Regripping Golf Clubs Without Tape | Vice | Solvent

Can you Regrip Golf Clubs Without Tape?

Yes, you can regrip your golf clubs without a tape by using an air compressor. The advantage of using an air compressor is the ease of use. This method is also less time consuming when compared to the solvent or tape method.

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Golf Club Regripping Steps:

Keep the necessary items ready and within reach before you begin the process.

Materials you will need:

A new grip
An air compressor with an air hose
A box cutter fitted with a hook blade
A small nozzle attachment
A vice to hold and position the golf club.

Fit the club firmly in position in the vice. The shaft must be fixed in the vice near the grip tip. It is ideal to make use of a protective rubber vice clamp to do this. The clubface must be in the playing position and positioned in such a way that the face and the floor are perpendicular to each other.
Cut the old grip along the length by cutting it with a hook blade. Remember to cut it away from you to avoid getting hurt. The lengthwise cut helps in retaining the old tape present, if any, as it is.
Remove the existing grip. If it’s a tape, which is often the case, you can remove it with a simple peeling action.
Spread out the grip tip by a quarter inch on the shaft butt.
Insert the tip of the nozzle of the pneumatic tool into the grip hole.
Apply air in intervals of one to two seconds bursts and make sure the pressure applied helps in sliding the grip into the shaft.

If you’re using an air compressor for the first time, keep in mind that you’ll have to be prepared for a fair deal of trial and error.

You’ll find yourself having to adjust the PSI of the air compressor to see what is the best value.

In most cases, golfers have found 45 PSI to be the optimum value. However, it is suggested that you check out if this value works for you.

Once you’ve set up your air compressor, refitting the grip often takes far lesser time than you think. A couple of quick bursts is often more than enough to do the trick.

It’s also worth noting that using an air compressor can do away with the need for a tape completely.

This is because some players have found that the air compressor method of sliding a grip onto a golf club keeps the grip tight and secure. They did not find the need to use any kind of tapes such as masking tape or double-sided tape for this purpose.

However, a few golfers still prefer to use tape on their grip. While some golfers retain the old tape, others prefer to replace the old tape with a new tape. Few golfers retain the old tape and put a new one over it. It’s all a matter of personal choice and convenience.

How to Regrip Golf Clubs Without Tape

If you’re looking for an alternative to regripping your golf clubs without tape, you can consider using hairspray for this purpose. The hairspray helps the grip to slide to the position.

It also features some adhesive properties as the drying takes place. Let me tell you how you can use a hairspray to refit a loose grip.

Pull the loose grip off completely from the golf club.
Wash the inside of the grip, as well as the bar with alcohol.
Let the bar and the grip dry thoroughly. Make sure that they are rid of wetness or moisture completely before you use the hairspray.
Apply some hairspray on the grip using a spraying mechanism.
Fit the grip back in position with a sliding movement.
Keep the golf club in a place where it will remain undisturbed overnight so that the grip settles in place. If you’re going to do the regripping during the day, remember to let the golf club stay for a minimum of 12 hours.

However, this method often works best for transparent putter grips. They are also a good choice for lightweight or stock grips. For heavier grips, using a grip adhesive is a better choice than a hairspray.

You can also try using grips from the manufacturer, PURE. They stand by their claim that their grips can be installed or refitted without using a tape.

Regripping Golf Clubs Without Double-sided Tape

If you don’t want to regrip your golf clubs with double-sided tapes, you have several other options like using a solvent or a masking tape. I’ve listed some options below for you to try and see which works best for you.

Use masking tape over the old grip and do a blowing action with an air gun. This tape essentially serves the same purpose as double-sided tapes. However, the main advantage of using this tape is that it’s easy to remove later compared to double-sided tapes or Scotch tapes.

You can also use masking tape along with a solvent for the regripping. Some good choices for solvents are WD-40, rubber cement, or a charcoal lighter fluid.

Carpet tape is a good alternative as well. You can easily get this tape from a local flooring store. Alternatively, you can go in for packaging tapes too. These are just half the price of double-sided tapes.
Try using a starter. This is just half an inch of an ordinary tape that you can use at the butt end of the grip. You must make sure that the shaft has some solvent on it to slide the grip onto it.
Consider replacing the old grips with new ones from well-known manufacturers like PURE or Lamkin. Ensure that all the shaft butts have the same diameter to ensure consistent grip size. These grips are designed to do away with the need for any kind of tape.

Installing Putter Grip Without Tape

Golfers usually prefer to use tape to install their putter grips. There are putter grip tapes that are specifically designed for this purpose.

If you don’t want to use tape on your putter grip, you can follow the same method of installing the grip on any golf club without a tape. These could be using either an air compressor or hairspray as mentioned above.

Although some golfers prefer to use tapes even when they opt for an air compressor, it is not really needed.

