Deciding to change the grips on a set of Takomo irons is one of the most straightforward and worthwhile pieces of club maintenance you can do at home.
A fresh grip can restore traction, improve comfort and give you a chance to fine-tune the diameter, texture and firmness of the clubs you use most often.
The process is no different in principle to regripping any steel-shafted iron set and it can be done yourself if you want to purchase your own and save money.
Simply remove the old grip and tape from your Takomo irons, apply fresh double-sided tape, use grip solvent to slide on the replacement grip, align it correctly and let it cure.
The key is to work safely, choose grips that suit your hands and swing, and avoid accidentally altering the final grip size from club to club.
Why Change Your Takomo Irons Grips?
Takomo irons are designed to offer strong performance and value, but grips are a wear item. Dirt, sunscreen, sweat, oils and repeated use gradually reduce tackiness, even when the grip does not look badly worn.
If you find yourself gripping the club harder to stop it slipping, it is time to clean or replace them.
Apply fresh golf grips can help you hold the club more lightly and consistently. That does not change the iron head or shaft, but it can improve comfort and help you maintain a repeatable grip pressure through the swing.
Golf Pride recommends replacing grips at least once per year or approximately every 40 rounds, whichever comes first.
That is a useful benchmark for regular players, although players who practise frequently, play in heat or rain, or wear down grips quickly may need to regrip sooner.
Before You Start
First, decide whether the old grips truly need replacing. A wash with warm water, mild soap and a soft brush can sometimes bring back surface tack, especially on rubber grips.
If the grip is shiny, hard, cracked, slick or worn smooth in the lead-hand area, replacement is the better answer.
You should also inspect the shafts before removing anything. Most Takomo iron sets use steel shafts, which makes cutting off an old grip fairly simple.
However, if your particular set has graphite shafts, use a hook blade rather than a straight blade and cut away from yourself; a straight blade can score or weaken graphite.
Work in a ventilated area, away from flames, sparks and heat sources. Traditional grip solvent is flammable, and you will want towels or a tray beneath the work area to catch any runoff.
Tools You Need
A basic regripping kit is inexpensive and contains most of what you need:
- Replacement grips – one for each club, plus a spare is sensible
- Double-sided grip tape
- Grip solvent
- Hook-blade utility knife
- Bench vice and rubber shaft clamp, recommended but not essential
- Towel, paper towels or an old cloth
- Tape scraper or plastic scraper
- Measuring tape or ruler
- Marker pen
- Tray or container to catch excess solvent
- Protective gloves and eye protection, recommended
The essential items are a safe cutting blade, double-sided grip tape and solvent. A vice and rubber clamp simply make the job more accurate, safer and faster.
Choose The Right Grips To Change Takomo Irons To
Before taking off the first original Takomo grip, choose the replacement style carefully. Grip choice affects feel, grip pressure and hand comfort more than many golfers expect.
Standard, Midsize Or Oversize?
Most golfers begin with a standard-size grip, but that is not automatically the correct fit. A grip that is too thin can encourage excess hand action and tighter grip pressure, while one that is too thick can make it harder to release the club naturally.
- Undersize grips suit golfers with smaller hands or players who prefer more hand action.
- Standard grips remain the best neutral starting point for most players.
- Midsize grips can suit golfers with larger hands, arthritis or a tendency to squeeze the club too tightly.
- Jumbo or oversize grips are most often used by golfers who need maximum comfort or who deliberately want to reduce wrist action.
You can also alter the finished diameter without changing grip model by adding extra layers of tape beneath the lower hand.
This is commonly called building up the lower hand or using a reduced taper. It can make the club feel more stable and help golfers who feel their trail hand becomes too active.
Rubber, Cord, Hybrid Or Wrap?
There is no universally “best” grip material. Instead, match it to your hands, climate and preference.
| Grip type | Feel and benefit | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Rubber | Soft, tacky and widely available | Most golfers and all-round use |
| Cord | Firmer, textured and highly secure | Hot, humid or wet conditions; golfers with sweaty hands |
| Hybrid | Rubber lower section with cord or firmer upper hand | Players wanting comfort plus traction |
| Wrap | Traditional, often softer and slightly cushioned | Golfers who prefer a classic look and relaxed feel |
| Oversize / reduced-taper | Larger lower section | Players wanting comfort or less hand action |
Popular examples include Golf Pride Tour Velvet, MCC and CPX models, Lamkin Crossline and ST Hybrid and Winn Dri-Tac grips. The right choice is the one that feels secure without forcing you to grip tightly.
