What do I do?

[el_capitan]

Well this is going to be my first time ever regripping my golf clubs. My neighbor said its not to hard so I decided to do it myself. I just bought the new Winn G8 RAVE grips and grip kit from Golfworks. Now when I regrip my clubs, do I have to peel off the old grip tape before I put on the new? If so, whats the best way to go about doing this with out the fancy " old tape remover tool" in the Golfworks catalog?

[mr3856a]

Yeah, you do. You can take it off with the grip solvent.

[pick-it-up]

I just use a scraper to remove the old tape.



This way I don't have to wait for the solvent to dry.

Oh, and be careful, the G8's (most Winn's) are sort of difficult to get on. They have a collar at the end of the grip which makes it tighter than most others. Just use lots of solvent and make sure you're hands are dry when you slide it on.

[decipher_bass]

If you have a heat gun or something along those lines it will also help to take the tape off. I got the old tape off my putter by just peeling it off though.

[jt0531]

Do you have an air compressor? If the old tape isn't ripped when I get the original grip off I slide the new one right over it.

[mikey300]

the easiest way to get the tape off is to heat it, a hair dryer will work just fine. you only need to get it nice and warm and it will peel right off
(sort of).
it's better to take the tape off, unless of course you would like to build the grips up some.

[mcgolf]

1) Get a hook blade for your utility knife. This will make it easier to cut the grip. Remember to keep your other hand out of the way

2) using a heat gun heat the old tape for about 5 second ( or 5 passes) on both sides(top and bottom) of the shaft

3) commence to peeeling the old tape. If the tape gives you a probelm then get a straight blade, like a scraper and shave it off.

4) using the new grip. Place the grip next to the shaft. The butt capp resting on the shaft end and make a mark where the grip ends and the underlisting begins.

5) put on the double sided grip tape starting at the mark and working towards the butt of the shaft. Cut off the tape at approximately 1/2 past the butt. Twist or fold the extra.

6) Fill the grip with solvent. Plug the end as it will run out of the vent hole.

7) shake it in the grip

8) pour the solvent onto the tape.

9) slide on the grip, stand to the side unless you like a dark circle on your shirt forever.

10) wipe down the grip and let set for a an hour in a warm space.

Hopefull this is all done while the golf club is in a vice and the solvent is caught in a pan or trash can

[pick-it-up]

Nah, you don't need a hook blade for steel shafts. A sharp (new) regular blade works just fine.

[SolidRockGolf]

I never have any trouble when I heat it alittle with the head gun (or hair dryer) and then peeling it off. In most cases, the older the tape the more trouble it can be but the heat gun seems to be the best method.

Also if you peel slowly you will pull bigger peices.

[Genkifish]

will using a scraping tool (utility knife, razor blade, etc.) damage a graphite shaft (driver, fairway wood)? thanks

[Stiofan]

It can if you cut into the fibers.

[indacup]

Defintely, use a heat source and patience...or as someone said, using Air is a great, clean method to remove and instal grips...and you can do it right over the old tape.

[progolf4life]

how do u make sure that all of the grips line in the same spot down the shaft?

[mikey300]

Originally Posted by indacup

Defintely, use a heat source and patience...or as someone said, using Air is a great, clean method to remove and instal grips...and you can do it right over the old tape.

you really have to be carefull when removing grips with a air compressor, some grips come right off, even when taped up, others, when you can get then to finally budge, can blow out if your not paying attention. some you just have to cut off.
you can put then back on oer the old tape as long as it doesn't rip or tear. i prefer to take all the tape off and start fresh, most of the time, i'll only use a very small piece of tape to cover the end of the butt. my hands aren't that bg, so no tape is good for me.

it's great putting them back on with air and much easier to re-grip them the next time.

[el_capitan]

Thanks for all the input thus far. Keep them coming. Now I have another question. I bought a cheap heat gun that heats up to 600*F or 1000*F. What setting would be better. I don't want to melt the shafts or anything. When I heat up the tape and shaft, does it just start to peel or what does it actually do? Does it just make it easier to take off? Also, if there is residue left over on the shaft could I use GOO GONE to get rid of that and then just clean it with soap and water? Thanks for all the help.

[jt0531]

Originally Posted by mikey300

you really have to be carefull when removing grips with a air compressor, some grips come right off, even when taped up, others, when you can get then to finally budge, can blow out if your not paying attention. some you just have to cut off.
you can put then back on oer the old tape as long as it doesn't rip or tear. i prefer to take all the tape off and start fresh, most of the time, i'll only use a very small piece of tape to cover the end of the butt. my hands aren't that bg, so no tape is good for me.

it's great putting them back on with air and much easier to re-grip them the next time.

If you get one of those old tubes that used to go in the bags to separate the clubs or a piece of 1" PVC you can keep the grips from blowing up when using air. I learned that the hard way.................... my ears were ringing for 45 minutes.

[SolidRockGolf]

Originally Posted by el_capitan

Thanks for all the input thus far. Keep them coming. Now I have another question. I bought a cheap heat gun that heats up to 600*F or 1000*F. What setting would be better. I don't want to melt the shafts or anything. When I heat up the tape and shaft, does it just start to peel or what does it actually do? Does it just make it easier to take off? Also, if there is residue left over on the shaft could I use GOO GONE to get rid of that and then just clean it with soap and water? Thanks for all the help.

You don't have to go crazy with the heat gun when peeling off the tape so I would say the 600* would be OK. You only need to heat it up enough to soften up the tape and adhesive so you can peel it off with ease.

Usually you don't have to clean the shaft when your done (only the really old ones). I usually wipe it down with a wet towel and then a dry one before putting more tape on the shaft. MAKE SURE THE SHAFT IS DRY BEFORE PUTTING NEW TAPE ON OR YOU WILL HAVE PROBLEMS.