Super Stroke putter grip twisting out of alignment

[1_Putt]

I've had two Super Stroke Pistol GT grips on my OWorks putter.  I love the grip but with both grips (one original and one replacement) the grip will twist on the shaft.  When the original grip started doing this I thought maybe it was due to the heat here in Arizona.  I was able to just pull the grip off without any solvent or anything.  I thought a new grip and new tape would help.  But the new grip is doing the same thing.  I'll look down and see the grip is twisted a few degrees.  Then I can just twist it back into alignment.  I feel like I could just pull this grip off as well.  Has anyone else noticed this with SS grips?  I'm thinking there may be something with the Super Stroke material that doesn't give a good bond with the double sided tape.  Any thoughts or ideas?  As much as I like SS grips this is becoming a deal breaker. 

[Noodler]

Sounds like a mismatch between the shaft butt OD and the SS grip ID.  You probably need a layer or 2 of build-up tape before the double-sided is laid down to ensure that the fit is tight.  Who is doing the re-gripping?  This mismatch would be obvious to most experienced builders.

[ShortGolfer]

I just went through something similar in shortening a 35 inch putter to 32 inches.  The lower part of the grip was loose so I needed to build it up with tape as the shaft tapered too much for the grip.  There is a gap at the bottom of the grip that I would have fixed with Scotch 33 or 88 electrical tape but for now it works fine.

[1_Putt]

Thanks for the suggestions.  The putter is a standard odyssey with .580 butt diameter.  So I don't think it is due to a diameter problem.  Today I was able to just pull the grip off as I did with the last SS grip.  It left a very sticky but gooey tape residue on the shaft.  I'm thinking the problem may be the grip tape.  It is a standard 2" quality grip tape but I leave it in the hot garage and I'm thinking while it appears very sticky it may not be setting up properly and just remains gooey.  I will get some new tape and try it.  I'll also take your suggestions and add a wrap or two of masking tape to make extra sure it is a snug fit.     

[mmowen01]

Are you using actual grip solvent or something else? Didn’t see you had mentioned that. 

[1_Putt]

I use mineral spirits and have used it for many years and hundreds of grips with no problems.  I'm suspecting the problem is leaving the grip tape in the hot Arizona garage for a couple of years and it has become compromised.  Whether that turns out to be the problem or not I'll keep the tape inside from now on.   Weird that you can just pull the grip off (with some force) after having it on for a few weeks.

[ChipNRun]

Had this trouble with a SS grip I had put on older Slotline Inertial putter. To repair, clubsmith removed butt weight core and squirted some solvent down the shaft, and did the same with needle inserted between shaft and grip.

 

A little manual twisting - thin metal shafting tool not needed - and adhesive seal was broken. Shaft cleaned and two layers of tape put down as base, and regrip solved the problem.

[1_Putt]

Final results. 

I believe the problem was a combination of a couple things.  The double sided tape was remaing a little gooey from leaving in a hot Arizona garage.  And by not using any buildup masking tape the gooey tape was directly against the slick metal shaft allowing it to twist.  I added a couple wraps of maksing tape on the shaft and then applied my existing (slighly gooey) double sided tape.  The grip seems to be solid now after 2-3 weeks.  So having the double sided now gripping against the rougher masking tape, plus a tighter bond from two wraps seems to have done the trick.  Thanks for all the suggestions.  Now if I could only make some putts.  🙂