Most golfers think a midsize grip is going to straighten out their hook. It won’t, not by itself. Here’s exactly how to tell which size fits your hands, how to check it once the grip is on the club, and what to do when you land somewhere in between.
What’s the Difference Between Standard and Midsize Golf Grips?
A midsize grip is just a fatter version of a standard grip. Same job, more grip to wrap your hands around.
A lot of grips come in both. Golf Pride’s Tour Velvet, for example, comes in standard and midsize. If you want a closer look at a midsize model, here’s the Golf Pride MCC midsize grip review.
And standard and midsize aren’t the only two options. There’s undersize on the small end and jumbo on the big end. So if your hands are really small or really big, neither one in the title of this article is your answer, and that’s fine.
How Do You Know If You Need Standard or Midsize Grips?
Measure your hand. Take your top hand, the one that goes on the club first, and measure from the crease in your wrist to the tip of your middle finger.
I go by Golf Pride’s chart. Standard is for a hand that measures 6.6 to 7.5 inches. Midsize is 7.6 to 9 inches. Under 6.6 inches, you’re looking at undersize, which runs 5 to 6.5. Over 9 inches is jumbo.
Here’s why that matters. A lot of advice out there says anything under 7.5 is standard and you only go midsize once you’re over 8 inches. That leaves anybody between those two numbers with no answer, and on the chart, that golfer is a midsize.
Now, the chart is a starting point. It’s not a guarantee you’re going to hit it better. Which is why you do the next check.
How Should a Golf Grip Fit in Your Hand?
Hold the club in your top hand the way you normally would, and look at where your fingertips land. They should just barely touch the heel pad of your hand, the fleshy part under your pinky side.
If your fingers wrap around and dig into that pad, the grip is too small. Go bigger.
If your fingers don’t reach the pad at all, the grip is too big. Go smaller.
A lot of advice out there gets this backwards, and some of it tells you to look for a pencil-sized gap. Forget the pencil. Light contact is what you want.
That check is about the size of the grip, not where your hands sit on it. Those are two different problems. If you’re not sure your hands are on the club correctly in the first place, start with how to grip the golf club, because a bad hold will make any size feel wrong.
Will a Midsize Grip Fix Your Hook?
Not by itself. You’ll hear that midsize grips quiet your hands and turn a draw into a fade, and that standard grips do the opposite. I wouldn’t count on either one.
Here’s the thing. A bigger grip doesn’t come with a guaranteed fix for a hook. A grip that fits just makes it easier to hold the club the same way every swing without strangling it. That’s the real benefit, and it’s a good one.
So if you’re fighting a hook, get the fit right first. If the grip fits and you’re still hooking it, don’t expect a fatter grip alone to straighten it out. Look at the rest of your setup and swing before you spend money on new grips.
There’s one more reason some golfers move up a size. If your hands or joints get sore, Golf Pride suggests a bigger grip could be worth a look, as long as you can still hold it with confidence. It also points those golfers to softer grips, so size isn’t the only lever there.
What If You’re Between Standard and Midsize?
Add tape. Extra wraps of build-up tape under the grip make it bigger, and for an in-between feel, Golf Pride suggests two to four extra wraps.
Just know that extra tape can also make the grip feel firmer. So it’s not the exact same grip, only fatter.
You can build up the whole grip, or just the bottom part where your lower hand goes. That second one changes the taper, and it’s the whole idea behind the Tour Velvet Plus4. Its lower hand is built to feel like four extra wraps of tape, so the grip tapers less. It’s not the same thickness top to bottom. It just narrows less than a normal grip. And because it comes in standard and midsize, you can pick your size and still get the fuller lower hand. If you want to see what a Tour Velvet looks like, I showed Golf Pride’s Masters-themed version in my Masters gear roundup. That one’s about the look, not the size, but it’s the same grip family.
Here’s one people miss. The size on the label isn’t the whole story. A grip’s core size and your shaft size both change how fat it feels. Put a standard grip with a .58 core on a .600 shaft and it feels thicker than a standard grip with a .60 core on that same shaft. Same label, different grip in your hands.
Should You Switch Your Whole Set to Midsize at Once?
No. Regrip one club first and hit it for a while. Golf Pride says the same thing about build-up tape: try it before you convert the whole set.
And make it a fair test. If you put a fresh midsize grip next to a worn-out standard one, of course the new one feels better. A slick, hard or cracked grip is due no matter what size it is, and Golf Pride’s advice is to regrip at least once a year, more often the more you play and practice.
Weight changes too, but how much depends on the grip. Golf Pride lists the Tour Velvet with a 60 Round core at 49.5 grams in standard and 53.0 grams in midsize. The Tour Velvet Plus4 jumps from 52.0 grams to 65.5 grams. So don’t trust anybody who gives you one number for every grip. If the balance of the club matters to you, have the finished club checked.
You can do the regrip yourself. Golf Pride’s own instructions use a hook blade, grip tape, solvent and something to hold the club steady, and it wants the grip to dry at least four hours before you play. If you’d rather not mess with it, a shop can do it. For the bigger picture on every size, here’s the full guide to what golf grip size you should use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is midsize bigger than standard?
Yes. A midsize grip is bigger around than a standard grip. It’s the next size up, with jumbo above it and undersize below standard.
How do I tell what size golf grips I need?
Measure your top hand from the wrist crease to the tip of your middle finger, then check the grip on the club. Your fingertips should barely touch the heel pad. If they dig in, go bigger. If they don’t reach, go smaller.
What are the benefits of thicker golf grips?
The main one is fit. If you’ve got bigger hands, a thicker grip lets you hold the club without your fingers digging in. Golf Pride also suggests a bigger grip for golfers with sore hands or joints. It won’t change your ball flight on its own.
Can you mix standard and midsize grips in one set?
Yes. Nothing stops you, and if you like a different feel in certain clubs, that’s your call. Just change one club first, and remember the weight can change from one grip to another.
How often should you replace golf grips?
At least once a year if you play regularly, and more often if you play or practice a lot. If your grips feel slick, hard or are starting to crack, replace them no matter how old they are.
Conclusion
If your current grips fit your hands and you like how they feel, skip it. There’s no reason to switch just because a bigger size exists.
If your fingers dig into your palm, your hand measures in the midsize range, or your hands get sore by the back nine, try a midsize grip on one club. If you’re stuck in between, add a couple of wraps of tape before you buy anything. And if your grips are worn out, replace them first, then decide on size with a fresh grip in your hands.
About the author
Paul Liberatore
Paul Liberatore is the founder of Golfers Authority and a former three-year golf gear contributor to Sports Illustrated. He tests golf equipment hands-on to help golfers make better buying decisions.