A valve repair system for repairing a native valve of a patient during a non-open-heart procedure, the valve repair system comprising: a delivery device having at least one lumen; a valve repair device configured to be delivered through the lumen of the delivery device, and configured to attach to a native valve of a patient, the valve repair device comprising: a pair of paddles (606a, 606b) that are movable between an open position and a closed position; a first gripping member and a second gripping member, wherein the paddles (606a, 606b) and the gripping members (608a, are configured to attach to the native valve of the patient; and a spacer element that is configured to close a gap in the native valve of the patient when the valve repair device is attached to the native valve; the valve repair system further comprising a gripper control mechanism, which comprises: a first gripper control member removably attached to the first gripping member, the first gripper control member comprising a first line removably attached to the first gripping member, wherein a portion of the first line extends, or can extend, through a delivery opening of the delivery device, and wherein the first line is configured to engage the first gripping member to move the first gripping member between one or more positions; and a second gripper control member removably attached to the second gripping member, the second gripper control member comprising a second line removably attached to the second gripping member, wherein a portion of the second line extends, or can extend, through the delivery opening of the delivery device, and wherein the second line is configured to engage the second gripping member to move the second gripping member between one or more positions. a delivery device having at least one lumen; a valve repair device configured to be delivered through the lumen of the delivery device, and configured to attach to a native valve of a patient, the valve repair device comprising: a pair of paddles (606a, 606b) that are movable between an open position and a closed position; a first gripping member and a second gripping member, wherein the paddles (606a, 606b) and the gripping members (608a, are configured to attach to the native valve of the patient; and a spacer element that is configured to close a gap in the native valve of the patient when the valve repair device is attached to the native valve; a pair of paddles (606a, 606b) that are movable between an open position and a closed position; a first gripping member and a second gripping member, wherein the paddles (606a, 606b) and the gripping members (608a, are configured to attach to the native valve of the patient; and a spacer element that is configured to close a gap in the native valve of the patient when the valve repair device is attached to the native valve; the valve repair system further comprising a gripper control mechanism, which comprises: a first gripper control member removably attached to the first gripping member, the first gripper control member comprising a first line removably attached to the first gripping member, wherein a portion of the first line extends, or can extend, through a delivery opening of the delivery device, and wherein the first line is configured to engage the first gripping member to move the first gripping member between one or more positions; and a second gripper control member removably attached to the second gripping member, the second gripper control member comprising a second line removably attached to the second gripping member, wherein a portion of the second line extends, or can extend, through the delivery opening of the delivery device, and wherein the second line is configured to engage the second gripping member to move the second gripping member between one or more positions. a first gripper control member removably attached to the first gripping member, the first gripper control member comprising a first line removably attached to the first gripping member, wherein a portion of the first line extends, or can extend, through a delivery opening of the delivery device, and wherein the first line is configured to engage the first gripping member to move the first gripping member between one or more positions; and a second gripper control member removably attached to the second gripping member, the second gripper control member comprising a second line removably attached to the second gripping member, wherein a portion of the second line extends, or can extend, through the delivery opening of the delivery device, and wherein the second line is configured to engage the second gripping member to move the second gripping member between one or more positions.