CHARLOTTE, NC – Look around the practice green at a PGA Tour event and you’ll quickly notice a myriad of different putter settings. Longer-than-usual handles, prototype club heads, and multi-material shafts are just a few of the items that stand out. Every professional is looking for a setup that instills confidence in their greens, and many are willing to go to great lengths to achieve the perfect putter build.
But what happens when something feels fearful? With so many options out there, it’s easy to leave something that doesn’t seem to work on the shelf and test out many different options. About six years ago, five-time PGA Tour winner JB Holmes began noticing that his putter grip would become smudged the more strokes were rolled, especially on humid days when the temperature started to rise.
“I felt like the grips were sliding into my hand,” Holmes said of his SuperStroke Pistol GT 1.0. “I liked the grip I had, but the material was smearing because my hands sweat so much.”
All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by our editorial team. If you purchase an associated product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Prices may vary.
Some grip manufacturers have found ways to combat moisture on the surface of the rubber. Golf Pride, for example, is hiring Textured cotton Knit fibers in cord options to absorb excess sweat and moisture. SuperStroke also has a S-Tech rope club gripHowever, the handles of the racket have different materials and construction.
While Holmes liked the overall feel of the Pistol GT 1.0, he needed a solution to deal with his sweaty hands. Enter a popular sporting goods store item: a sports bar. Rather than looking for a different grip, Holmes applied a single layer of tape to the entire surface of the grip and noticed an improvement in the overall feel.
“I don’t change it much,” said Holmes. “I’ve actually found that the overall feel of the tape improves the more I use the grip. And I’ve never had any problems when it’s wet outside. It’s one of those solutions that just works.”
Holmes won the 2019 Genesis Open with tape on his racket grip and didn’t notice the need to tinker with setup, even as he changed racquets over the years. Holmes, who withdrew from the Wells Fargo Championship due to a back injury, has been using a Bettinardi BB56 sport tape-on SuperStroke grip hammer for the past few years.
For golfers who like the overall look of their grip but struggle with palm sweatiness, following Holmes’ lead and adding sports tape to the grip is a cost-effective solution worth considering.
Want to fix your bag for 2023? Find a suitable location near you at True Spec Golf.