Size: start from your hand, not a rule
Glove size is a reasonable starting point, and hand length — measured from the wrist crease to the tip of the middle finger — is a better one. Both give you a size band, not a verdict.
Undersize sits roughly 1/64" below standard, midsize roughly 1/16" above, and jumbo is noticeably thicker again. Build-up tape lets a fitter move you a half step between sizes without changing grip model.
What changing size can and cannot do
- Hand action: thinner grips generally let the hands work more freely, thicker grips tend to quieten them slightly. That is why a thicker grip is sometimes tried for a hook and rarely for a slice.
- Grip pressure: a grip that feels too small often gets squeezed, and squeezing costs speed and feel.
- Balance: grip weight changes how the whole club feels to swing, so two identical clubs with different grips can swing differently.
- Comfort: over a full round, or with sore hands, comfort is a legitimate reason to size up.
Material: match it to your conditions
- Smooth rubber: the softest feel and plenty of traction when dry. Needs regular cleaning to stay tacky.
- Corded: cotton fibres cut through moisture, so traction holds up in rain and heat. Firmer and rougher on bare hands.
- Hybrid: cord where the top hand sits, softer rubber below. A sensible compromise when only some rounds are wet.
- Wrap style: a cushioned feel many golfers find comfortable, with slightly less traction when wet.
When to regrip
Grips wear from play, sunlight and cleaning products. Shiny, hard patches where your hands sit, or a grip you find yourself holding tighter than usual, are the practical signs. Golfers who play often regrip more often than golfers who play a few times a season.
If you are regripping the whole bag anyway, it is a good moment to decide on size deliberately instead of repeating what came on the clubs.