Are you also staying off the field and away from the sport you love because of arthritis, pain, fatigue and joint problems? How can you overcome these problems? Technical advances that focus on the design and materials of golf club grips may be the answer.

Design

Most grips are larger at the end of the shaft and get smaller towards the head. While there are many variations in colour, overall diameter, stiffness and surface design, this basic shape still dominates today's market.

But why is the grip shaped the way it is? If you hold your hand as you would when grabbing a club, it is evident that your hand is smaller by the smallest finger and larger by the index finger: the opposite of the shape of a traditional grip.

Now think about it, which hand holds the smallest part of the grip? This is your dominant hand. Because your strongest hand holds the smallest part of the grip, you are forced to grip harder with that hand: another source of pain and fatigue and a problem if the hand is weakened.

Apart from comfort, hitting distance and accuracy are also influenced by grip types. The traditional tapered grip is designed to spin in your hand. To hit a straight shot, the contact timing between the clubhead and the ball must be perfect. The reverse taper grip creates a secure, relaxed grip in your hand, eliminating the club's spin in your hands. The result is immediate power and control.

Many people with arthritis believe that an oversized grip is the answer. However, a regular oversized grip does not fit the shape of your hand any better than a standard grip and may be detrimental to your swing. Some oversized grips are hefty - 100 grams or more - changing the club's balance point.

Materials

Advances in polymer technology offer manufacturers more options than ever before to produce grips that are durable and remain soft and tacky. A major drawback of rubber is that it can become slippery in wet weather conditions or under the influence of sweat. Many materials become susceptible to tearing and degradation as they create a soft and tacky feel. Materials such as thermoplastic elastomers remain tacky in all weather conditions and remain durable even with softer grades. Some elastomers can even absorb shock, which means they can cushion your hands and joints from the vibrations after contact with the ball.

Regripping

Many golfers never replace the grips that are standard equipment on their clubs. A general rule of thumb is that if you play two rounds of golf a week, you should replace your clubs twice a year, three rounds a week, three times a year, etc. Most pro stores and golf retail stores have a refurbishing service that will install the grip of your choice on all of your clubs in an afternoon or less, but you can also do it yourself.
Once you have chosen a grip, you will need five more things to do it yourself.
1. grip dissolver.
2. grip tape
3. a container to catch the unused solvent
4. a vise
5. a unique rubber shaft holder
All these can be obtained from SAPLIZE. In addition to this, there are hook knives and fixing rubber blocks that need to replace the grips.

You have to remove the old grip and the old grip tape before starting. Cut the old grip off with a sharp blade and then use a solvent to remove the old adhesive. Now you are ready to start re-gluing.
1. Put the club sleeve on your club and tighten it in a vise. If you are re-clipping the graphite shafts, be careful not to over-tighten them - they will crack. Tighten just enough to keep the shaft from moving.2. 2. Cut a piece of grip tape about 8 inches long. Place it along the shaft, leaving about half an inch at the end of the shaft. 3. 3.
3. Wrap the tape around the shaft, making full contact over the length of the tape.
4. Squeeze the tape together at the end of the shaft and push it slightly into the shaft to seal the club's end.
5. Fill the grip about ¾ of the way with solvent. Place your fingers over the hole at the end of the grip, squeeze the grip opening tightly and shake the grip so that the solvent covers the entire interior.
6. Pour the solvent and the tape to install the grip.
7. Push the grip up and over the shaft rest. Hold the front and back of the grip and use both hands to apply the same amount of pressure to push. Once you start to slide the grip over the tape, do not stop until the grip is fully on the shaft.
8. Clean the excess solvent from the grip and let it sit for an hour.
Now you are ready to play.

Abstract -

Scuffed golfer - we all suffer from the effects of age. Changes in flexibility and strength due to arthritis, carpal tunnel, injury or other joint problems can be overcome by using new grip technology that is designed to create a natural and comfortable grip on the club. Vibration absorption and a soft, tacky feel make these new grips ideal for golfers looking to reduce pain and fatigue. The extra distance and accuracy of the shot may be a windfall from the upgraded grips.