What does reduced taper mean on a golf grip?

Reduced taper means the lower-hand section of the grip is built closer in thickness to the top, so the grip is more even along its length instead of narrowing sharply toward the shaft.

Is reduced taper better for a hook?

It can help. A reduced taper thickens the lower hand slightly, which quiets an overactive lower hand and can reduce a hook or a pull. It works best combined with the correct overall grip size.

What is the Plus4 in Golf Pride Plus4?

Plus4 refers to a reduced-taper build that plays like adding four wraps of tape under the lower hand only. The upper hand stays standard, and the lower hand sits noticeably fuller.

Sizing & fit

Grip taper explained: standard vs reduced

Taper is the change in thickness from the top of a grip to the bottom. Here's how standard and reduced taper shift your hand pressure, and who each one suits.

New to a term? See the glossary

Taper is how much a grip narrows from the top down to the bottom. Every grip is thicker at the butt end and thinner near the shaft, but how big that difference is changes how the grip sits in your two hands. It is one of the least discussed parts of a grip and one of the easiest to feel once you know what to look for.

Standard taper vs reduced taper

A standard taper follows the traditional shape: notably thicker under your top hand and thinner under your lower hand. A reduced taperkeeps the lower-hand section closer in thickness to the top, so the grip feels more even along its length. Some brands build reduced taper right into a model, and Golf Pride's Plus4 line is the best-known example, which plays as though you added four wraps of tape under the lower hand only.

Why taper changes your hands

A thinner lower-hand section, which is what a standard taper gives you, lets the lower hand wrap around more and stay active. That helps players who need to release the club. A reduced taper thickens that lower section, which quiets the lower hand and reduces the tendency to over-flip through impact. If you tend to hook the ball or fight grip pressure that creeps up under your lower hand, a reduced taper often calms both down.

Who each taper suits

Standard taper: most golfers, and anyone who wants the lower hand to release freely. It is the default for a reason.
Reduced taper: players who over-rotate the club, grip too hard with the lower hand, or feel like the handle disappears in their bottom hand. It promotes lighter, more even pressure.

Taper and size are different levers

It is easy to confuse taper with size, but they do separate jobs. Size is the overall thickness of the grip. Taper is the balance of thickness between your hands. You can have a standard-size grip with either taper. If you are dialing in fit, set the overall size first, then decide whether a reduced taper would help your lower hand settle down.

The clearest real-world comparison of the two tapers is the Golf Pride MCC versus MCC Plus4, which are nearly the same grip apart from the taper.

Common questions

What does reduced taper mean on a golf grip?: Reduced taper means the lower-hand section of the grip is built closer in thickness to the top, so the grip is more even along its length instead of narrowing sharply toward the shaft.
Is reduced taper better for a hook?: It can help. A reduced taper thickens the lower hand slightly, which quiets an overactive lower hand and can reduce a hook or a pull. It works best combined with the correct overall grip size.
What is the Plus4 in Golf Pride Plus4?: Plus4 refers to a reduced-taper build that plays like adding four wraps of tape under the lower hand only. The upper hand stays standard, and the lower hand sits noticeably fuller.

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