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The post Golf’s rarest club is making a PGA Championship appearance | Tour Report appeared first on Golf.

Welcome to Fully Equipped’s weekly Tour equipment report. Every Friday of PGA Tour weeks (plus other times, if news warrants), GOLF equipment editor Jack Hirsh runs you through some of the biggest news surrounding golf clubs on Tour, including changes, tweaks and launches.

After one round, Aronimink is proving more difficult off the tee than originally anticipated, and one of the early leaders is navigating that challenge with golf’s rarest club.

Yes, Aldrich Potgieter is gaming a 1-iron this week, and it’s helped him contend at the PGA Championship (tied for the lead after the first round and the solo leader at the time of this writing on Friday).

Off-the-tee play wasn’t much of a story in the lead-up at Aronimink, which is hosting a PGA for the first time in 64 years. The Donald Ross gem measures just 7,394 yards, short by modern major championship standards, and players contemplated bomb-and-gouge strategies for the layout.

“Strategy off the tee is pretty nonexistent,” Rory McIlroy said in his pre-tournament press conference. “It’s basically bash driver down there and then figure it out from there. … When these traditional golf courses take a lot of trees out, it makes strategy not as much of a concern off the tee.”

That comment came back to bite McIlroy, as he hit just 5 of 14 fairways and lost nearly a half shot to the field off the tee in an opening-round 74. Turns out the wild undulations and firm conditions of Aronimink’s fairways made them difficult to hold. Missing the fairway also proved unexpectedly penal, as the average proximity difference between the fairway and not on Thursday morning was nearly six feet worse than the average PGA Tour host course, according to Justin Ray.

While many players opted to keep their typical top-of-bag setups, Potgieter took the interesting approach of adding a 1-iron in addition to his regular PXG 2-iron. The slightly longer build checked in at just over 15 degrees of loft, which gave the club a touch of right bias.

Now, like many of the 1-irons you see on the PGA Tour from time to time, this isn’t your grandfather’s 1-iron. This is a hollow-bodied club with a graphite shaft designed to get the ball in the air. I wouldn’t advise anyone to hold Potgieter’s 1-iron (which he referred to as a 3-wood in a press conference) up during a lightning storm.

The club is rare by PGA Tour standards and if ever seen, it’s usually during the Open Championship or Scottish Open.

But Potgeiter’s 1-iron has some unique abilities even among other butter knives. As PXG’s Justin Shepherd told GOLF, the new Gen 8 driving iron’s weight adjustability allowed Potgieter to add the club in place of his fairway wood because they could straighten out his ball flight more easily.

“Playing with the weight and lie angle, as I went a little more upright … he actually was losing some ball speed, so he obviously wasn’t hitting it as well,” Shepherd said. “We moved back to the lie angle fit, then we could work on the ball flight without changing the two things.”

Potgieter’s 1-iron features a 12g weight in the heel and a 7g weight in the toe to help him turn it over. His 2-iron is more neutral.

With the 1-iron, which is 5/8 of an inch longer than the 2-iron with the same Nippon Modus GOST shaft, Potgieter carries the ball only a few yards farther than the 2-iron, but its runs out nearly 30 yards farther while reaching 170-172 mph ball speeds.

While Potgieter hit driver off the tee 11 times on Thursday, his driving irons came in handy on three tee shots and his approach to the par-5 9th. It all added up to a share of the first-round lead.

Flatstick swaps

One thing that has rung true about the challenge of Aronimink has been the difficulty of its signature Donald Ross domed greens. Was that the reason a number of players chose to make putter changes when tweaks during major weeks are usually more subtle?

The most notable move was Brooks Koepka, who moved into a new TaylorMade 2026 Spider Tour V from his previous 2025 Spider Tour X. Koepka reportedly broke his previous putter at the One Flight Myrtle Beach Classic last week, necessitating the change. He spent several hours working through various mallet putters on Monday before settling on the new Spider Tour V.

We still don’t know much on the new Spider Tour V, which appears to have been redesigned from the previous version that’s in Shane Lowry’s bag. The previous Spider Tour V was the most forward CG mallet in the TaylorMade lineup, making it feel like a blade.

Koepka’s new Tour V appears more compact and the weight ports are forward in the head, which seems to indicate a similar goal. Koepka is likely looking to find something that feels like his previous Scotty Cameron Newport 2 Teryllium putters.

But more surprising was that Alex Fitzpatrick, fresh off a Cinderella three-week run after winning the Zurich Classic team event, swapped putters.

The young Fitzpatrick went from his silver Odyssey Ai-ONE No. 7 S to a Navy Ai-ONE No. 7 CH.

While the change from silver to navy is interesting, it turns out the change from a slant neck to a crank hosel is the key switch.

