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I got some new clubs (TM Rac OS2, TM Rescue Dual, TM R7 Draw) recently and went to the Golfsmith website to use their virtual fitting tool. According to their site I should keep them at the standard length and lie and although it says I should use a stiff shaft most people who have watched me swing including my pro said I should stick with a regular flex. The only other change the website recommended was to go with +1/64 grips. I am not particularly fond of the TM grips anyway so I thought I might do that but I have a few questions. First, will I notice an increase of 1/64" in the grip? I assume that must be an increase in the diameter of the grip, not the circumference, otherwise there is no way I would notice it. Second, any particular grips you guys recommend? I am not overly picky and find that I typically prefer what the average person likes. Third, it seems easy enough to do but is regripping something I should tackle myself - I am a pretty handy person. Like I said though it seems like a very easy thing to do.

And a couple of other questions. Should I go with Golf Smith's recommendations on length and lie or have a professional fitting? And if I did need to reshaft my clubs and assuming I have all of the required tools, is reshafting something I can do on my own? I am really a DIY type of person and have a tough time having things done for me that I can do myself. However, I don't want to try to do something like reshafting and then mess it up because it is out of my league. And I would have a professional fit me before reshafting to make sure I get the correct shaft and length. Thanks for any advice on the gripping and/or reshafting questions.

Matt

Hi snmhanson:

Let me try to help:

1. For grip size, if you have larger than average hands or if you don't like your current grips, I would suggest you go and try out some other one's. Personally, my 2 favorite are Golf Pride Multicompound and Golf Pride Durometer grips, though they are very different.

2. Regripping is not THAT hard, but I would suggest doing it on 1 club first before you go spend lots of money on a bunch of grips that you can't do. And be careful using the vise, you don't want to scratch your nice clubs.

3. As for fitting, I would take the Golfsmith virtual fitting as a guideline, but get professionally fitted if you can as they virtual fitting doesn't take into account your actual swing tendencies.

4. I'm pretty handy myself and the though of reshafting has me kind of hesitant, especially if it's my driver. I find it way TOO much of risk to damage a whole clube that I'm willing to just pay someone for me to do it.

Golfsmith has a program where you pay like $100 for 3 years of service and it covers all labor of regrip, reshaft and lie adjustments. You just need to pay for the materials. I asked the rep about it and he said that you don't have to buy your clubs from them as it will as you to register them on the web once you buy the plan. But double check.

Hope this helps.

Anybody can regrip really, there's a little article on how to do it in a recent Golf Digest. Plus you can get books on clubmaking from Golfsmith. I'd say give regripping a go, because you can't go too far wrong really. Reshafting is a little more complicated, and you don't want to get it wrong because you could damage something. It's still something you could easily learn to do, but you need the right tools and you'll definitely need a good instructional book or DVD.