Okay, so I’ve been meaning to regrip my clubs for, like, ever. I finally decided to bite the bullet and do it, and I figured I’d try out these Champkey grips I’d been hearing about. I’m not a pro or anything, just your average weekend golfer who likes to tinker with his gear.
Getting Started
First, I grabbed a set of Champkey grips online – the multi-compound ones, because I sweat like a beast, especially in the summer. I also made sure I had all the other stuff: grip tape, solvent, a hook blade (seriously, be careful with that thing!), a vise, and a rubber vise clamp to hold the clubs steady. I watched a few videos online Just in case.
The Dirty Work
Getting the old grips off was the worst part. My old grips were, uh, pretty worn down, My hands are kinda big, so that extra thickness felt good. I used the hook blade, carefully slicing down the length of the grip. Pro tip: point that blade AWAY from you. Seriously. Once I got a good cut, I could usually just peel the old grip off like a banana. Some were more stubborn than others, and I had to use a little extra muscle (and maybe a few choice words).
Next up was cleaning off all the old tape and gunk. This is where the solvent comes in. I doused a rag with the solvent and scrubbed the shaft until it was squeaky clean. You gotta get all that old residue off, or the new grip won’t stick properly. It took some elbow grease, but it’s worth it in the end.
Putting on the New Grips
Applying the new grip tape was pretty straightforward. I wrapped it around the shaft, making sure to leave a little bit hanging over the end (you’ll fold that over into the butt end of the shaft later). Then, I peeled off the backing of the tape, exposing the sticky goodness.
Now for the fun part – actually putting on the new Champkey grips. I poured a generous amount of solvent inside the new grip, swishing it around to make sure the entire inside was coated. Then, I poured some solvent over the grip tape on the shaft. This is what allows you to slide the grip on.
Working quickly (the solvent evaporates fast!), I lined up the grip with the club shaft and pushed it on. It took some force, and I had to make sure it was aligned correctly. The Champkey grips have these alignment marks, which helped a lot. Once I got it all the way on, I folded that extra bit of tape over into the butt end of the shaft and pushed the grip cap in.
The Final Touches
After getting all the grips on, I let them dry overnight. I just stood them up in a corner, grip-side up. You don’t want any pressure on the grips while the solvent is completely evaporating.
The Verdict
The next day, I took my newly-gripped clubs out to the range. The Champkey grips felt great! They had a nice, tacky feel, even with my sweaty hands. The multi-compound material seemed to really help with grip, even when I wasn’t wearing a glove. I felt like I had more control over the club, and my shots felt more consistent. I’m sold. I’ll definitely be using these again when it’s time to regrip. It’s a bit of work, but it’s way cheaper than taking them to a pro shop, and honestly, it’s kind of satisfying to do it yourself.
