Golf Grip Solvent is almost always mineral spirits rebranded as “golf grip solvent” so it can have a higher price tag. There are also several alternatives you can use as golf grip solvent that have a much lower price tag such as compressed air, mineral spirits, paint thinner, kerosene, charcoal lighter fluid, Naptha, etc.
There are several pros and cons to each alternative, so let’s dig deeper into those below. If you are looking to save money, you can save hundreds for each grip change by using a budget golf grip such as a ChampKey.
Best Golf Grip Solvent Alternative- Bramptons HF100 Golf Grip Solvent
Cheapest Grip Solvent Alternative– Mineral Spirits/Paint Thinner/Lighter Fluid
Quickest Grip Solvent Alternative– Compressed Air
Best GolF Grip Solvent Alternative- Bramptons hf100 golf grip solvent
Bramptons HF100 is one of the few odorless, non-flammable golf grip solvents that I could find and the most reasonably priced. It claims to be safe to the touch, I would still be safe and wear gloves to protect your hands from any unwanted chemicals seeping into your skin. If your skin is extra sensitive, check out the best hypoallergenic golf grips and hypoallergenic gloves to avoid having your hands break out into a rash after every round.
With that being said, Bramptons HF100 is the best non-toxic golf grip solvents out there. It’s relatively cheap too and can be reused grip change after grip change. I would advise filtering it if you plan on reusing it. Dirt or foreign materials in your golf grip solvent will negatively affect the grip installation.
The few negatives about Bramptons HF100 is that can be slow to dry, up to 3-4 days if you initially use too much solvent on the grip installation. The instructions are very accurate, I would not use more then recommended (Brampton’s recommends lightly spraying the whole strip of installed tape and a small amount inside the grip). If the correct amount of solvent is used, it should dry and be ready to use in 24 hours.
I have also found that installation goes easiest when using clean, warm solvent. Heat the water bottle up under warm water for about 10-15 minutes before installation if room temperature is below 75F.
It’s nice not having to wear a mask or worrying about ventilation changing golf grips. Also I’m extremely cautious with what I get on my skin, you DO NOT want any nasty chemicals soaking into your skin and into your bloodstream. If you are looking to avoid the nasty chemicals, I would strongly suggest Bramptons HF100 so you can rest easy about what your skin is soaking up or what you are breathing in. Here’s Bramptons HF100 MSDS sheet for more detail.
Cheapest GolF Grip Solvent Alternative- Mineral Spirits/Paint thinner/Lighter Fluid
Golf Grip Installation has been done by pros for years using common household items: mineral spirits, paint thinner, lighter fluid, gasoline, etc.
These items are usually the most cost effective way as you usually have them laying around the garage and are just as effective as any golf grip solvent on the market. Even if you don’t own any of these solvents, you can find cheap mineral spirits/paint thinner at any hardware store.
My advice would be to spend $1-$2 more and get the odorless mineral spirits. If reused, this will last you years and you won’t have to worry about inhaling toxic fumes. All of these options dry quickly and create the strongest bond between golf tape and the grip. So if you use mineral spirits, paint thinner, or lighter fluid you won’t have to worry about the grip slipping or moving on the club at all.
Always wear gloves and use a mask if you are not in an extremely well ventilated area. Honestly, it’s not a bad idea to always wear a mask to avoid the toxic fumes even if you think you’re fine. Paint thinner and other toxic solvents can severely damage your lungs and nervous system. Other important safety tips for toxic solvents are to wear pants and long shirt sleeves to minimize exposed skin and that paint thinner is combustible and reacts with acidic materials.
If you are careful about the toxicity of these solvents, they can be a cheap and quick way to change golf grips yourself. Always wear gloves, wear a mask (optional, but I do), and cover exposed skin with long sleeve shirts and jeans to minimize your chance with these nasty chemicals. If it does get on your clothes, there is an easy method to remove golf grip solvent stains. Remember, it doesn’t take long for the chemicals to seep into your skin and get into your bloodstream.
It seems like a no-brainer to me to spend the few extra bucks on non-toxic solvents like Bramptons HF100 and not have to worry about exposure to the nasty chemicals and the effects that it may have for years to come.
Quickest GolF Grip Solvent Alternative- Compressed Air
Compressed Air is the easiest way to install golf clubs. However, the grips are known to occasionally twist or spin when using compressed air for installation. Many golfers on forums like GOLFWRX claim grips won’t twist by using thicker grip tape, but I would not advise this method in fear of the grips twisting! It’s just not worth it to have your grips off alignment.
There are many pros of compressed air such as installation is super simple, it’s more time efficient, and you don’t have to worry about the mess of cleaning up solvent or getting it all over the grips. It’s as easy as sticking the compressor into the hole of the grip and giving it short bursts of air to slowly slide it on. To remove grips as well, all it takes is little bursts of compressed air.
There are a few major drawbacks of using compressed air to install golf grips. The main 2 issues being grips have been known to slip or twist weeks or months after installation and you can stretch the grips if using too high of air pressure.
Using an air compressor can only be used for rubber grips. You will have to use traditional solvents and tape for leather grips. If you do not have an air compressor, you will also have to buy one in order to install the grips. They aren’t crazy expensive, Harbor Freight or Amazon has some 1/3 HP compressors for around $50.
It also takes a little bit of practice to get the knack of it down. Good news is you can simply take the grips off if not installed correctly quickly with some compressed air. It also could be expensive if you don’t have an air compressor from previous house projects.
Final Thoughts
My rankings for golf grip solvent substitutes is as follows:
- Non-Toxic Grip Solvents (Bramptons HF100)
- Mineral Spirits/Paint Thinner (if I have a well ventilated area with gloves and mask)
- Bring to a professional club fitter
- Compressed Air
It’s always nice to save a few bucks when we can, but sometimes it just doesn’t work into a busy schedule to change the grips ourselves. If you are extremely nervous about working with harmful chemicals in your house or garage, just avoid the stress and bring it to a professional club fitter. Bringing it to a professional isn’t a bad thing, especially when you know the job will be done with high quality.
Let me know if I missed any alternatives that work out great! I didn’t mention several alternatives that I found on the internet due to the negative reactions such as WD-40, soapy water, liquor, water, etc.
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