Grip Size and Wrist Action

Of every fitting variable we check, grip size is the least expensive to correct and among the most frequently wrong. Golfers rarely think to question grip size, since it doesn't show up on a launch monitor screen the way loft or shaft flex does — but its effect on face angle at impact can be significant.

Why Grip Size Changes Your Swing

An undersized grip allows too much hand and wrist action through impact, which for many golfers leads to an overactive release and a tendency to hook or pull shots left (for a right-handed golfer). An oversized grip restricts natural hand rotation, which can inhibit the release entirely and lead to blocked shots or a weak fade that wasn't there before.

Neither issue is a swing flaw in the traditional sense — it's an equipment mismatch that happens to manifest as a ball-flight pattern that looks exactly like a swing problem.

How We Measure Correct Grip Size

Grip size is typically determined by hand size (glove size) combined with finger length, but the most reliable method is checking where the fingers of the top hand contact the palm at address. If the fingertips dig into the palm, the grip is too small; if there's excessive space between the fingertips and the palm, it's too large. We check this directly during every fitting session rather than relying on glove size alone, since finger length varies independently of overall hand size.

A grip that's even one size off can shift face angle at impact by several degrees — often more than a lie angle adjustment would.

Undersize, Standard, Midsize, or Oversize

Most golfers fall into standard or midsize grips, but the range exists for a reason. Golfers with arthritis or reduced grip strength often benefit from a slightly larger grip regardless of hand size, since it reduces the need to grip tightly for control. Players who intentionally want more hand action through impact — often better players working a draw — may prefer a slightly smaller grip than their hand size alone would suggest.

Why This Gets Missed

Grip size is rarely checked because it's inexpensive and doesn't feel like a "real" fitting variable compared to a new shaft or head. But because it directly affects hand action and face control at impact, an incorrect grip size can undermine an otherwise well-fit driver or iron set. We check grip size on every fitting, regardless of which club is being fit.

The Takeaway

If your ball flight has a consistent side-to-side pattern that doesn't match what you feel in your hands during the swing, grip size is worth checking before assuming the issue is mechanical. It's one of the fastest, cheapest changes in golf equipment.