The grip on your putter is just as important as any other club in the bag.

If your grip is slippery or worn, it will impact your stability at impact and the way the ball rolls off the face. The good news is, regripping a putter is not difficult.

We will go through a step-by-step process of what it takes to regrip your putter and whether you are capable of doing this on your own.

What You’ll Need to Regrip Your Putter

To regrip your putter, it’s best to have a small setup in a garage where you have a workbench and a vice. However, if you don’t have this, you can improvise, but it’s quite a bit more difficult. Here are the materials you will need and the cost that you can expect.

• Vice or workbench to hold the putter in place while you work
• Hook the blade to pull the old grip off
• Rubber shaft protector for vice
• Grip tape
• Solvent
• The new golf grip
• Towel

The best way to purchase the equipment to regrip your putter is to buy a regripping kit. These kits are very affordable and have everything in them that you will need; in addition, you can use the kit repeatedly as you regrip more of your clubs.

Most of the time, the cost to regrip a putter will just be around $8-$12 for the grip, but the extra supplies can run you close to $20 the first time you regrip the club. Once you have the supplies in place, you can do dozens of grip changes and not pay anything extra.

How to Regrip Your Putter: Step-by-Step Instructions

Following a step-by-step process for putting a new golf grip on your putter should only take a few minutes. In addition, it will probably cost you about half the price to do this on your own. The only thing to remember here is that we are concerned with both how the new grip comes out and your safety.

(If you’re looking for a video tutorial of how to regrip your putter, you can find one at the end of the step-by-step instructions below)

Step 1: Prepare The Workspace

When you use grip solvent during this process, it can get kind of messy. I like to work on a floor in a garage where I’m not worried about what will happen to it. Putting down scrap paper or something is another good alternative; just be prepared that you may get a little messy.

Don’t wear your favorite golf shirt; wear an old t-shirt in case you get grip solvent on you.

Step 2: Choose a Grip

There are hundreds of different grip options for golfers to choose from. You may want to replace a grip with exactly what you have on or change things up. Believe it or not, the grip you choose will impact the way you putt.

Most golfers like something with a flat panel on the front, as it allows hands to be positioned in a variety of ways. Remember that a traditional putting grip is slightly different from a standard golf grip.

Step 3: Remove The Old Grip

Taking the old grip off of your club is the most dangerous part of this process. A hook blade or box cutter is the best tool to use. Make sure that the golf club is securely positioned in the vice and that there is no club movement.

In addition, always be sure that you are at a safe distance from the hook blade as you pull it up. There is no way to save this grip, so if it is coming off in pieces, that is fine, but it’s best to pull the blade fully up and then peel the grip off.

Step 4: Clean Up The Shaft

The inside of the grip, combined with tape from the previous grip, will likely leave your golf shaft a bit of a mess. Sometimes you can scrape this off with a utility knife, but be careful not to damage the shaft. Other times a heat gun and some mineral spirits can be used to remove old tape remnants.

Step 5: Add Tape

Once the grip is cleaned up, you can start to add the layers of tape that you want under your grip. You must use double-sided tape, and I like to put the tape on in a spiral direction, moving up the shaft.

Be careful as to where you start the tape, as you don’t want excess overhang of the tape down below the base of the grip. The more layers of tape you add, the thicker the grip will be. However, you won’t want to add so many layers that it’s hard to get a grip on the club.

Typically between one and three layers is standard; you will need at least one for the grip to adhere properly. When you feel you have a sufficient amount of tape, you can then peel off the backing of the double-sided so that it is exposed.

Step 6: Prepare The Grip

Next, you will take the new grip that you are going to put on the club and putt the grip solvent into the inside of the grip. There is a hole on the butt end of the grip that you will need to hold closed with your finger.

Once you have your finger in place, put some grip solvent in the grip and then put your other hand on the other side. Move the grip around in a spiral motion so that the solvent coats the inside of the grip.