Odyssey Ai-DUAL #7 S Custom Putter

$349.99 from Fairway Jockey

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Odyssey reps Harry Shih and Cody Hale handled the change because Fitzpatrick, a gear-free agent, said he felt like he was leaving the face open at impact. In his first two events as a PGA Tour member, Fitzpatrick lost nearly a half-shot per round on the greens.

“Just gave him more face awareness,” Shih told GOLF. “He felt like the face was hanging open so we went to the crank so he could square the face up easier. Quintic data confirmed it.”

Hale added that the Crank Hosel matched his stroke rotation better.

“We also went 1 degree more upright to better match the shaft plane to his forearms, which he and his putting coach Andy Paisley like to see in his arm structure,” Hale said.

Sahith Theegala also went back to his Anser 2 gamer after a one-week trial with an Ally Blue H mallet.

And continuing a trend of what might become the PGA Tour’s next hot putter, Tom Hoge added a new Phantom 9.5R, the same model putter Cameron Young uses and Justin Thomas recently added.

Spieth goes longer; Fowler goes shorter

Thursday was a bit of a trip back in time for Jordan Spieth as he chases the career Grand Slam, but it was the driver that was dialed for Spieth, unlike how it was 10 years ago.

Spieth gained 1.93 strokes off the tee on the field in Round 1, ranked second in the field. He missed just two fairways.

Turns out he made a tweak to his GTS2 driver last week after putting it in play at Doral, going to a longer, 46″ Fujikura Ventus Black shaft.

Thanks to the increased stability of the GTS2 head he found he was able to go longer and down in loft (from 10 to 9) to get more speed. Spieth also has his GTS2 front weighted with 9g in the front and 3g in the back to get even more speed.

He gained .663 strokes a round off the tee at the Cadillac but then picked up more than a stroke a day at the Truist with the longer build. Since adding the GTS2, he’s gone from 113th in SG: Off the Tee to 77th in just two weeks.

Titleist GTS2 Custom Driver

$699.00 from Fairway Jockey

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But on the flip side, Rickie Fowler shortened his driver this week.

After using a 45″ driver for the last few weeks, Fowler is back again using a shorter build, but this time at 43.25″, almost certainly the shortest driver on the PGA Tour. In fact, it’s the same length as his mini driver.

Fowler is having one of his most accurate seasons on the PGA Tour in terms of driving accuracy and has used a 44.125″ driver for much of the season. He opened with an even-par 70 on Thursday.

Golf Pride again dominates grip count

As is typical, the overwhelming No. 1 grip at the PGA Championship was Golf Pride.

All but 11 of the 156 players in the field at Aronimink played Golf Pride grips this week, continuing the most dominant run in golf equipment.

Check this out

This section is dedicated to cool photos we’ve snapped recently on Tour, but haven’t had a reason to share yet. For this week, check out Christiaan Bezuidenhout’s new PXG 0317 Tour prototype irons.

Odds and Ends

Some other gear changes and notes we’re tracking this week.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout added PXG’s 0317 Tour Proto irons (above) with KBS Tour 125 S+ shafts … Lucas Glover switched to the GTS2 driver after adding the fairway woods last week … Max Greyserman added Callaway’s Quantum TD TD driver with Ventus Blue 6-X … Viktor Hovland added a Ping G440 Max 3-wood and G440 3-hybrid to his bag … Greyserman and Ryo Hisastune switched to Vokey’s A+ grind to get faster through the turf … Haotong Li is following in the footsteps of Fowler and Gary Woodland by adding a Scotty Cameron GOLO 7 CS … Denny McCarthy (GTS2 9.0) and Luke Donald (GTS3 9.0) added new Titleist GTS drivers non-contracted … Fujikura lead the driver shaft count with 46.2% of the field … Maverick McNealy switched to the new Fujikura Ventus TR Black+ 6-X in his driver.

3 things you should read/watch

A selection of GOLF content from the past week that may interest you.

Hideki Matsuyama is golf’s most notorious tester. Here’s what makes his bag | Bag Spy – Take a deep dive into the bag of Hideki Matsuyama and see why, even as he tests more than anyone, he continues to play mostly the same stuff.

This Aronimink feature has pros re-thinking their wedge setup at the PGA – Aronimink is the first chance for PGA Tour players to see bent grass this season. See what Vokey’s Aaron Dill says is the key to handling northeastern turf.

Cameron Young reportedly playing golf ball that would conform under rollback – Cameron Young revealed on Wednesday that his Titleist Pro V1x Double Dot golf ball passed the new rolled back conformance test. See what that means and what it’s a big deal.

The author welcomes your comments at Jack.Hirsh@golf.com.

Want to overhaul your bag in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

The post Golf’s rarest club is making a PGA Championship appearance | Tour Report appeared first on Golf.

