product out there called Hatsaver.  You spray it on the OUTSIDE of the hat when it's new where you would normally get sweat stains.....Voila !  No stains ever appear.  It's amazing stuff

[Jonesie]

13 minutes ago, toncol said:

As to the hats, there's a product out there called Hatsaver.  You spray it on the OUTSIDE of the hat when it's new where you would normally get sweat stains.....Voila !  No stains ever appear.  It's amazing stuff

Whoa! What an awesome community! 
I’m learning so much. Thanks for the Hat tricks mentioned

[Bob Jerabek]

I have been using  soapy water with brush and wipe with towel, let dry for about 20 minutes and they are good as new. I don’t think using sandpaper on grips is a good idea, it will wear a grip out pretty fast.

 It does pain me when I see people just toss their clubs on the ground, the dirt they pick up adds to slick grips. These guys will only change grips when they get new clubs about every 6-7 years.

 

 

 

 

 

[No3Putts]

18 hours ago, WDobe said:

Also clean grips on a regular basis. Soap and water with an old toothbrush. Rinse and dry with towel.

Regarding golf hats- once the sweat rings show, I save up a few and then put them through the washing machine on gentle cold water. Spin dry then shape and air dry. Have probably too many hats! But some are 15-20 years old and still look great. Of course with so many no one gets more than a few wears per season

Have you ever tried the dishwasher?  I have a cap shapeer that I put the hat in, then throw it on the top rack of the dishwasher with a shorty cycle and lower water temp -- it works great and I keep the hat in the form until it dries.  Hats look like new!

 

[greenone75]

You can also get a light duty sanding sponge/paper and rub them on regular rubber or cord grips to expose fresh rubber. Follow that with warm soap and water and they are good as new. Fred couple’s special  

[Tom the Golf Nut]

I found Dawn (the blue one) to be the best for rubber or corded grips. It is designed to remove grease, dirt and oils. Fill a bucket add the Dawn stir and then I use a scrubbing brush (kitchen or floor type with nylon bristles). I scrub from the shaft down to the butt end. Then spray with a water bottle to rinse. Then dry. I never dip the grip in the bucket. I don't want water getting inside. 

If you ever get a stain on your golf shirt or pants. Drip some blue dawn on the stain and let it sit for a few hours and then wash. Stain is gone. 

Big proponent of Hat Saver. One can will do about dozen hats. 

  

[Nigel P]

In the UK we have a product called Swarfega. It’s what mechanics use to clean their greasy hand. Slobber on the swarfega gel and Rub the grips with a nail brush. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and allow to air dry. It’s like a new set of grips every time. Usually do this every 2 weeks or so playing 3 times a week.  Nothing better!

[chisag]

... Like several others I don't use a glove so I like to clean my grips after every other round. But I also keep a wet towel with me and wipe my grips with the wet side and then if needed, dry them with the dry side. Phoenix tends to have a very dry air and especially when it gets to triple digits I don't even need to dry them off. All I am trying to do is keep the oil from my hands from sinking into the rubber. But even a non toxic soap will work when cleaning them in the kitchen sink. I use the wire part of a golf brush with just a little soap and scrub them and then rinse them off after cleaning all my clubs grips. The amount of time it takes to clean all my grips is insignificant compared to the like new feel it produces. 

... I would add some of the new grips don't need anywhere near as much TLC. Switching from GP Tour Velvet to Lamkins ST Hybrid grips I only need to wash them once a week. They are not a "tacky" but provide a secure hold without slipping. 

[Beakbryce]

As others suggested, I also use Dawn. I don't wear a glove. I have standard Callaway grips. BTW, if you try a Callaway grip and like it, you can buy them on Callaway pre-owned cheap. They charge $9.95 for shipping but if you buy a large number of grips it works out. I bought 40 last time as my wife also uses Callaway grips.

Although I live in AZ, my hands don't generally sweat which is useful. Additionally, I lay the grips on a towel when I take clubs around the green. Not only saves grips, but makes the clubs uber visual so they don't get left behind.

Edited June 21, 2023 by Beakbryce

[BallsLeon]

Haven't been cleaning my clubs grips, but I think I need to start. I have sweaty hands to begin with, and with the temps getting into the 90s now I'm starting to struggle with holding onto the clubs.

[MGoBlue100]

I’m also the dish soap and hot water crowd. Usually with a rough sponge like a Scrub Daddy. This method has always worked best for me. 

[Mikedb26]

LIFT-OFF.  Our local and only golf shop has it for $10 a can.  It's an aerosol foaming spray, coat the grips and wipe with a clean dry cloth.  Works amazingly well.  Had my doubts, now a believer.

[Slypanther]

The suggestion to sand the grips if during a round; DQ for altering the club during the round. I agree with using mild dish soap and the green scrub side of a sponge, not too much elbow grease, just a couble of lbs of pressure, I also use a firm nylon brush to get into the grooves (I use tour velvet). I also copy what I witnessed at the 1992 US Open by a caddy, a good scrub with a damp towel followed with using the other end to dry them. I do this every shot before I use the club, scrubbing with a towel is not illegal and I really enjoy the new grip tackiness. Replace the grips after 3 - 4 years as oxidation will affect the grip rubber.  Separate damp towel for club heads, clean contact is best. If you clean the grips each shot, after round cleaning is very easy.

[ctg44]

I usually use a microfiber cloth soaked liberally with rubbing alcohol. It's enough to dislodge any dirt or sand, and the scrubbing will remove any excess oils.

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[Will_Mac]

I've used this for many, many years. The solution long gone, just a drop of dishwashing soap goes a long way.

They're still available, or were when I last checked some months back. After so many years and uses, the bristles within the cylinder are still very firm and every bit as effective as when new.

I can clean a whole set in minutes. Irreplaceable tool, imo.