Removing part of old Golf Pride putter grip.

[rexroh]

I have an old STX long putter. It is about 50 inches long and has the old Golf Pride long grip (about 26 inches)  This grip is put on in two pieces with join butted up in the middle. I want to shorten the putter by 4 to 6 inches.  I have tried air but the grip will not move at this stage. If I can get some movement in the top 6 to 8 inches I would cut around the rubber remove that bit and then cut to length.  I could the use the upper piece (cut to length) to be the grip cap. I would leave one to two inches shaft bare to allow for this.  
I may have to just cut the grip away from the area I want to cut and use another round grip as a cap or try to remove end of grip after cutting using spirits and tool to get under the rubber. 

Any other suggestions welcome.

[Socrates]

What do you want that grip for?  They are massively heavy.

 

You need to use one of those V tool sliders used to remove grips.  Nothing else will work.  More effort than it's worth, IMO.

[rexroh]

Socrates

 

I use face on putting method with a putter length about 45-46 inches.  I like a very heavy putter for this system and this putter appears to have great potential. (Don’t all putters until used for a while).   I like the weight.  If I completely removed the grip and replaced it with a 2 piece grip I would end up putting lead shot down the shaft to bring total weight to near 550 grams. 

Replacing grip and adding weight is a back up thought if all goes wrong. 

[Socrates]

58 minutes ago, rexroh said:

Socrates

 

I use face on putting method with a putter length about 45-46 inches.  I like a very heavy putter for this system and this putter appears to have great potential. (Don’t all putters until used for a while).   I like the weight.  If I completely removed the grip and replaced it with a 2 piece grip I would end up putting lead shot down the shaft to bring total weight to near 550 grams. 

Replacing grip and adding weight is a back up thought if all goes wrong. 

Some available on eBay.  Search Golf Pride Long Putter Grip

[rexroh]

Sorry but cost of shipping to New Zealand prohibitive.   I am still working on length. I need to take at least 2 inches off to make putter legal.  I use a push on ball gatherer on the end of the grip.  Then putter measures 52 inches.  
I can grip down on the putter but would rather be legal as playing golf is playing to all the rules. Not just the ones you like.  

[skraly]

Since you are still in the experimental stage of finding the best length, why remove the grip at all.  Just cut through the grip and shaft to the length you want to experiment with and wrap some electrical tape around the grip end to keep it from unraveling any more.  Once you find the exact length you are going to stick with you can decide what grip you want permanently.   Absent that, the only way you are likely to get that top part off is to inject solvent under the grip.  Any local golf repair is likely to have what you need.  Otherwise I just use a 10cc syringe and and 18 ga. needle to inject solvent when I need to.  It's a little time consuming but with a little patience I can usually get a grip off.  But if that grip has been on for a long time, the rubber gets brittle from UV exposure and skin oils.  Those are all but impossible to get off in one piece.

[rexroh]

Thanks Skraly. I am almost at the end of testing for length.  I use tape around the grip and grip below tape.   
I may be able to get local pro to remove the end bit with the injector tool if he has one.  I have tried a syringe on other grips with little success. 
The grip is old and brittle and while in good condition I think the putter is 30 years or more old.  It has the black face that is also rare. 
More testing to be done.

 

[Milfordlefty]

If you have your final length number set, here is a thought. Cut the grip and shaft at a point 3" below your final length. Example, if your final length is 45", cut at 42" from floor. Take the cut off part and cut grip and shaft 3" from cap. Take a steel shaft extender and attach the 42" portion to the 3" portion. The shaft extender will add some weight to the grip end, but at 550 gram total, shouldn't cause an issue. Make the two cuts with as thin of a blade as possible (cutting the steel is the hard part), so the finished joint looks a clean as possible.

[skraly]

If the grip is that old I highly doubt that anyone can get it off in one piece.

Also, while I’m not completely familiar with face on putting, I believe they mostly use a round putter grip, correct?  If that is true or if you don’t mind using a round grip why not just use two standard round grips to replace the grip that is on now.  The only thing you have to be sure of is that the rules say there must be at least a 1.5” gap between the bottom of the top most grip and the start of the lower grip.  There are lots of round grips to choose from in various weights and sizes.  I’m sure whatever local golf shops you have access to will have something that will work for you.  I understand the cost of ordering a specialized grip to NZ.

Edited January 1, 2022 by skraly

[rexroh]

5 minutes ago, skraly said:

If the grip is that old I highly doubt that anyone can get it off in one piece.

You are right. In the end when I tried to remove the end I had cut it disintegrated.  It was like hard plastic but cracked in places.  
I was able remove about 5 inches of grip and then cut 3 inches of the shaft off.  Then using an old Pure Jumbo iron grip and masking tape to build up the shaft I got a reasonable match.  
it should pass the legality test.  
Thanks for all the replies. 

[skraly]

I was adding an addendum to my post while you were replying.  Read it again.  It might be helpful.

[skraly]

I’ll also add that if your original grip had any flat surface, by adding a round top piece, it would probably be ruled non-conforming in any kind of official competition.

Edited January 1, 2022 by skraly

[rexroh]

skraly

 

l know the rules re two grips and just never thought about it.  It was the simple answer with no real problems. The original grip is round so no problems there.  The only problem is removing the old grip.  Time and hard work but do able.
I did consider replacing the whole grip with two separated grips but would have lost a lot of weight. Just did not consider making it a split grip and using current top grips I have.  
Old and stupid I am.

Itisworth considering for future changes with that putter. Thanks.