Best Golf Grips For Drivers 2024

The best golf grips for drivers can make all the difference. Here's a list of our favorites

best golf grips for drivers
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Best Golf Grips For Drivers

The first thing you want to have in order when you are about to unwind on the tee is a good grip on your clubs. Especially when it comes to hitting your driver, securing your hands to the club with the right grip will help you swing through the ball with great power and precision. A good grip will also help you keep the ball in line with where you want it to go and perhaps even send it a few extra yards.

For that reason, it is very important to ensure you have the right grip on your driver to ensure you can hit bombs off the tee. There are lots of choices out there so to narrow down your focus, here is a list of some of the best golf grips for drivers we have tested that are out right now. As you'll see from the list below, the days of uniform all-black grips are long gone and now all sorts of colors and shapes and sizes are available. The list features some of the most popular grips, some of the tackiest grips and the grip that Bryson DeChambeau puts his faith in. Additionally, if you are in the market for a new grip for your putter, then we also recommend checking out our best putter grips guide. Or if you just need some different golf gear for your game, then take a look at our posts on the best golf accessories and best golf tops.

Best Golf Grips For Drivers

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How we test

When we build a review or buyers guide this is based on vigorous testing of the products in question. We also like to rely on the knowledge and golfing experiences of our product testers. We have golfers from all levels that are testing out products, this helps us to get a variety of feedback which is best for the consumer. We always look to use the products multiple times to make sure the pros and cons we have to offer are valid. 

We make sure we take our grips out in all conditions when testing this allows us to see how they truly perform. This means we can advise on things like tackiness which is really important in grips especially in the hotter sweatier climates or on a rainy day. 

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What to consider when buying a golf grip

Your grip is one of the most important things to get right when picking out any new golf club or if you're looking to upgrade the grip on your current clubs. Specifically for your driver, the grip may be one of the most important things to consider, as it acts as the point of contact between you and your club, giving you the traction you need on the club shaft to rip through your golf swing and send the ball up in the air. With the wrong grip or one with minimal tackiness, you'll struggle to swing through the ball and keep your shot on line.

For that reason, having the right grip on your driver can seriously help you play better shots and ultimately take shots off your round.

As there are many different types of grip available, golfers can be overwhelmed by the amount of choice they have when picking the right grip for them. Don't fret, though, as we have set out below a list of things to consider when you're purchasing a new grip for your driver.  

1. Size

The first thing to think about is how big your hands are. You'll want to do some research on what the ideal corresponding grip size would be for your hands. As we explain in our guide on how to get the right grip size for your hands, the wrong grip size can stop your hands from working properly on the club. Different grip manufacturers use different measurements when designing their club grips, with some, like Ping, basing their grip sizes around two key hand measurements. One is the distance between the most prominent wrist crease on your hand to the tip of your middle finger. The other is the length of that longest finger alone. Ultimately the best thing is to take both measurements and pick the club grip that corresponds to that size. 

Different grip manufacturers also design their grips in different shapes too. Generally, golf grips come in three different kinds; round grips, ribbed grips or alignment grips. Most golfers will have played with a round grip before, as they are the most common grip you are likely to find on a golf club. If you're planning on putting your golf grips on yourself, round grips are perhaps the easiest to apply as they require little alignment because their circular shape means they have the same diameter all the way around. 

Ribbed grips, also known as reminder grips, help golfers keep their hands set at the same position each time they grasp the club. They feature an internal ridge or rib that runs along the spine of the shaft, which helps players feel the bottom of the club grip, so they know exactly where to place their hands for each shot. Alignment grips, also known as calibrated grips, are a more comprehensive version of the ribbed grip that provide golfers with a wider, more prominent rib on the grip to help players better locate where to set their hands on the club. Depending on your abilities as a golfer, the shape of the grip can play an essential part in how well you play your shots. 

2. Tackiness

Having a tacky grip on your clubs is another crucial factor that all players should consider when purchasing a new driver. The better the grip, the more you can relax your hands when holding the club. That can allow golfers to use their shoulders and arms to create a better more controlled and fluid stroke. Golfers are taught to have a relaxed grip on the club, so the tackier the grip, the better as that can improve how you swing through the ball. 

