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You can think of your club as an extension of yourself. The better you get a hold of it, the better you can control it. With the precise science of golf ever evolving, researchers have found that golf grips play an integral role in the transfer of energy from your hand to the club face. And depending on how you’re holding the club, you can achieve a range of different stroke outcomes to play a ball where it lies.
For any golfer in good health, the grip may be the least of their worries. But if you’ve got conditions like arthritis, then finding the best golf grips for arthritis might just take you from duffer to pro. So if you’ve been having trouble managing those achy, swollen joints when you take a hold of the club and swing, maybe it’s time you reconsider your grip of choice.
Scout the market for golf grips, and you’ll find yourself starting into an endless array of options that might make it difficult to zero in on a specific choice. True enough, there’s something for everyone out there. But not every design will be right for players with arthritis. So to make sure you’re buying a grip that won’t disappoint, you might want to consider looking into these specifics.
Players with arthritis will benefit most from oversized grips. These thicker grips allow golfers with weak grasp to still fully close their fingers around the circumference without applying too much pressure. Keep in mind though that oversized grips have been found to produce a slice more often than not. Even then however, the best way to grip a golf club with arthritis is to minimize the pressure of your grasp so you can mitigate pain and still swing without losing your hold.
There are lots of different kinds of textures you’ll find on a grip. From nibs, to stripes, and everything in between. The purpose of the texture is simple - to make sure the club doesn’t slip from your hands. Because an arthritic hand might not have the same powerful grip as any other player, it’s important that you choose something heavily textured to guarantee an even better hold.
Hard handles can be great for power hitters who like getting lots of feedback from impact. But it helps to know that a firm handle can apply unnecessary pressure on the joints and soft tissues of the hand, leading to painful calluses that might exacerbate arthritic pain. That, plus the simple fact that pressure points can trigger the pain response, it goes without saying that softer grips that are easier on the hands should be a better choice.
There are four types of grip material that you’re likely to find on the modern market. These are leather, composite, rubber, and corded.
GRIPS | BENEFITS | DOWNSIDE |
|---|---|---|
Leather | Soft to touch and long wearing Don't absorb sweat Great for playing for the long-haul | Slippery Hard to find |
Composite | Relatively soft, great for arthritic hands Combine synthetic materials | Difficult to grip Slippery |
Rubber | Soft and responsive, most popular Use pliable rubber material Long lasting and water-resistant Non-slip | Dampen feedback |
Corded | Cord material designed to improve traction Grip stay securely in your hand even under rainy, humid and sweaty conditions | Little on the hard side Can cause discomfort for some players |
For the most part, a grip will follow the shape of the shaft that it covers. But if there’s anything worth looking into in terms of shape, it might be the degree of taper. Look at common golf grips and you’ll find that they will taper as they get closer to the club head. This is the standard design, and is usually intended for everyone from casual to professional players.
On the other hand, there are non-tapered grips. These are designed for beginners and for individuals with less-than ideal grip strength. With a non-tapered grip, you get more length to hold on to, and your opposite hand won’t have to struggle maintaining its grasp on a thin tapered segment of the material.
Developed specifically for arthritic and hand fatigue sufferers, the Winn 13 Dri-Tac AVS 7DT-DG Performance Soft Oversized Golf Grip touts premium rubber construction with various textures for maximum stability. The tacky material holds your hand in place - with or without gloves - helping you assume a powerful grasp that minimizes the risk of a slice.
The oversized grips fit perfectly in the hand and minimize the need for added pressure. And to make things even more comfortable, the soft rubber material works to reduce pressure points and dampen the smash factor to protect your sensitive joints and soft tissues.
The beautiful Golf Pride MCC Plus4 New Decade MultiCompound Golf Grip isn’t just a premium arthritic golf grip, it’s also a worthy golf accessory. The gorgeous patterns on this thing double as anti-slip texture and a decorative touch, emphasizing the beauty of your clubs with its pristine, minimalist design.
But once you get past its look, this grip brings on a bounty of benefits. For starters, the design incorporates a two-in-one construction. Its top half uses corded construction for better grasp, while the bottom half uses a high-grade rubber material for better feel and crash dampening. And at 4.6% thicker than the average grip, this oversized choice can help you grab hold of your club with max confidence despite the handicap.
For the budget conscious buyer, Tacki-Mac’s Arthritis Serrated Oversized Golf Grips can be a smart cost-effective purchase. The pack of 13 grips, tape, and clamp gives you everything to DIY your own grip replacement. The large rubber grips tout a textured, serrated design that gives you better leverage to keep your grasp intact, even in wet conditions.
In terms of softness, these things can feel pillowy against the hands, minimizing pressure spots to release any pain during club handling. That said, they make an easy choice for arthritic players looking to improve their game without having to spend on expensive premium grips.
Intended for players with significantly reduced grip strength, these Extra Large Golf Grips from JumboMax tout a thickness that’s 3/8” over the average grip size. The rubber material looks sleek and smooth, but offers excellent tackiness to cling to your skin or gloves for reliable stability wherever you might find yourself.
The soft material is easy on the skin, joints, and soft tissues, promoting a pressure-point free grasp that minimizes the stress on the sensitive areas of the hand. And because they can be pretty affordable, these grips are easily accessible for all kinds of players in need of a suitable replacement.
This regripping kit includes 13 Saplize golf grips, tapes, solvent, clamps, and golf blade hooks to help you get the job done all on your own. The grips themselves use advanced engineering, displaying a two-segment construction that divides the grips into two separate zones. The top half is a corded construction for optimal stability and the bottom is a soft rubber material for increased accuracy.
Together, these two areas promote a strong, sturdy grip that should keep your hand stable and solid throughout the swing cycle. Designed for all weather conditions, the Saplize Multi Compound Golf Grips promise to retain their premium tackiness and comfort even in the worst of weather conditions.
Golf is an accurate, definite sport that combines a range of different factors to bring you to your target. You should expect that with such a precision game, even a single suboptimal aspect can impact your handicap and have you hanging with the duffers.
Fortunately however, even players with problems like arthritis can level the playing field and fine-tune their performance with a few new golf essentials here and there. For individuals with hand fatigue and poor grip strength, the best golf grips for arthritis can help you save your game and play like a pro amid the added challenge of altered hand functioning.