Reminder And Alignment Grips
Most replacement grips are round. If you use a grip with a built-in reminder rib, alignment is crucial because the rib needs to sit in the same position on every club.
Set the clubface square in the vice before installing it, then check the rib falls naturally under your fingers in your normal address position.
Step-By-Step: Regripping Takomo Irons
1. Set Up The Work Area
Put down a tray, cardboard or an old towel to catch solvent. Place the club in a vice using a rubber shaft clamp, with the clubhead down and the grip end pointing up. Do not overtighten the clamp, especially on graphite shafts.
If you do not own a vice, you can still regrip a club on a stable surface, but secure it carefully and keep the clubface square while you work.
2. Remove The Old Grip
Use a hook-blade utility knife to make a lengthwise cut through the old grip. Always cut away from your body. Once the grip is split, peel it away from the shaft.
A hook blade is the safest general option. It is especially important on graphite shafts, but it is also less likely to scratch a steel shaft than driving a straight blade hard into the material.
3. Remove Old Tape And Clean The Shaft
Peel away all of the previous double-sided tape. Do not simply apply a new layer over the old one: doing that can make the final grip larger than intended and can create an uneven feel.
If adhesive residue remains, use a little grip solvent on a towel and rub it clean. A plastic scraper can help with stubborn tape. Let the shaft dry completely before applying new tape.
4. Measure And Apply New Grip Tape
Hold the new grip alongside the shaft and mark where the open end of the grip finishes. Cut a piece of double-sided tape roughly the length of the grip, allowing a small amount – about half an inch to one inch – to extend past the butt end of the shaft.
Apply the tape smoothly, avoiding bubbles and folds. With wide tape, run it lengthways and wrap it around the shaft. With narrow tape, use an even spiral with slight overlap.
Twist the excess tape at the top and push it into the butt end of the shaft. This seals the opening and prevents solvent from entering the shaft.
If you are using extra tape wraps to build up the grip size, apply these first, then put the final double-sided tape layer over the top.
5. Prepare The New Grip With Solvent
Cover the small vent hole in the butt end of the new grip with a finger or a tee. Pour a generous amount of grip solvent into the grip, cover the open end and shake or roll it to coat the inside fully.
Then pour the excess solvent from the grip over the taped shaft, making sure the entire surface is wet. Use more solvent rather than less: an under-lubricated grip can stick halfway on and may need to be cut off and replaced.
6. Slide On The New Grip
Immediately place the mouth of the grip over the shaft butt. Pinch the opening lightly to help it expand, then push the grip on in one smooth, firm motion until the shaft butt is fully seated against the closed cap inside the grip.
Do not stop halfway through the process. If the grip begins to bind, add more solvent quickly. Once it is on, wipe off excess solvent with a towel.
7. Align The Grip
Before the solvent dries, square the clubface and rotate the grip so any logo, reminder rib or alignment marking sits where you want it.
Many golfers install grips logo-down, but this is entirely a personal preference. Golf Pride suggests rotating the grip 180 degrees before installation if you prefer the logo facing down.
Check alignment from the address position, not just from behind the club. A grip that looks straight in the vice can feel wrong in your hands if the clubface was not square when clamped.
8. Leave The Grip To Cure
Place the club somewhere flat and dry, and avoid hitting balls until the grip has fully set. Many guides recommend allowing a few hours; overnight is the safest choice, particularly in cool or humid conditions.
Repeat the process one club at a time. That helps you use the first finished club as a reference for alignment and tape length across the rest of the set.
Common Regripping Mistakes
The biggest home-regripping mistake is using too little solvent. If the grip stops halfway down the shaft, forcing it usually wrinkles the tape and ruins the installation. Use enough solvent inside the grip and across the tape so the grip slides freely.
Other common errors include:
- Leaving old tape beneath the new tape, which changes grip size and creates lumps
- Cutting a graphite shaft with a straight blade
- Failing to cover the shaft butt with the tape overhang
- Forgetting to square the clubface before aligning a reminder-rib grip
- Mixing grip sizes or number of tape wraps across an iron set without intending to
- Playing too soon, before adhesive tape has set
- Installing a grip with an incompatible core size without understanding the effect on final diameter
Should You Regrip Them Yourself?
Yes, for most Takomo golf club owners this is a manageable DIY task. Once you have the basic tools, a first grip may take 10 to 15 minutes and the remaining clubs are usually much quicker.
The savings become meaningful when you are replacing a full iron set.
However, use a professional fitter or club builder if you are unsure about grip size, taper, shaft extensions, swing weight, or if you have expensive graphite shafts and are not comfortable cutting the old grip away.
A professional can also help you test standard versus midsize grips before you commit to a full set.