The post How to re-grip your golf clubs at home appeared first on Golf.

The post How to re-grip your golf clubs at home appeared first on Golf.

I grew up with a father who was obsessed with tinkering with his golf clubs (you can see how I ended up in my current position now), so learning how to change a grip in the basement came before I drove a car.

Re-gripping your golf clubs is fun, easy and gives you complete control of how your clubs feel in your hands. No excuses, everything is on you.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and I recently moved to Boston, about 265 miles away from my dad’s workshop in Pennsylvania.

But not to worry, while I’m not going to buy all the tools I had access to in my dad’s workshop at once, I can start by easily giving myself a space to regrip my golf clubs.

What you need to re-grip your golf clubs at home

Golf Pride Reverse Taper Pistol Putter Grip

Reverse Taper putter grip technology stabilizes both hands for a more square putter face at impact. A pistol kick on the back of the grip locks the heel pad of the upper hand to the putter grip and the slim upper hand and wide lower hand offers enhanced control, no matter your gripping style. Featuring a dimpled pattern throughout to boost traction and a soft, tacky feel that plays well in all conditions. Product Details: Reverse Taper design with a slim upper hand and wider lower hand Technology that stabilizes both hands for a more square putter face at impact Soft feel with enhanced tacky texture Dimple pattern throughout grip to support traction Available Shapes Medium Pistol Large Pistol Medium Round Large Round Medium Flat Large Flat

$34.99 from PGA TOUR Superstore

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How to re-grip your golf clubs at home

Step 1: Find a space

This is where garages and basements come in handy as places you won’t be afraid to get a little messy and have plenty of space.

If you can get a workbench to mount your vice, fantastic, but there are also a variety of stands and mounts on the market.

One issue I ran into in my garage is that it gets very cold and it can become difficult to get certain grips on as they are harder to work with in the cold.

Step 2: Cut away the old grip

Just like any process, there are multiple ways to skin a cat and there are multiple ways to remove an old grip.

You could try to save the old grip by either using a dedicated needle and solvent shooter, but this is often tedious and not worth the trouble. You can also save the old grip using an air compressor, shooting it into the grip (we’ll get into that in another article).

But the tried and true method is to use a regular utility knife and just cut away the old grip. A regular blade — like I’m using in the photo — works fine, but the best is to use a hook blade to avoid any scratching on non-chrome shafts. I like to do this with my club in the gripping vice. I won’t take it out until the new grip is installed.

Once you cut through the old grip, you should be able to peel it off pretty easily with your hands.

Step 3: Remove the remaining tape

The old tape will usually stay on the shaft and again, there are a couple of ways to do this, but the best way is with heat. Use either a blow torch (quickest), heat gun or even a hair dryer (safest) to melt the glue.

Once you use that, you can either use a knife or, preferably, a dedicated tape removal tool (there are lots of options out there) to peel off any remaining tape.

The shaft will still be sticky with leftover tape residue, so you’ll need to spray some grip solvent on the shaft and wipe it off with a towel. You want your shaft to be as clean as new before applying new tape.

Step 4: Measure out and apply new tape

For this step, it can be helpful to have your tape set up on a stationary dispenser. Hold your new grip next to the dispenser and pull out a new strip of tape slightly longer than the new grip.

Peel off the backing of the tape and then apply it to the end of the shaft with roughly a 1/4 to 1/2 inch overhanging the end of the shaft. I like to either apply tape with one edge down the top center of the shaft or put the center of the tape over the center of the shaft and wrap from both sides. The former puts the seam of the tape on the top while the latter places it on the bottom. It’s a preference thing, but with a putter grip as I do in the video above, it really doesn’t matter.

Take the end of the overhanging bit of tape at the top and fold it inside the top of the shaft to completely cover the edge.

Step 5: Pour solvent

The grip solvent works in two ways: as a lubricant to slide on the grip and by temporarily deactivating the glue in the tape. You’ll want to make sure the entire inside of the grip is coated in solvent.

Put at least 10 pumps of a spray bottle into the grip with a finger over the vent hole at the bottom. Then cover the opening at the top with your thumb and rotate the grip around to coat the inside.

Once you feel like the entire inside of the grip is coated, hold the grip upside down over the shaft and remove your finger from the vent hole at the bottom and let the remaining solvent out onto the tape. Certain grips, like the Reverse Taper grip in the video, which is a .580″ core diameter, that I’m installing on a putter shaft, which is .600″, might need a little extra solvent sprayed on the shaft. You really can’t use too much; just know the more you use, the longer it will take to dry.

Some gripping stations have a tray to drain the excess solvent. If you don’t have that, do this over a trash can or sink.

Step 6: Slide on the grip

Get the mouth of the grip over the butt end of the shaft and then slide on with one constant motion. This isn’t an issue with most full swing grips, but with larger grips like putter grips, keeping your momentum going is key. If you stop, you might not be able to get it moving again and you’ll have to start over.

