At the start of the cooler weather it is generally a good idea test to the condition of your grips.

The grips can seem to change overnight, but most grips are only at their best for about a period of a year for most people.

If you have had them sitting in the back of the car in the heat & the cold, they may become worn out earlier. They become shiny and slippery & as you hang on a little tighter, chances are you are not able to swing as freely nor have total trust in your swing as you would with fresh quality grips.

On the PGA & LPGA Tours the caddies rub down the grips with a clean towel & water, everyday. The player wants similar feel from the first day of using the new grips to last forever. Of course they wear out their grips a lot sooner than the average club member, but as soon as the grip loses it tackiness and feel, they replace them immediately with the same brand grip and size.

Here are a few tips to help you obtain more life out of your grips:

Wash them fortnightly firstly with warm soapy water ( use a  scrubbing brush) then rinse off with just water, wipe down strongly with a clean towel.

Try not to leave your clubs in the back of the car.

If the grips are in a poor state ( very shiny & slippery ) I recommend trying using sand paper initially to see if there is a chance of finding some reasonable quality underneath the shiny perished top layer.

In most occasions these grips will not be able to be brought back to reasonable quality.
In my earlier years of playing, we all had leather grips and the upkeep on them was a large amount of time. Washing the grips weekly and oiling them to keep them in good order. After a wet day on the course, having to clean, dry and oil was always a job to do when we arrived home from the course, times have changed, thank goodness.

The grip is a small part of a golf club but it is very important that you are able to have quality feel by having quality grips on your clubs.

Happy golfing!

Ian Triggs