I know I have thought about it once or twice, I absolutely love the feeling of my SuperStroke putter grip and how it eliminates a handsy stroke. How would that feel with a lob wedge or iron? Would it be worth it or would it ruin my feel on the club for chip or pitch shots?
You can put putter grips on irons if they meet the following criteria for it to be USGA approved.
- Grip has to be completely circular
- Can have a slightly raised rib as long as the grip’s maximum and minimum diameters of the cross-section at any point must not differ by more than 0.040 inches.
- The raised rib must also extend to within 3″ of the end of the grip.
- Rib width can not exceed 50% of the grips internal diameter.
- Simulated leather wrapped grips with an indented spiral are permitted as long as fingers can’t fit comfortably between spirals or indentations (Can’t have any molded features to help aid in gripping the club like below).
If you’re just a weekend golfer with no intentions of playing in any USGA or R&A events (I would say the large majority of golfers), go ahead and put a putter grip (legal or not) on an iron and let me know what you think! For any other questions on what grips to use, check out my comprehensive golf grip buying guide.
Golf Grip Specs and rules for irons and woods
The golf club grip must be at least 7 inches long (standard is 10 inches or 254 mm) and completely circular to be considered USGA or R&A legal for irons and woods. The grip must also be fixed to the shaft, extend to the end of the shaft, must be straight and not designed to be molded for any part of the hands.
The grip may have one slightly raised rib that may be incorporated along the full length of the grip. This raised rib must maintain a max and min diameter within .040 inches (1.016 mm) and extend no less then 3 inches (76.2 mm) from the end of the grip. The rib width must not exceed 50% of the grip’s internal diameter.
From USGA equipment rules
Simulated leather wrapped grips with an indented spiral or other similar indentations are considered to be circular and are permitted. However, the fingers can’t fit in between the spirals or indentations which would render it as non-conforming because it’s “moulded for the hands” and a training aid.
A grip that has subtle changes in surface texture is considered conforming. Grips that have printed markings showing where to put the hands is also considered to be conforming.
From USGA equipment rules
Golf Grip Specs and rules for putters
A putter grip differs from regular grips in that it can have a non-circular cross section as long as that cross section remains similar throughout the length of the grip. A putter grip and have a maximum diameter of 1.75 inches (44.5 mm). The top end of the grip can’t have a sharp change in slope or flare on the underside.
If it has a flat front it must extend within 1 inch (25.4 mm) of the top and bottom ends. If the axis of the grip and the shaft do not match, the grip must be 10 inches (254 mm) long.
Golf Grip Rules for 2 Putter Grips
Some longer belly putters have 2 grips on them and they have their own special rules. If you use 2 grips for a putter with an extended shaft, they must have circular cross sections. You can’t have irons or woods with 2 grips on them under any circumstance.
The top grip must be at least 5 inches (127mm) in length, anything less is considered “moulding for the hands”.
When a putter has 2 grips, these grips are only considered separate when the gap between them is at least 1.5 inches (38.1mm) long. If the gap is smaller or no gap exists, it would be considered one grip. The exposed gap between the 2 would make a waist, or the point where the 2 grips would meet would cause a bulge (both are non-conforming). See below from USGA for examples of conforming and non-conforming grips.
From USGA equipment rules
pros and cons of putting putter grip on irons
I’m not going to lie, I’ve given it a quick thought of putting a putting grip on one of my wedges to try and quiet my hands. I did not factor in the short game where I want maximum feeling in my hands for those delicate little pitch or chips.
For those golfers like my Dad who already have oversized grips though, they may not notice any noticeable decrease in performance or feel when going to a slightly larger grip. It may work great for some golfers, I would be just too afraid of losing my feel on short game shots and getting limited feedback from the thick grip.
Can you put a putter grip on a chipper?
A chipper is considered the same as an iron or wedge, so the same rules above would apply. It makes a lot of sense to put a putting grip on a chipper as you use a putting stroke for the chipper.
To put a putter grip on a chipper, the grip must be:
- Grip has to be completely circular
- Can have a raised rib (min and max diameters within .04″)
- The raised rib must be within 3″ of the end of the grip.
- Rib width can’t exceed 50% of the grips internal diameter.
- Simulated leather wrapped grips with an indented spiral are permitted as long as fingers can’t fit comfortably between spirals or indentations.
Final Thoughts
I’m not aware of anybody using putting grips for irons or woods, the loss of feeling in your hands would be too significant. If you are used to thicker grips, it may work out alright for you. But for those of us with standard or midsize grips, I would just stick to regular iron grips.
If you are someone who has put a putter grip on any irons or woods, let me know how it works!
- Grip It Like a Pro: 4 Most Used Golf Gloves on tour
- Install golf grips without tape or solvent quick
- SKLZ Accelerator Pro Putting Mat- Best mat under $60
- Quickly Plan A Golf Trip in 5 Simple Steps
- Most Affordable Golf Trips In Ohio
- Best Putter Grips- Why The Grip Is So Important
- Should You Hover Putter Or Rest It On The Ground?
- Golf Grip Hurts Pinky Finger – How To Fix It
- Does Putter Grip Weight Matter? What You Need To Know
- Putter Grip Not Straight – how to easily fix it
- Putting Grip Finger Down Shaft- Pros And Cons
- Are Golf Grips On Ebay Fake? What To Look For