3. Feel 

Similar to when picking the driver that is right for you, you’re going to want to factor in how that club feels on impact. The same goes for when you’re trialing different grips. You’ll want to pick the grip that gives you the best responsivity, control and overall feel as you hit through the ball. Again that is subjective from golfer to golfer. For example, some players like to feel more vibrations coming up the club, while others would prefer that sensation to be dampened. Depending on what works best for you, trying out different types of grip can help you discover the best one for your needs as a golfer. So head down to your local club shop to try out more.

4. Moisture management 

While feel and tackiness are significant factors to consider when picking a driver grip, moisture management is something that many golfers forget about. Even if you don't get sweaty hands when playing golf, you're not always going to be playing golf in 30º of sunshine. The elements can change quickly on the course and for that reason, getting the grip that provides optimum moisture management will be vital in helping you hit sweeter, longer golf shots. Plus, if you suffer from sweaty hands, it is vital to get a tacky club grip, as even though your hands will be slippy, there is a greater chance of you swinging through the ball with a controlled stroke if your club grip is tacky enough to keep your hands in place. 

5. Style

Style might interestingly be one of the most crucial things to consider when purchasing a new club grip. As golf is primarily a mental game, looking good on the course means feeling good. And if you’re feeling good, then you are inevitably going to be higher in confidence. For example, standing over the ball while holding a club that looks the part, and makes you feel confident, can go a long way in helping you hit more consistent shots and reduce your scores. For that reason, pick a grip that not only feels good but looks good too. 

If you’re currently in the process of re-gripping a variety of clubs, why not check out our guides on the best golf grips for driversbest golf grips for irons, and the best golf grips for putters.

FAQs

Are Driver grips the same as iron grips?

Generally, the grip on a driver can be the same as those on an iron. Some players may want a little more grip on their driver so may opt to place a tackier grip on their driver than their iron. But sometimes its best to keep all your club grips the same so you know where you're placing your hands on the club every time you pick them up.

What is the best kind of grip to put on my driver?

That depends on what suits you as a golfer. While some players might like a round grip, others may prefer a ribbed grip they can use to help them set their hands on the club in the same position each time they pick up the driver. For that reason, picking the right grip for your driver comes down to personal preference. Our best advice is to get down to your local pro shop and try each type of driver grip out.

What size grip should I put on my driver?

Depending on the size of your hands, different golfers will suit various grip sizes. First, you should start by measuring the size of your hand by measuring the distance between the most prominent crease on your hand and your middle finger. Once you have that measurement, you should pick the corresponding grip size. 

1. Crease to fingertip: 0"-5" - Grip size: Small

2. Crease to fingertip: 5" to 6.5" - Grip size: Undersize 

3. Crease to fingertip: 6.6" to 7.5" - Grip size: Small 

4. Crease to fingertip: 7.6" to 9" - Grip size: Midsize

5. Crease to fingertip: 9.1" to 10" - Grip size: Large

Sam Tremlett
E-commerce Editor

A golfer for most of his life, Sam is a Senior Staff Writer for Golf Monthly. 

Working with golf gear and equipment over the last six years, Sam has quickly built outstanding knowledge and expertise on golf products ranging from drivers, to balls, to shoes. 

He combines this knowledge with a passion for helping golfers get the best gear for them, and as such Sam manages a team of writers that look to deliver the most accurate and informative reviews and buying advice. This is so the reader can find exactly what they are looking for.


Sam now spends most of his time testing and looking after golf gear content for the website, whilst he is also responsible for all content related to golf apparel. 

He also oversees all Tour player content as well so if you need to know what clubs Tiger or Rory has in play, Sam is the person to ask. 

Unfortunately, Sam is not a member of any club at the moment but regularly gets out on the golf course to keep up the facade of having a handicap of five. 


Sam's What's In The Bag: 

Driver: Titleist TS3 (9 degrees) 

Fairway Wood: Callaway Paradym (15 degrees), Nike Covert Tour 2.0 (19 degrees) 

Irons (4-PW): Titleist AP2 

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 54˚, 58˚ 

Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5 

Ball: Srixon Z-Star Diamond

Shoes: G/FORE Gallivanter/Nike Air Zoom Infinity NEXT%/Cuater The Ringer