ORLANDO ? It used to be you would have to sacrifice performance or comfort when it came to golf grips. That's no longer the case. As grip makers develop new compounds and manufacturing processes, players, it seems can get the best of both worlds.
"We see a potential growth market for multi-density grips," says John Lauchnor, president of Royal Precision, which is developing such a grip for release later this year. In the meantime, though, Royal Grip is debuting an improved version of the Classic V and X-Treme V grips with a new Comfort Cord material. The cord is smaller in diameter than regular cord, therefore not as abrasive for a more comfortable grip.
Lamkin Grips, on the other hand, has a different concept in cord with its new G3 QuarterCord designed to prevent abrasiveness to the ungloved hand. Lamkin's cord material is placed only on the back quarter of the grip, underneath the gloved hand, while the remaining portion of the grip features a blend of cork enhanced rubber compound recently developed by a team of engineers.
"Preliminary feedback from our Tour representatives indicates that players agree the concept is long overdue. The G3 figures to play a significant role on Tours in 2003,"says company President Bob Lamkin. "All golfers may now experience the reduced torque and slipping while not giving up comfort."
Golf Pride, the marketshare leader in grips, has introduced something radically different from its previous offerings. The Whisper golf grip features a rubber compound with an open cell synthetic material designed to dampen vibration, which the company says is easier on the body joints. The open cell polyurethane overlap is soft and tacky for comfort. But more than that, the open cell design pulls moisture away from the surface to keep the hands feeling dry. Highlighting Winn's introductions is the new Heritage line of putter grips. Designed with Winn's latest
V-11 material, the grips line includes a two-tone copper/black wrap that is designed to give the grips a vintage leather look and firm feel. The company also has a new 21-inch pistol-shaped belly putter grip that features the company's Excel material in black and red. Winn has also redesigned its Tour Series Diamond Grips for better players. The grips have a firmer feel than the Classic and Excel lines.
Karakal Far East Limited's X-Line range of golf club grips has only been around for a couple of years, but it's gaining popularity. Karakal grips are versatile, says the company, ideal for use in humid and wet conditions.
Percise, meanwhile, offers dual density grips in the ProLine 2 and ProLine 3. The ProLine 2, for example, has an inner-skeleton molded out of a hard Vulcathane, a specially blended rubber compound. An outer layer of softer Vulcathane, which is softer and tackier, is molded to the outer layer.
Percise also makes the C-Thru Grip that several Tour players have been using. It's marketed and sold by C-Thru Grips, Inc.
Stroke Solutions' Fatso Putter Grip System has nothing to do with dual density; it's just dense. USGA legal, the Fatso Grip (1.67 inches in diameter) is designed for one thing - to improve one's putter stroke.
