Standard vs Midsize vs Oversize Golf Grip

When looking at golf grips, there’s one thing you need to take into consideration, and that’s whether you need a standard grip, midsize grip, or an oversize grip.

But then, to know which one to get, you need to be aware of what each one offers.

So, how much do you currently know about these different sizes of golf grips? Well, if you don’t know much, then that’s going to change in the next few minutes.

You see, some people fall into the trap of thinking that they just need to have a grip that provides some stability to their hands. While that is important, it’s the actual size that will make the real difference.

So if you would like to cut some shots off your round by making a few simple changes, then this is going to prove to be somewhat useful.

You are Dealing with Different Sizes

The first thing to know is you are actually dealing with different sizes of grips. This makes sense as we not everyone has the same size of hands, and that would lead to some pretty strange ways of holding the club.

The problem with holding the club is that having the wrong size will lead to it badly affecting your shot. Too big, and the club can be too loose in your hands leading to twisting and turning. Too small, and your grip is cramped leading to tensing and an increase in the potential for mishits.

The Importance of the Right Size of Grip

Having the incorrect size of grip on your clubs is known to cause a ripple effect when it comes to the number of shots you will play in a round. In general, it’s accepted that it will cost you around 3 to 4 shots on a single round. 

However, that’s only an average. Some players may suffer even more than that, and when you are struggling to get your scores down, knowing that the grip is causing so many problems should spur you into changing the size to whatever it is that you need.

Choosing the Grip - Your Hand Measurements

So which one do you choose? Well, it all comes down to the size of your hands, and the key measurements are as follows.

Standard - 7” to 8 ¾”

Midsize - 8 ¼” - 9 ¼”

Oversize - > 9 ¼”

So, it’s quite simple really. Know the size of your hand measurement, and then select the appropriate grip size.

However, in order to get this measurement, then you need to take your middle finger, since it’s the longest, and measure from the tip to the end of the palm of your hand. That will then translate into the appropriate grip.

Your Swing and Your Grip

But if you are still of the opinion that grip won’t do much to your game, then let’s see how it will be capable of affecting your swing.

Most amateur players work on an outside to inside shot. However, if that is going wrong for you, then changing to a smaller grip could help to correct any issues. 

That’s because the smaller grip, in this instance, will push the concept of a hook shot rather than the slice that you will tend to be producing. This changes due to the way in which you are holding the grip thanks to it being smaller in size.

But then the opposite also works.

So if your shot is naturally a hook shot, then go for a larger grip size in order to try to straighten out that shot by quite a distance. Once again, the shot changes due to the movement in the hands with them having more space and how the club then reacts.

Dealing with a Grip That is Too Small

But aside from measuring, there’s another way to know if the grip you are using is actually too small, and the key is your fingers.

What you need to do is to pay attention to your two middle fingers and where they are located. If they are digging into your palm or the heel of your hand, then it means the grip is too small. 

When the grip is too small, it leads to the muscles in your fingers and hands working harder than they should be. This will often result in you releasing the clubsface faster than intended, and that’s going to hamper your shot.

This increase in activity in your hands also leads to your shots becoming wilder, under less control, and that has a huge knock-on effect with the rest of your game. 

With a golf grip that is too small, it means your grip is too tight and strong. If you then see how it affects the swing action, then the clubface is going to be in more of a closed position when it’s striking the ball. It’s that closed action that results in the hook being created.

However, when dealing with your short irons, there will be a tendency to hit the ball fat since your swing is shorter than it will be off the tee. 

When you hit the ball fat, it basically means you are hitting the ground first, and then the ball. That’s when you get dirt flying up when you actually want a clean impact. The knock-on effect here is that you lose power at the point of impact, and that leads to shorter distances.

Basically, all of this can screw up your shot and make the game a whole lot harder than it needs to be.

Dealing with a Grip That is Too Big

But what happens when the grip is too big? Well, it all comes down to your middle two fingers again and how they are reacting on the grip.

If the grip is too big, then there will be a visible space between your two middle fingers and the palm of your hand. Having that space is just as bad as having your fingers crammed up against your palm, but it does lead to the club acting in a different manner.

For most people, a grip that is too big is going to change their wrist angle as they move through the downswing. As a result, you are then less likely to rotate the clubface through the swing, so it’s no longer going to come onto the ball at the correct angle.

As you are striking the ball at an offset angle, it is then going to be more likely to cause a fade or slice shot, and that can end up putting you into all sorts of difficulty.

Also, when a grip is too big, it’s not going to engage those smaller muscles in the hands. This is known to slow down your swing due to the incorrect grip, and that’s going to result in losing distance off the tee.

Different Sizes on Different Clubs?

But here’s a concept that is rather interesting, and that’s having different grip sizes on different clubs. Now, this isn’t something that’s going to work for everyone, but it does seem to be the case that some players get on better with a touch of variety in their bag.

With this concept, it means you need to really understand your game and how different clubs react to your existing swing. Just because you have a tendency to hook your drives doesn’t always mean you hook your wedge shots.

So, this is what you can do.

You can have different sizes on different clubs to counteract the problems you tend to have with those shots. You may have a larger grip on your short irons, and a smaller grip on your driver. Also, you could go for midsize on your long irons or hybrids as those shots just kind of feel perfect.

Admittedly, this does take some time to tinker around with it, and it will involve you trying out various grips, but with the right amount of work, and patience, it may very well change your game.

However, this is something that you should perhaps discuss with your local pro. They will also be able to help you with getting a better understanding of your game in general, as well as then determining how changing the grips can counteract your issues.

Getting the Right Grip

So our advice is to actually forget about the concept of standard vs midsize vs oversize right now. Instead, focus on getting the correct measurement of your hands, and then try several grips to see how they feel.

You may even want to change one single grip in your bag for a different size, and see how it plays on the course. If your shots are better with it, then get to work on changing it throughout the rest of your bag.

Having the correct grip will boost your game. If you want to shave some shots off your round, then check what’s going on. Oh, and don’t worry if you have the wrong size grip as they believe almost 90% of amateur players are all in the same boat.