Abstract: A hand protector is for use with sports equipment having an elongated shaft and an operative end. The hand protector has an outer protective sleeve and a inner sleeve. The outer protective sleeve has a first end and a second end. The tubular inner sleeve is generally flexible and tubular for slidably receiving the shaft. The inner sleeve is positioned within the outer protective sleeve and is engaged with the first end of the outer protective sleeve. The inner sleeve has an inner surface and an outer surface. The outer protective sleeve surrounds at least a portion of the inner sleeve, whereby a user places a hand around the outer surface of the inner sleeve and compresses the outer surface to cause the inner surface to deflect inward and grip the shaft, thereby increasing a frictional engagement of the hand protector with the shaft.