Once you have done this, take the solvent that is left over in the grip and pour it on the tape that you have prepared on the shaft. Holding a small cup or bucket under the shaft while you do this will contain a good portion of the mess.

Step 7: Slide The Grip On

Now that your grip is prepared and the shaft is prepared, you can slide it on. I like to hold the butt end of the club with a towel as I slide the grip on. This allows excess solvent to go into the towel instead of all over me!

As I slide the grip on, I always try to position myself behind the grip so I can ensure that it is going on squarely. It’s possible to adjust the grip a bit when you first put it on, but it’s not easy to do.

Sliding the grip into place at the right angles is important and will help ensure your consistency on the golf course with a square putter grip. The bottom line here is that the grip should allow the face of the putter to be square to the target at setup.

Step 8: Clean Up and Wait

Once you have the new grip on, it’s time to wipe down the grip to take off any excess solvent. In addition, you will want to wait a little bit before using the grip. If you use it too soon, it can turn a bit, and that’s a problem.

Most of the time, for a set of iron or driver regrips, we say to wait at least 12 hours, but for a putter grip, since you won’t swing a putter with the same force, an hour or so after regripping, you should be ready to use the putter on the course.

How Often to Regrip Your Putter

For avid golfers, a putter regrip should be done at least once a year, and sometimes even more often. Putter grips do not wear down quite as quickly as the other clubs in your bag simply because they are not held as tight when you swing.

However, when your putter grip is slippery and doesn’t allow you that traction and tackiness that you need in your game, it can result in some missed putts.

Regripping a putter should also be done when you want to change the grip style. Many people are switching to an oversized golf grip to ensure their hands and wrists are a little less active in the putting stroke.

Alternative Options if You Don’t Want to Regrip Your Own Putter

If you don’t want to regrip your own putter, you can bring it to a local golf shop or club fitting center, and they will do it for you. It’s important to remember that this will likely cost a bit more, but it can save you the project of having to deal with regripping the putter yourself.

Most of the time, a putter regrip like this is going to cost anywhere from $10 to $40, depending on the grip you choose. Sometimes larger putter grips are expensive.

Brittany Olizarowicz

Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children.

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I recently went down a rabbit hole reading questions that golfers asked about the lead time for a new grip to dry. Naturally, this is the internet, and opinions and experiences vary greatly.

So in this post, I squash the doubt and explain how long you should wait after regripping golf clubs?

In addition, I’ve provided tips to help you determine when your grips are dry and ways to accelerate the process.

How Long Before New Golf Grips Can Be Used?

It takes 2 to 24-hours on average for new golf grips to dry when using a solvent or water-based products. However, as a rule of thumb, the longer you wait, the better.

I personally have never used new grips within 24-hours of installing them. Lamkin suggests that the amount of time it takes their products to dehydrate is approximately 3-hours.

I have heard of people regripping golf clubs a couple hours before they’re heading to the golf course. That is a risky move because you require ideal temperatures and quality solvent.

Using inadequate solvent or tape can increase the drying time. Plus, applying incorrect quantities may impede the schedule.

The reality is that the time it takes depends on your approach to installing the grips. For example, using an air compressor to put your grips on results in no waiting. Therefore, you can start swinging immediately.

However, adding solvent to the grip requires an average of 3-hours before you can start playing. Conversely, using water-based products such as soapy water could take as long as 24-hours to completely dry.

Make sure that you cover the top of your shaft with tape so that no liquid enters. I have seen grips not dry at all because liquid entered the shaft. The condensation reduced the effectiveness of the tape’s glue.

The bottom line is that an air compressor removes the need for drying. Solvent dries moderately fast, while water solutions prompt a slow process.

What Can Happen If You Use Your New Golf Clubs Too Soon After Regripping

Loose Grips

In 2007 I played in the World School Golf Challenge in Christchurch, New Zealand. Before the 2nd round, a fellow competitor from Australia broke my 3-wood as he violently removed his set of clubs from the cargo trailer. Long story short, I had no 3-wood, and since my driver was erratic, I needed it.

