Is Non Tapered or Reduced Taper Grip Sizing Right For You?

If your golf grip doesn’t feel right, you are not going to play your best. Which type of golf grip is best for your game?

One of my pet peeves about any off the rack clubs by any of the major name brand manufacturers is their grip sizing.  If you are a man, you are offered one size grip and for women, they get another size. That’s it!  If you have big hands or small hands, guess what, the grip is not going to fit well.  That is why I am glad I am in the component industry and have the ability to custom the grip sizing to suit my needs and the reason why we sell the sheer number of golf grips we do.

Traditionally grips taper.  That is, the top the grip is the largest and as you get closer to the mouth or the bottom of the grip it tapers down and becomes smaller.  I want you to think about all the items you hold on a daily basis.  One is likely a steering wheel.  Guess what?  It doesn’t taper.  My shovels (including a snow shovel which I have used too much this year), brooms, rakes, pitch fork and numerous other tools around my house and barn don’t taper either.  So why should grips on golf clubs taper?

Maybe that is why I prefer midsize golf grips or oversized grips (depending on their actual size) because the lower part of the grip is built up and gives me a sense of power – like a tool.

There are certain grips that have or are currently available with reduced taper.  That is the rate of taper is less so the bottom portion of the grip is slightly larger, yet the top half of the grip is essentially the same size.  Sure, clubmakers can build up a grip with masking tape underneath the double-side tape to increase the girth.  But who wants to go through all the time and hassle when you can find grips that already have the reduced taper built into them like the new Golf Pride CP2 Tour and Wrap?  I sure don’t.

You can even find grips with no taper at all.  After all, your hands are the same size aren’t they?  Pictured on the far right is the Tacki Mac Unified Wrap. Other popular grips without taper are Winn’s Excel Soft Oversize, Golf Pride’s Tour Wrap 2G Jumbo and the SuperStroke putters grips.

Why aren’t more grips available with reduced or no taper at all? Is it tradition or I am in the minority? One thing is does is add weight as you have more material to build up the bottom portion of the grip. But guess what, counterweighting golf clubs is en vogue nowadays so reduced or no taper at all may also serve as a double benefit for some.

If your grip doesn’t feel right, you are not going to play your best.  The rate of taper of your grip could very well be a reason for that abnormal feel you never could put a finger on (no pun intended). That is the reason why some grips you have held seem to feel better than others even though they say they are the same size. But at least now you know there are options or what to look or ask for when you in the market for new grips.