Grip sizes

sbboudreau · September 18, 2017

I just picked up some Walter Hagen 56R Lamkin Perma-Wrap grips. Are these undersized grips? Normally I see a 58M or 60M and so on. I've never seen a 56R. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone!

I need to add this after doing some research.

L in front of any number denotes Ladies Grips. But I cannot find anything about an R after the number. I meant to add pictures.

I have some of these I'm willing to let go of if anyone is interested PM me.

Ol_Pardner · September 19, 2017

It was my understanding that the number just inside the bottom end of the grip denoted the maximum outside diameter of the the shaft at the butt. Hence 58 = .580 and 60 = .600. Anything else is above my pay grade.

sbboudreau · September 19, 2017

It was my understanding that the number just inside the bottom end of the grip denoted the maximum outside diameter of the the shaft at the butt. Hence 58 = .580 and 60 = .600. Anything else is above my pay grade.

LOL, thank you

birly-shirly · September 19, 2017

Ol Pard is right. 56 grips are designed to give a "standard" size grip when fitted with 1 wrap of tape to a 0.56 diameter shaft.

Fitted to the more common 0.58 or 0.60 butt, those grips will come up a bit oversized.

R means round, and not ribbed.

But standard size, in terms of the OD of the grip, is a moveable feast anyway. I think different grip manufacturers work to different dimensions, and plenty club manufacturers now fit 58 grips on 0.60 shafts as standard.

BIG STU · September 19, 2017

Ol Pard is right. 56 grips are designed to give a "standard" size grip when fitted with 1 wrap of tape to a 0.56 diameter shaft.
Fitted to the more common 0.58 or 0.60 butt, those grips will come up a bit oversized.
R means round, and not ribbed.

But standard size, in terms of the OD of the grip, is a moveable feast anyway. I think different grip manufacturers work to different dimensions, and plenty club manufacturers now fit 58 grips on 0.60 shafts as standard.

Now this is just me and it works for me. A .58 grip on a .60 shaft with one layer of tape gives me excellent feel. I do know Golf Pride now marks their grips on the butt cap as midsize or jumbo. A standard is not marked. I recommend that anyone concerned about the finished size of the grip should get a Golf Works grip gauge they are inexpensive. For me on my stuff I just go by feel. As far as the maybe tight install on a .58 versus a .60 butt diameter I have no issues since I use compressed air and blow my grips on

scomac2002 · September 19, 2017

Ol Pard is right. 56 grips are designed to give a "standard" size grip when fitted with 1 wrap of tape to a 0.56 diameter shaft.
Fitted to the more common 0.58 or 0.60 butt, those grips will come up a bit oversized.
R means round, and not ribbed.

But standard size, in terms of the OD of the grip, is a moveable feast anyway. I think different grip manufacturers work to different dimensions, and plenty club manufacturers now fit 58 grips on 0.60 shafts as standard.

This is an interesting question and one of a bit of discovery for me this season. I have played a variety of clubs this year equipped with a variety of grips on a variety of shaft butt diameters. I've always gotten along well with Golf Pride Tour Velvet midsize with a single wrap. I've also had similar results with Lamkin Perma Wrap midsize (originals) with a single wrap. Some of the newer and more expensive grip styles have been less satisfactory because the profiles are different -- less taper, more taper, etc. This is further exacerbated by differences in shaft butt diameters particularly when dealing with Aldila shafts that have notoriously thick butt diameters up to .625" on some of the shafts that I've played. I find it's tough to get a consistent release in those situations without choking down on the club.

