The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-17
MAKING OF GRIPS
Evans Tells How Golf Club
Handles Are ssPut Up"
Winding of Leather ON Handles
Quite an Art.
BY CHARLES (.CHICK'') EVANS.
National Amateur and Open Golf
CharnniOn


In golf the word grip has two
technical meanings. One indicates the
methods of holding the club for a
stroke and the other designates the
upper part of the club shaft, prepared
In a certain manner for case and COM
fort in grasping Golfers have diff
fered considerably as to the advaE-
tages of varying $, rts of grips put on
| by club manufacturer and there have
been many inventions to meet differ
ing needs.
it hardly seems necessary to say
that the finger grinper must consider
carefully the size of his club hand and
the thickness of the grip on his golf
club, for there are fat grips and thin
ones, and which IS the better, depends
on individual lengths of fingers.
Making Grips.
The average golfer knows little
about how the grip is put on club,
and of late years l have had compare
lively no practical knowledge myself,
| but in my grammar school days when
hunted the professionals shop the
| following method was used: First,
with heavy rasp file the club shaIt
was roughened from the top down
ward to a point where it was guessed
| the grip would end Then strong glue
was applied TO the cut places and
tacks were put at each end of the pre-
pared surface of the shaft. This was
to hold the listing in place This list
| ing, varying in thickness and from
one-half to a whole inch in width,
came in large balls. There was also q
thin cloth used as an undertaking As
soon as the under wrapping was done.
more glue was put on and the leather
gripping prepared
Winding Club an Art.
Most professionals cut the leather
out of the whole sheepskin and 1t
| takes quite a knack to do it. so that
Il
of the club. The cutting is done with
a chisel and it demands steady
hand to make the edges even enough
to fit smoothly wner wound.
After the cutting the leather is
wound around the shaft as far down
as it is expected to go and there held
in place by a tack, the ends cut off
and then tied with whipping in a
surprisingly tight knot. The top part
is cut so that one-sixteenth of the
shaft shows and tho top is rounded
with wood file. The leather is Sc
rounds of whipping Then a heavy
mallet is taken and the grip is rolled
on a flat surface until perfectly
smooth. OF course, the strings are
shella cked.
Either side of the leather can be
used. but the smooth side treated with
. kind of oil that gives a pleasing
softness. but does not make it greasy,
is the most popular. Such a grip I
have used for many years and any
other would feel uncomfortable to me.
The right SIDE is also used, and is
sometimes very good, especially in wet
weather. for those who have difficulty
in a firm grip.
Rubber Popular in Grips.
Many other materials besides are
used for grips, but rubber stands next
in popularity 1t is very hard TO put
on and wears out easily, but when
new it certainly feels good Cork
grips have also been used but the
whole matter of material resolves into
which is easiest for you to grasp, and
which Will help your sense of feeling
and touch. Care must be exercised
not to use material that will tear your
hands OF allow them to slip Then.
again. one ought not to employ a
grip that is not easily duplicated