Anyway, the Pro said he would do what he could to have a new steel shaft and grip on by the time I reached the halfway house. The day was not going my way, and it got even worse. The grip was not completely set, I took a swing, and it felt like the club would go further than any ball I had hit that day.

Needless to say, I left it in the clubhouse and used my 3-iron off every tee in 40-knot crosswinds. That was the least fun I have ever had on a golf course.

Uneven Texture

Using your golf clubs before new grips have set can lead to an uneven texture. You may find more indentation in high contact areas, which could be uncomfortable, and reduce traction over time.

Limited Control

As a result of loose, wet grips, you lose all control of your clubs. You do not possess the traction between the grip and shaft needed to optimize your swing speed and ball striking.

The club may move around during your swing, causing it to close through impact. Therefore you experience numerous hooks and a long day out on the golf course.

Re-Grip

Playing with new grips before they are dry can impede the process and cause you to start from scratch. If you have an air compressor you can blow the grips off to re-use them. However, I suggest handing the job to the professionals if you do not have this equipment.

Without an air compressor, you will need a hook blade or utility knife to cut the grips off. Then purchase a new set. Next, get out the rubbing alcohol and remove the old grip tape.

Now, add the new tape for optimal glue. Finally, add an alternative or traditional grip solvent to prepare the shaft for the rubber.

I understand the thrill of doing it yourself, but incorrectly installing or curing grips is a costly endeavor. If you are confident that you can pull it off, go ahead. However, if you are unsure where you went wrong the first time, save yourself the time and money and hire an expert.

How to Tell When Your Clubs Are Ready To Be Used After Regripping

No Twisting

It does not take a rocket scientist to determine when grips are dry. The first step is to see if your grips twist. The first trick to tell if your clubs are ready to be used is to try to twist them.

If they are stable and do not move an inch, they have set and are ready for the links. Conversely, should they twist around aggressively, they may still be wet. In that case, give them extra time to dry.

Firm Feel

Next, run your palm up the back of the grip and ensure that it is firmly connected to the top end of the shaft.

There should be no soft points on the grip. In other words, you should not be able to press the grip in and feel a gap between the rubber and the grip tape.

Can You Dry Your New Golf Grips Faster?

How quickly your grips dry boils down to the method you use to install them. Did you use traditional grip solvents, soap detergents, or compressed air to install the grip? Let us look at which methods produce the fastest drying times.

Air Compressor

Employing compressed air to install your grip completely eradicates drying time. This is the most effective method if you have zero time to wait for grips to set. Naturally, not everyone has an air compressor lying around the house. However, if you do, then take advantage of it.

Golf Magazine suggests sourcing a uniquely constructed pressure tip from a golf equipment supplier to attach to your compressor. Place the other end of the tip into the butt end of the grip. That will inflate the rubber and allow you to slip it over the top of the new tape.

Upon extracting the pressure tip from the butt end of the grip, the rubber deflates, causing it to cling tightly to the tape. After this, the grip is ready for the course.

Solvent Based Approach

Applying solvent to the grip tape is not as rapid as an air compressor, but it is still good to go after 2 to 3-hours. Golfers use Mineral spirits, paint thinner, and lighter fluid.

I have never tried lighter fluid personally, but a bunch of members at my local have, and they praise its performance. Some report being able to swing the clubs as quickly as 30-minutes to 1-hour.

In a demonstration by Lamkin grips, they suggest using mineral spirits, which they find dries within 3-hours.

2 to 3-hours sounds like a lifetime compared to the instant gratification of the air compressor method. But, it is far quicker than the 24-hour average you need to wait when applying water-based solutions, such as dishwashing soap.

Related: Before you think about installing new rubber, I recommend reading our guide on the 7 best golf grips for sweaty hands. These options dry quickly and are built to withstand warm and rainy conditions.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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