Seven of the best last-minute golf gifts
Best golf club grips: The 8 best performing, best feeling golf club grips
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BEST GOLF CLUB GRIPS
Golfers only touch one piece of the club on every swing. That would be the grip, which tends to get overlooked in a sea of white-hot driver faces and uber-forgiving irons. Given how frequently the club grip is handled over the course of a round, you’d assume golfers would be more discerning when it comes to selecting grips for their sets.
In fact, a large majority of golfers are content to use whatever comes on the set they purchased, which seems illogical when you consider the amount of money you invest in a new set of sticks. Not all rubber compounds are created equal, and unless you’ve tried multiple grip sizes, there’s a chance you could be playing the wrong grip altogether.
Another thing to consider when buying grips? The length of time you’ll be able to use a set before they need to be replaced. On average, most professional golfers change their grips every six weeks to two months. There’s no need to follow a pro’s lead — unless you’re playing 4-5 times per week and practicing regularly — but it’s worth considering the effect heat, dirt and oils from your hands have on your grips.
According to a Golf Pride study, a set of well-worn, two-year-old grips can be a detriment to your game, costing you 3-4 shots per round. So, pay attention to your grips. With a fresh set of grips ranging from $70-$130, it’s one of the most economical investments you can make in your game.
With so many options available, here’s a look at eight grips worth considering if you’re looking for something different or simply want to know what else is out there beyond your current grip of choice.
Best grips for gripping like the pros
Golf Pride Tour Velvet
The most popular grip on the PGA Tour also happens to be the most classic design in the industry. The Tour Velvet combines a rubber-blend compound with a computer-designed, non-slip surface pattern that maximizes playability and comfort. Many club manufacturers base their designs off this grip model. The grip is available in a number of versions, including the company’s Align technology, whereby a raised reminder ridge is added to the back portion of the rubber to improve clubface awareness and consistency. For those who need all-weather performance, the Tour Velvet can be purchased with Golf Pride’s Brushed Cotton Technology that wicks away moisture to retain traction.
$4.99
Best grips for golfers who need it all
Golf Pride New Decade MultiCompound
Running a close second in Golf Pride’s arsenal of grips is the New Decade MutiCompound. The grip blends Brushed Cotton Technology in the top half for enhanced traction with a high-performance rubber blend in the lower half to up the feel and responsiveness. In addition to the hybrid design, a “sand bar” texture pattern was added to the entire surface to tune the firmness of the rubber. Due to the popularity of the “MCC” grip, it’s also offered in a wide range of versions. Align technology can be found in one model; another provides softer material and a larger lower hand that’s designed to simulate four additional tape wraps, reducing tension and pressure during the swing.
$10.49
Best grips for tackling the elements
SuperStroke S-Tech
Jordan Spieth’s grip of choice is designed for the golfer who prioritizes feedback and control. The rubber compound used to create the S-Tech produces a soft, tacky feel that keeps the grip from slipping at impact in all weather conditions. A cross-traction surface texture was added to further enhance the grip’s non-slip surface. The minimal taper profile evens out the hand pressure to promote a faster swing and square the face at impact. If you’re into something other than black, the S-Tech comes in blue, grey and red for a pop of color on the course.
$5.99
Best grips for techies
Arccos Caddie Smart Grips
For the data-driven golfer in your group, Arccos’ Caddie Smart grips are the most technologically advanced design on the market. Housed inside the butt end of each grip is a lightweight GPS sensor that tracks the distance and direction of each shot hit on the course. If simply going back and reliving the round isn’t enough, an AI-powered tracking system (available via the Arccos app) uses the data to suggest everything club selection to the best way to tackle a hole. As a golfer continues to use the grip sensors, average yardages for each club become more accurate, highlighting potential problem gaps in the set. The sensors are available in Golf Pride’s MCC Plus4 and Lamkin’s Crossline 360 and UTx.
$199.99 (For 13 grips and putter sensor; other grips priced individually.)
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Best grips for consistent feel
Lamkin Sonar Tour
Lamkin’s proprietary Fingerprint technology delivers a consistent micro-texture pattern along the entire grip. The pattern’s job is simple: provide slip-resistant control and multi-directional traction during the swing. It also doesn’t hurt that the design is slightly mesmerizing. For the golfer who prefers a slightly firmer rubber, the patent-pending Genesis material delivers torsion control. Another subtle design tweak golfers should appreciate? The grip is created with a logo-down design — inspired by tour player preference — meaning you won’t have to make the request when building these grips up. A classic taper shape provides a traditional, consistent feel.
$8.99
Best grips to help reduce grip pressure
JumboMax JMX UltraLite
Earlier this year, Bryson DeChambeau chose to shed 75 grams of weight from his JumboMax grips in an attempt to improve wedge play. The grip turned out to be a prototype of the JMX UltraLite currently available at retail. The oversized profile is designed to promote light, even grip pressure and maintain the feeling of more weight in the club head. JumboMax’s multi-textured, all-weather polyurethane surface offers maximum firmness, while the substantial taper profile keeps the face square longer through impact.
$162 (13 grips)
Best grips for a lightweight feel
Winn Dri-Tac Lite
At a feathery 22 grams, the Dri-Tac Lite is nearly 30 grams lighter than the standard version. By significantly reducing the weight, Winn believes it will lead to a better club head feel, swing tempo and consistent contact. The rest of the grip looks and performs like the original Dri-Tac. The soft, responsive material used to create the Dri-Tac Lite is a slip-resistant polymer that’s also featured prominently on the company’s fishing grips.
$6.59
Best grips for a tacky feel
Pure DTX
With seven color options to choose from, Pure Grips’ DTX stands out from the crowd with an ultra-aggressive, dual-texture pattern and Tack rubber compound. For Pure, the goal with the DTX was to create even more control when compared to standard rubber material. Heavy contrasting texture can be found in seven separate sections along the grip, which means you don’t have to worry about slippage if the weather turns dicey.
$4.99
Each product we feature has been independently selected by GOLF.com’s editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn a small commission.
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