It has finally occurred to me that my putting woes may well be related to differences in grips and the impact on release which wasn't apparent until you get yourself in a practice mode where you are repeatedly stroking the same putt over and over and start to notice the consistency of miss. I find it interesting that all the effort that has been put into putter grip design seems to be directed towards taking the hands out of the stroke when they are essential in releasing the club. Lately, I've found that anything that is remotely oversized and/or incorporates a fair bit of taper is leading to a left-to-right drift with my putts the longer they are. That has led to a horror story worth of compensations that just don't work. Over the years, I've tried all the various new-fangled oversized putter grips with varying degrees of fleeting success and now I find myself back to the beginning with a bog standard Winn pistol grip as it's not too big and doesn't have much taper. With the right combination of head and shaft that is resulting in the most consistent release and roll. Now all I have to work on is alignment, aim and pace control! :rolleyes:

It maybe a small victory, but if you can eliminate a variable through the choice of grip such that you get the most consistent release that has to be a plus. It may not seem like much, but when things happen at speed over distance small differences can have an unexpectedly large impact.

sbboudreau · September 20, 2017

I found this today, nice chart. Thank you all for the help!

NRJyzr · September 20, 2017

This is a repeat, for which I apologise....

56R grips are frequently, or usually, ladies grips. For years, ladies shafts had a .56" shaft butt diameter.

The ladies grips would likely be smaller in exterior diameter than a standard .58 or .60 grip. If you can, check them before doing anything with them.

sbboudreau · September 20, 2017

This is a repeat, for which I apologise....

56R grips are frequently, or usually, ladies grips. For years, ladies shafts had a .56" shaft butt diameter.

The ladies grips would likely be smaller in exterior diameter than a standard .58 or .60 grip. If you can, check them before doing anything with them.

I did and also found similar information. As stated above I also found most ladies Grips have an L in front of the number, these do not. I'm pretty sure I will add masking tape to the shaft to get my end result of at the very least a standard OD men's grip or 1/32" larger than standard. They are new and extremely flexible as seen in the picture showing the R55. Can you elaborate why you think I shouldn't do anything with them? I'm really curious to hear your opinion and thoughts. Thank you a bunch for responding to my post ;-)

NRJyzr · September 20, 2017

This is a repeat, for which I apologise....

56R grips are frequently, or usually, ladies grips. For years, ladies shafts had a .56" shaft butt diameter.

The ladies grips would likely be smaller in exterior diameter than a standard .58 or .60 grip. If you can, check them before doing anything with them.
I did and also found similar information. As stated above I also found most ladies Grips have an L in front of the number, these do not. I'm pretty sure I will add masking tape to the shaft to get my end result of at the very least a standard OD men's grip or 1/32" larger than standard. They are new and extremely flexible as seen in the picture showing the R55. Can you elaborate why you think I shouldn't do anything with them? I'm really curious to hear your opinion and thoughts. Thank you a bunch for responding to my post ;-)

It's not that I don't think you shouldn't use them, I just think you should check the outer grip diameter to make sure they're essentially the same as "normal" 58R and 60R grips. :)

Unless you're looking to use them in an undersized grip application, should they be "ladies' grips."

Aside from that, full steam ahead.

raggal62 · September 20, 2017

Golf Pride uses the "M" & "L" lettering to designate men's or ladies grips. I'm not aware of Lamkin or any other grip manufacturer using letters other than "R" (round).

birly-shirly · September 21, 2017

I'm not sure the OD of the grip will tell you anything, until it's installed on a shaft.

I fit my grips using a bicycle pump, a plastic adapter like the red one shown in the link below, and ordinary masking tape. No adhesive, solvent or double sided tape. BEtter equipped workshops will have an air compressor and possibly some sort of fit-for-purpose nozzle/gun - but the grip doesn't know the difference once it's on...

If you blow one grip on, you'll know for sure what size you're getting and hopefully be able to adjust from there.

(https://www.cyclomonster.com/weldtite-adaptor-set?utm_source=google_shopping&gclid=CjwKCAjwxo3OBRBpEiwAS7X62SwedTp03xnQNxfn0vd-YaAE4R0I2F2qzhWmY_Dr09d2UV2xc1Qk0xoCXuYQAvD_BwE )