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Give New Life to Your Club and Racquet Grips

If you’re a golfer or a tennis player, you know that the grips on those tools don’t last forever. Regular wear and tear and exposure to sun, wind, and rain can destroy the grips on clubs and racquets, making them sticky or even crunchy and crumbly.

When you purchase high quality (ergo expensive) clubs or racquets, it’s worth the money to have them re-gripped, or to purchase new grips and apply them yourself. You can use a high-quality tape, like gaffers tape, to help extend the life of your grips.

Taping Grips

Repair your club or racquet grip and improve the feel of it in your hand by adding a layer of tape to your disintegrating grip. To do this, start at the bottom of the grip (closer to the club head or strings and wrap 1-inch gaffers tape parallel to the bottom of the grip. Wrap one time all the way around, and then start working your way up the grip barber pole style. You’ll want to apply the tape at about a 45-degree angle until you get to the end of the club or racquet grip, then you’ll take the tape back flush with the end. Make another couple wraps around the end, cut the tape, and use your hand to smooth out the application.

Using a tape that is tough but feels good on the hand is important, and that’s why the fabric surface of gaffers tape is great for this purpose. The rubber adhesive is also formulated to withstand high temperatures and to endure despite friction and moisture.

If your grip is beginning to wear visibly, is shedding rolled up fibers when in use, feels excessively sticky, or is shows signs of peeling, it may be time for a layer of tape.

When to Replace Your Club or Racquet Grip

Your grip may be beyond the help of grip tape if there are large chunks missing from the grip, or if it’s seriously cracked and crumbling. At that point, it’s time for re-gripping. This typically happens much quicker when the grip is exposed to extreme conditions, so keep your clubs and racquets in a clean, dry, climate-controlled space to help them last longer.

Using Tape to Increase Grip Size

Do you have a tennis racquet or golf club that just doesn’t feel quite right in your hand? Maybe you have a hard time getting a good grip on it, not because the grip isn’t in good shape, but because it’s just too small for your hand. Add gaffers tape or electrical tape to the grip, layer by layer, testing the feel as you go until the grip fits your hand better.

Lead Tape to Increase Grip Weight

If your club or racquet feels out of balance, you may be able to adjust the weight at various points along the length of the instrument using lead tape. By applying lead tape in the right spot, you may manage to improve your performance and make an old racquet or set of clubs your new favorite.

Final Word on Golf and Tennis Tape

Before you replace your grips or even your clubs or racquet, see if one of these adhesive tape solutions can’t improve your game. Keep watching the Distributor Tape blog for more tips like these!