Manufacturers and players alike are so meticulous about their golfing equipment. In order to give us the best chance of playing to the best of our ability, our clubs need to be just right – and it starts with the grip.
Most players will opt for the default standard grip when purchasing a golf club, and this is perfectly acceptable if you wear a medium- or large-size glove. However, for those with larger hands, or for those who have persistent problems with slicing, hooking, or discomfort, an oversized golf grip could be the answer to game improvement.
Why Choose a Larger Golf Grip?
Using a larger golf grip affects three fundamental things: grip pressure, wrist action, and comfort. Just one of these factors being wrong can seriously affect your game, and for many players, the standard grip size simply doesn’t fit the bill. Thus, it’s always worth trying a larger grip to see if there’s an improvement in general feel.
Grip Pressure
The amount of pressure you are able to apply to your grip is one of the defining elements of the quality of your swing. Too little pressure and you will lose a great deal of control over the club. Too much pressure will result in jarring mistakes such as duffing, topping, and extreme slices and pulls.
Large golf grips essentially enable you to apply more pressure with less of a strain on your fingers. This certainly benefits golfers with larger hands, but really, it can benefit anyone who feels that they are having to grip their club too tightly in order to achieve sufficient pressure. Being able to have slightly relaxed hands whilst maintaining decent grip pressure can be highly advantageous.
Wrist Action
As well as increasing grip pressure, one of the main goals of larger grips is to decrease wrist action. Too much wrist action is a very common flaw of a golf swing, and it’s one of the main causes of inaccuracy. Put simply, the more your wrists move unnecessarily, the more likely you are to go wildly left or right.
Large golf grips are designed to make it more difficult to wriggle your wrists as you swing back and through. After a while, your wrists will learn to maintain a stable position, allowing your shoulders and the club head to do the heavy lifting. This can greatly clean up your swing, leading to more consistently accurate shots.
Comfort and Pain Relief
Like any sport, playing golf can result in physical injury. A common affliction among avid golfers is arthritis, a condition that causes pain and swelling in the joints. Spending too much time tightly gripping a golf club inevitably takes its toll on fingers, causing their long-term health to be compromised.
Arthritis aside, even mild discomfort whilst holding a golf club can seriously affect your game. Not only will it physically affect the way you hold and swing the club, but it will also play on your mind, distracting and bothering you to the point where playing the game is no longer enjoyable.
A large golf grip can provide a very simple solution to pain and discomfort. By requiring less tension from your hands, large grips encourage relaxation, putting your fingers under less strain. If you feel more comfortable, your game is much better equipped to improve – and you will be protecting the long-term health of your hands.
Is a Large Golf Grip Right for Me?
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I have larger than average hands?
- Do I struggle with accuracy and/or loft?
- Do I feel discomfort when holding a standard grip?
- Do I feel pain after playing just a few holes?
If the answer is yes to any of these questions, it’s probably a good idea to take a look at some larger grips. If you want to make a decision based on hand-size alone, you can use this Lamkin guide to determine which grip is right for you.
You can also do a quick evaluation with one of your golf clubs. Grab the club, and grip it as you normally would. If you are right-handed, concentrate on the middle finger and ring finger of your left hand. They should be lightly touching your palm, which means you have a good grip size. If there is a gap, the grip is too large. If your two fingers are digging into your palm, the grip is too small.
Personal preference can, of course, also help you to decide. Even if your hands are appropriately sized for a standard grip, a larger grip may feel more natural and comfortable. Just be aware that oversized grips can cause problems: specifically, they can limit your ability to release the wrists through impact, resulting in slices and fades. Those with smaller than average hands should probably avoid large grips.
What About Oversize Putter Grips?
The club which has seen the biggest increase in oversize grips in recent years, and the club with which most players first try out an oversize grip, is the putter. We’re seeing more and more of them being used by the pros, and many new putters now come with an oversize grip as the default.
With there being nearly 10 different ways of holding a putter, putting is the aspect of the game which is the most accepting of personal preference and style. Unlike other clubs, you could safely choose to use an oversize putter grip even if you have small hands. In fact, certain gripping methods probably wouldn’t work at all on anything other than a large grip.
Perhaps the most important element of a putting stroke is wrist action. If your stroke is too ‘wristy’, you are more likely to miss your line and produce inconsistent speeds. An oversize grip helps to eliminate this excess movement, promoting a smoother stroke.
One thing to be aware of is the potential loss of feel by using a larger grip. Some golfers report a lack of control, probably due to not being able to get sufficient grip pressure. This is something you’ll have to test for yourself.
If you’ve never done so, we highly recommended trying out an oversize putter grip – regardless of your hand-size or handicap. As complex, delicate, and intricate as putting is, it is often a simple matter of there being too much wrist action, and an oversize grip can go a long way towards sorting this out. It’s not for everyone, and it won’t give you instant “Tiger Vision”, but an oversize putter grip can be a key ingredient in a handicap-reducing recipe.
What Are the Best Oversize Golf Grips?
1. SuperStroke grips
Perhaps the most well-known oversize grips on the market, SuperSize grips are specially designed to provide maximum comfort whilst maintaining feel and feedback.
They are minimally tapered to promote balanced hand-pressure and utilize a multi-layer construction to provide a well-rounded performance.
SuperStroke also produces grips specifically for putters which are definitely worth checking out.
2. Lamkin Crossline Gents Jumbo
Final Thoughts
Oversized golf grips are growing in popularity, and there’s no denying that they offer a clever and comfortable solution to many a golfer’s grip-related issues.
If you have large hands or struggle with arthritis, oversize golf grips are practically a no-brainer.
But really, any player who is having persistent swing or comfort problems should be encouraged to try out a different grip size. The enhanced grip pressure, reduced wrist action, and increased comfort of oversize grips could have a huge impact on your game.
Even if you don’t think a larger grip would be right for your woods, irons, and wedges, it is certainly worth trying an oversize grip on your putter. Go and try them for yourself – they’re not for everyone, but you could potentially discover new realms of comfort and performance.
Related Articles
- How To Grip a Golf Club
- Premio Golf- TPU Premium Putter Grip
- How Much Does it Cost to Regrip Golf Clubs & When Should You Do It?
Nick Lomas is the founder of GolfSpan, an avid golfer, not quite a pro but has over 15-years of experience playing and coaching golfers from all over the world. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience then it comes to choosing the right golf gear, and finding the right set up for your game.
