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3 and 4 with larger hand sizes, the diameter size of the
grip was the most influential component.
The majority of golf grips are made of a foam or
rubber material, as it is easy to shape, produce and can
offer different firmnesses while maintaining an
adhesive feel (Golf Grips Buying Guide, 2017).
Many manufacturers have begun to experiment with
different rubber hybrids by including silicon,
elastomers and plastics into the grips to give them
different properties for different climates and
preferences (Golf Grips Buying Guide, 2017). There
are generally three levels of firmness with the softest
firmness being best for climates that are dry with little
rain, the hard firmness grips are best for hot and
humid or rainier climates and the medium firmness
grip are the standard, versatile grip.
The other component of golf grips is the size
(diameter) of the grip. Studies suggest that up to 75%
of players are using the wrong size grip with there
being five different diameter size grips: standard,
junior, undersized, mid-sized, and oversized/jumbo
(Golf Grips Buying Guide, 2017). The diameter of
the grip can also influence the shot shape (draw or
fade; curve to the right or curve to the left for a right
handed player) as a larger grip limits wrist movement
and smaller diameter grips allow for more
manipulation (Golf Grips Buying Guide, 2017).
Many players also add athletic tape underneath their
grip to make minor adjustments to their grip size
allowing them to customize their grip to their game.
Looking specifically at the arthritis grips, the
serrated arthritis grips (Lamkin arthritis grip and the
Tacki-Mac arthritis standard grip) seemed to produce
the highest force outputs out of the three grips tested.
The graphs of the serrated arthritis grips compared to
the grips that produced the highest force output in the
non-arthritis grips showed similar magnitudes of
force across all the participants. This potentially
demonstrates that this arthritis-assisted golf grip
design may not be the best solution for reducing the
forces in a player’s hands. As well, all four players
commented that the serrated grips were the most
uncomfortable to hold and that they would not
purchase these grips for their own clubs. This
suggests that currently marketed arthritis grips may
not be the best option for comfort and in reducing
harmful high forces when swinging a golf club.
However, further tests need to be conducted on
different skill level golfers, as well as on individuals
with and without hand arthritis, to obtain an accurate
representation of the forces that occur in a players
hands and to show if there is a consistent pattern
between the various types of grips (both size and
material).
With arthritis being the most prevalent chronic
health condition with no cure (The Truth About
Arthritis, 2018), and with the advances in technology
specifically in wearable devices, the understanding of
the effects that various materials and diameter sizes
of golf grips have on the forces occurring at the hand-
grip interface can be evaluated. This research will
contribute to the understanding of the complex
structure of the hand and can be translated to other
sports such as tennis, squash, baseball, etc. By
providing a better understanding of the mechanics of
arthritis and its relation to sports, the design of more
advanced sporting equipment can be developed to
protect players’ joints and be more customizable to
each players’ performance.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to acknowledge the Strategic
Operating Grant from the Arthritis Society for their
support of this study.
REFERENCES
Artritis Golf Grips. (2017, February 22). Retrieved from
Lamkin: http://www.lamkingrips.com/shop/arthritis-
golf-grips.html/
Budney, D. (1979). Measurement and analysis of grip force
during a golf shot. Loughborough University
Institutional Repository.
Capacitive Tactile Pressure Sensors. (2018). Retrieved
from Pressure Profile Systems: https://
pressureprofile.com/capacitive-sensors
Frequently Asked Questions . (2017, May 11). Retrieved
from Golf Pride Grips: http://www.golfpride.com/
faqs/technology/
Golf Grips Buying Guide. (2017). Retrieved from Golf A
Lot: http://www.golfalot.com/buyingguides/grips.aspx
Golf Player Demographic Statistics. (2016, October 30).
Retrieved from Statistic Brain: http://
www.statisticbrain.com/golf-player-demographic-
statistics/
Komi, E., Roberts, J., and Rothberg, S. (2008). High Speed
Video Footage for Enhanced Evaluation of Grip Force
Signatures in Golf. In A. World Science Congress of
Golf (5th:2008:Phoenix, Science and Golf V:
Proceedings of the World Scientific Congress of Golf
(pp. 60-66). Phoenix: Mesa, AZ: Energy in Motion,
Inc., 2008.
The Truth About Arthritis. (2018). Retrieved from Arthritis
Society : https://www.arthritis.ca/about-arthritis/what-
is-arthritis/the-truth-about-arthritis
Investigation of Hand Forces Produced While Playing Golf: With the Use of New Weareble Sensor Technology to Assist in the Hand
Function of Patients with and without Hand Arthritis
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