How Long Do Golf Grips Take To Dry?
John Miller
A firm grip on the club is essential both for the quality of your swing and the safety of everyone around you.
Nevertheless, after a while, the grip on a golf club will begin to lose its tack and the club will be more difficult to hold securely.
This happens as dirt, skin oils, and similar substances build up on the grip and this buildup is even faster accumulated when playing in very hot or wet conditions.
Over time, the club grip will lose its performance and wear down to the point that no amount of cleaning can fix it.
When this happens, you’ll need to regrip your clubs.
While this is a fairly simple procedure, you still have to wait sometime before you can use regripped clubs again.
Getting this timing right is important if you want regripping done properly.
So, how long do golf grips take to dry?
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How Long Do Golf Grips Take To Dry?
The time it takes golf grips to dry will depend on the regripping method you’ve used, or more precisely, the type of adhesive or solvent.
On average, it should take 8-12 hours for the regripped club to be ready for use, but, it can vary greatly.
If you’re using a solvent product to act as a glue between the grip and the shaft, the regripped club may be ready as quickly as in 3 hours.
On the other hand, if you go with more environment-friendly products and a water-based approach, you may have to wait as long as 24 hours.
Using inadequate products, or applying incorrect quantities can make the drying process last even longer.
If you have the time, it’s always a good idea to wait at least a day, no matter what type of adhesive you use, to ensure that the grip is dry and ready for use.
How to Tell that the Grip is Dry?
Rather than relying on the drying time prescribed by the manufacturer, you should always make sure that it’s dry yourself and perform a simple check.
It’s not too hard to figure out if the grip is properly dried.
The first thing you can do is to try to twist the grip around the club. If the grip is stable and doesn’t move around the shaft, it’s very likely ready for use on the links.
If it does twist around, then it means that it needs more time to dry.
Also, you can just feel the grip with the palm of your hand to make sure there are no soft points or gaps between the rubber and the grip tape.
How to Dry Golf Grips Faster?
It’s always the best to leave the golf grips to dry naturally, preferably in a dry and warm space.
However, if you’re too impatient to wait as the grip dries up or you need your golf club urgently, there are a couple of DIY methods that can speed up the drying process.
Using a Hair Dryer
Using a hair dryer is probably the simplest and most accessible way to dry your golf grips more quickly.
However, pay attention not to overdo it as it may damage the grip tape.
Make sure to keep the hair dryer on low to medium setting and keep it at least five or six inches away from the grip.
Also, don’t expose the grip to the airflow from the dryer for more than 30- 60 seconds.
Using a Heat Gun
This is probably the most effective way to dry the grip and it’s by far the fastest. However, it’s also the riskiest as it can easily ring the grip if you’re not careful.
Always use the heat gun according to the manufacturer’s instructions and keep it moving so it doesn’t overheat only one area of the grip.
Using a Towel
In a pinch, you can just use a plain towel to speed up the grip-drying process.
A clean and dry towel will pick up some of the excess moisture from the surface of the grip.
Wipe the grips first and then wrap them in a towel and gently squeeze to remove as much water as you can.
This is not the most efficient way to dry the golf grips, but it can be of some help.
Why You Should Wait for the Golf Grip to Dry?
Sometimes, golfers can be too eager to put their regripped clubs to use and don’t wait for the new grips to dry fully.
This is certainly not recommended for several reasons.
Below are the most common issues that can occur if you use the club with the new grip too soon.
Loose Grip
If you use the regripped golf club before it’s allowed sufficient time to dry, the grip may not get properly attached to the shaft and can slide on the club.
For a club grip to properly serve its purpose, it has to be properly positioned on the shaft.
A small ride on the back of the grip or a logo imprinted on it serve this exact purpose as they point that the grip is lined up perfectly.
When the grip is not given enough time to dry, the solvent won’t properly adhere, causing this line gets messed up and the grip to move around or up and down the club.
Less Control Over the Club
A loose or wet grip means that you will have more trouble controlling the golf club.
With no traction between the grip and shaft, it will be much more challenging to pull out the swing as intended.
Even if the tackiness of the grip is sufficient and there’s a proper grip between the hand and the grip, the fact that it is not secure and stable on the club will impact the optimal swing precision and speed.
This commonly leads to numerous hooks and a tough day on the golf course.
Uneven Texture
When the adhesive connecting the grip to the club shaft is not fully dry before use, the result may be an uneven grip texture.
The bubbles of air and chunks of glue that can form beneath the grip can create more intention in high-contact areas.
This will reduce the traction over time and make the club more uncomfortable, negatively impacting your game.
You May Need to Regrip the Club
Failing to let the grip dry out properly will not only result in less control over the swing but can ruin the entire process and you’ll have to start from scratch and regrip your club once more.
This can be rather annoying, tiring, and time-consuming, as you have to peel the newly installed grip of the golf club with a knife or hook blade, clean the club, apply the grip, and wait for it to dry all over again.
Sometimes you may be able to clean and use the same grip tape again, but more often, you’ll need a new one.
At this point, it may be best to leave regripping to a pro.
Conclusion
Control over the golf club is key to hitting accurate shots on the golf course. However, properly controlling your club is not possible without a proper and dry grip.
That’s why it’s important to always have the grip in perfect condition so it can provide the needed traction that improves your performance and keeps everyone around you safe.
This is not possible if the grip is not fully dried, especially when regripping the club to replace the old, worn-out grips.
Still, many golfers hate waiting for the grips to dry and often rush to use their golf clubs before the drying process is complete.
Doing this will do more damage than good, so you should always try to leave at least a day for golf grips to dry, even if some methods can make this process quicker.
