Eighteen holes is a lot of swings. By the back nine, friction has built up on your lead hand — the heel, the base of the fingers, wherever your grip creates pressure. A blister forms, and suddenly every shot hurts. Your grip changes to avoid pain. Your swing falls apart.
The solution isn't gripping lighter or changing clubs. It's protecting the friction zones before damage accumulates.
Where Golf Blisters Form
Most golf blisters appear on the lead hand (left for right-handed players). Common spots: the heel of the palm below the pinkie, the base of the index and middle fingers, and the thumb pad. These are pressure points in a proper grip.
The trail hand usually escapes damage because it wraps around the lead hand rather than gripping the club directly.
Tape works under a glove or as a replacement for one. Some players tape just the hot spots and skip the glove entirely for better feel.
Taping for 18 Holes
Identify your friction zones from past rounds — you know where you blister. Wrap those areas with a single layer of self-adhering tape before you tee off. The tape stays put through a full round, even in heat and humidity.
Unlike athletic tape, self-adhering tape won't shift or bunch as you swing. And there's no adhesive residue to affect your grip between shots.