However, to use an air compressor, you will need a vice. This can be an option to install your putter grip if you already have a vice. On the other hand, if you don’t own one, buying one can be pricey and results in the installation process becoming quite expensive. This is where solvents come to your rescue.

More often than not, you’re likely to have a solvent at home. Even if you don’t, you can buy one easily from your local art and craft or hardware store.

You can take your pick from one of the various solvents listed below and fix your putter grip according to the method mentioned.

Solvents differ from one another in their evaporation or drying time. It is worth considering this factor when you use a solvent as it can help to determine how soon you can use your putter after installing its grip.

To get the most out of the solvent, it is recommended that you don’t use your putter before the drying time specified.

Regripping Golf clubs Without a Vice

Investing in vice can prove to be an expensive deal. This is why most golfers don’t invest in one although they can be quite useful. Here are some ways how you can regrip your golf clubs without vice and using less costly options.

Using a solvent

Solvents are undoubtedly not half as expensive as a vice. They are also readily available in the market and often found in any home.

While a vice secures the golf club in place when removing the grip, a solvent doesn’t actually perform the removal process.

Instead, it makes the grip loose without a vice. Once the grip gets loosened, it is normally very easy to remove it with your hand.

Using the Kitchen Sink

This method is apt for those who want to try out a method similar to that of using a vice, but don’t have one. Use the kitchen sink as a clamp to secure the golf club in position and work your way around to remove the grip with your hands free.

Consider holding the club facing downwards on the counter with one hand and use your other hand to slide the grip. Proceed to regrip with tape and solvent.

If you don’t want to use the kitchen counter, you can consider positioning the head of your club between your feet.

Using an Air Compressor

Insert the needle of an air compressor under the grip of the club and loosen it until it can be removed easily. You can then follow your usual choice of regripping method.

Using a Hook Blade

This blade can be fit on to any utility knife. You can slide the hook below the grip lip and cut through the grip right up to the point you want to grip. This point is essentially the grip cap. This is a safe option for yourself and can also prevent accidental damage to your club if it uses a graphite shaft.

Substitutes for Regripping Without Grip Solvents

Grip solvents come in all price ranges. They also differ in their drying time. They are often used along with some kind of tapes such as masking tape, a grip tape, or double-sided tape. If you’re opting for water, use a water-soluble tape for best results.

Some day-to-day use solvents work just as good as grip solvents and can be used as substitutes. They are also not as pricey as grip solvents.

Golf club regripping solvents that yield satisfactory results:

Water
WD-40
Mineral Spirits
Rubber Cement
Paint Thinner
Nail Polish Remover
Lighter Fluid

Water

Water works best when used along with a water-soluble tape and not double-sided tape.

Remove the old grip and fill the inside of the grip and the club’s tapered area with water so that the water acts on the tape.
Wind the tape over the shaft where you’re planning to insert the new grip.
Install the new grip as fast as you can because the tape dries quickly. You can then use the club almost immediately.

You can also make a mixture of dishwashing detergent and water in the proportion 1:3 in a spray bottle and use the solution to slip the grip in place. The drying time is slightly longer than when using water alone. This solution also eliminates the need for a water-soluble tape.

WD-40

Although this is not as economical as the other mentioned solvents, WD-40 is all-purpose cleaner/lubricant which often used with tape. It has a fast-drying action.

Mineral spirits

Mineral spirits is readily available in any hardware store. It’s recommended that DIY golfers use the solvent outdoors. However, if you must use it indoors, choose to do so in a room with good ventilation.

Wait 2-3 to hours for the golf grip to dry completely. Odorless products like NEXT Crown are ideal because it stinks less than other products I’ve tried.

If you don’t have easy access to a mineral spirit, you can opt for a solution of turpentine and kerosene. Mix kerosene and turpentine in a bowl in the ratio 7:3 and your solvent is ready to use.

Rubber cement

Rubber cement is available in art and craft stores. There is no need for a grip tape when using this solvent. Remove the old grip and close the club at its butt end using masking tape. This avoids the cement from going inside the shaft.

Apply a little solvent on top of the shaft and slide the grip in position. Remove the excess cement around the shaft and the grip before it dries up. Rubber cement takes a day to dry fully.

Paint thinner

This is quite similar to a mineral spirit but has faster drying time because it tends to evaporate quickly. It can be bought from any hardware store. Naptha and KleenOne are two good brands worth giving a try.

Although not a solvent like those in the list mentioned above, it’s worth trying a hairspray. Some golfers have found pump bottles to work better than spray cans.

Other Solvents to Try:

Gasoline, nail polish remover, Varsol, rubbing alcohol, charcoal starter fluid, or lighter fluid can also be used on golf grips in times of an emergency.

The problem with using gasoline is that it tends to stink and the odor may last for a long time. However, the advantage is that gasoline tends to evaporate faster.

Read More: Why You Should Regrip With Tape