Tapered vs Non-Tapered Golf Grips

So, what’s the difference between tapered and non-tapered golf grips? Also, which one is going to prove to be best for you at the end of the day?

People have the tendency to overlook the golf grip and focus on other aspects of the club, but that’s wrong. Instead, the grip is going to play a larger role in the potential success of your shot, and that’s before we explain how it can improve your overall game.

But what’s the difference between the two? Let’s explore.

Tapered Golf Grips

When we are talking about tapered golf grips, we are referring to the way in which the manufacturer has the golf grip itself tapering down from being thicker at the top end, and getting down to the thickness of the shaft by the time it gets to the bottom.

They do this to provide you with a real sense of having a good grip. It does come with a series of advantages, but those advantages do not apply to everyone.

For example, with a tapered golf grip, it does often mean you feel more confident in your swing when playing in poor conditions. There’s a general feeling that these grips work better in the rain, and that can be huge for some people.

How Tapered Golf Grips Help

Like we said, if you tend to play in relatively poor conditions from time to time, then having this extra grip makes a huge difference. Also, having a tapered golf grip comes with a certain ability to customize things, and that can also help.

The taper can be aligned to fit better with your preferred hand grip. It’s just a fact that some people prefer to have their hands in a certain position through the swing, and a tapered golf grip provides them with that option. For example, some pros prefer a thicker taper for their lead hand, so they make adjustments to allow this to happen.

So, the basic reason for a tapered golf grip is if you worry about the club slipping. This means it offers greater grip, and there will be less twisting of the club through your swing.

By reducing the chances of it twisting, it means you can relax through the swing knowing the face of the club is going to make contact square on to the ball.

Non-Tapered Golf Grips

Non-tapered golf grips are going to be straighter in shape than their tapered cousins. Some people argue that this is the better idea as we have two hands that are the same size as one another, so the grip should be the same for either hand. You may also see it referred to as a parallel grip, but it means the same thing.

That point about it offering the same size grip in itself is a cool argument, and the non-tapered effect does lead to some changes in how the club is going to react when swinging it. 

The Advantages of Non-Tapered Grips

Thanks to the way in which your hands are evenly wrapped around the grip, it does mean there’s less movement in the wrist area through the swing. It has also been shown to reduce the pressure people put on the grip as well, and this is important.

By reducing the pressure, it means your swing tends to be smoother. This reduction in pressure moves to your shoulders allowing for a better swing. This could very well help pull your shots straighter than before.

A tight grip leads to a tight swing leading to a greater chance of mistakes through your swing and connection. That in itself is not a good combination.

Ultimately, Which is Best?

So, which is ultimately best between tapered and non-tapered golf clubs? Well, this is certainly something that largely comes down to personal preference. However, that’s not the complete story.

Keep in mind that non-tapered can often lead to you having more control over your shot as it does put less pressure on the wrist area. If you feel your hands are tiring through your round, then this is where it’s coming from.

But having a tired grip has a negative impact on your entire swing. It becomes more loose, and this leads to clubs twisting and turning. You have a greater chance of bringing in some slices or pulling your shots as a result.

This is all something that comes down to your personal preference. You should certainly go to your local pro shop and try out both options to see which one works best with your hands. However, if you have small hands, then it makes sense to use non-tapered as it does provide more room without squashing your hands together.

But you may be surprised as to which option you prefer, and that’s why checking out both before making your decision is such a good idea.

Making Your Choice

Finally, to help you make your decision as to whether you should go for tapered against non-tapered, think of the following. 

How does your grip feel as the round progresses? If it gets harder with the later holes, then non-tapered may be best.

Are you aware of the club twisting and turning through your swing? If so, then you need to improve the grip level, and the tapered grip will provide this with ease.

Overall, it comes down to comfort levels. Either grip is going to work well in general. It’s all a matter of slight differences on a personal level as to the option that you then go for. 

But no matter which option you go for there’s one final piece of advice to consider.

Stick with the same grip through your clubs with the possible exception of the putter. If you have tapered options on your irons, then you want them to all play in the same way, and that’s why you need to stick with the same sort of grip. 

Choosing the right grip will make a huge difference to your round. It will be bigger than you expected, so think carefully and then stick with your decision.