Step 7: Check the alignment

For a putter grip, make sure the front paddle is perpendicular to the face of your putter. For a swing grip, decide if you want the logo up or down. There are typically little marks on the grip to help you align the whole grip and ensure it’s not twisted.

Some more elaborate gripping stations have a reference point to find perpendicular angles.

You can do this initially while the club is still in the clamp, but after that, remove it and check alignment from a playing position to make sure you like it.

Step 8: Make sure the grip is properly seated (IMPORTANT!!!)

You probably want to do this before checking the alignment for the last time, but flip your club upside down and tap the bottom of the grip firmly on the ground. This ensures you’ve got the grip fully on the club.

Step 9: Let it dry

Once you’ve ensured the grip is straight and seated, leave it somewhere out of a bag to dry. Overnight is always best, but it should be ready for play in a few hours, depending on how much solvent you use.

And just like that, you’ve got a brand new grip on your club and hopefully a productive new hobby!

The author welcomes your comments at Jack.Hirsh@golf.com.

Want to overhaul your bag in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

The post How to re-grip your golf clubs at home appeared first on Golf.

The post Why Golf Pride wants to change the way you think about grips appeared first on Golf.

The post Why Golf Pride wants to change the way you think about grips appeared first on Golf.

The grips on your golf clubs have long been something of an afterthought. Even during a clubfitting, there’s often little time spent dialing in your grips. At the end of the process, you’re usually asked a simple question — What grip do you prefer? — and then you’re on your way.

The folks at Golf Pride don’t think this is the most prudent approach. 

“We believe we’re designing equipment for your hands,” says James Ledford, Golf Pride president. “Not handles for your clubs.”

For Ledford, that distinction is more than semantics. Golf Pride thinks about grips as a true performance category, rather than just a finishing touch. While clubheads, shafts and balls have been studied for decades with standardized testing and performance metrics, grips have largely escaped the same level of scrutiny.

“There really haven’t been established protocols for how to study grips the way the industry studies equipment,” Ledford says. “We all understand clubhead delivery numbers. We don’t really have those standards yet for grips.”

That gap is what Golf Pride wants to close.

Instead of treating grips as passive components, the company is approaching them as active performance tools that influence strike quality, consistency and, most importantly, confidence. In Ledford’s view, the grip shouldn’t be the final decision in the fitting process, but the starting point. Most golfers think about the clubhead first, then work their way up the shaft, and only finally consider the grip. The company is deliberately flipping that order.

At Golf Pride’s state-of-the-art Performance Lab in Pinehurst, N.C., which will open late this spring, players will go through a Tour-level grip fitting that takes into account hand size, climate conditions, texture and firmness to narrow down possible grip choices. Then it’s time to actually hit shots on a simulator until you find the grip that feels the best for your swing. It soon becomes clear just how influential the grip can be.

“This is where we’re really trying to understand grips as equipment,” Ledford says. “It’s about building real data around how grips influence performance.”

For years, grips have been the quiet constant in the bag. Golf Pride is betting that once golfers start treating them like real equipment — not an afterthought — that silence won’t last much longer.

Golf Pride MCC Grip

The MCC™ (New Decade® MultiCompound) is an innovative hybrid grip that fuses the positive performance of rubber and cord. The MCC boasts the Golf Pride® exclusive Brushed Cotton Cord in the upper hand area for firm all-weather control, and a performance rubber material in the lower hand for ultimate feel and responsiveness.

$12.99 from Fairway Jockey

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The post Why Golf Pride wants to change the way you think about grips appeared first on Golf.

The post These are GOLF’s gear editor’s top products of 2025 — so far appeared first on Golf.

The post These are GOLF’s gear editor’s top products of 2025 — so far appeared first on Golf.

While golf clubs are the main point of consumerism for our sport, there are thousands upon thousands of other golf products designed to improve your golf experience or play.

But there’s always a question of what is actually worth your hard-earned dollars.

This year, I’ve gotten to test dozens of new products, from bags to rangefinders to golf club cleaners. As you decide what might be your next purchase for yourself or your favorite golfer, here are my seven favorite new products from the last year to help you make up your mind.

Sun Mountain Matchplay Swift Sunday golf bag

I am a walking golfer, no exceptions. So when I first laid eyes on Sun Mountain’s Matchplay Swift Sunday bag at the PGA Show, I knew it was for me.

It has just a 5-inch top, but it fits a full set of 14 clubs and it’s super easy to carry. Lightweight, exactly the number of pockets I need and a super sturdy stand. This has become my go-to travel golf bag.

Read my full review here.

Sun Mountain Matchplay Swift Sunday

Elevate your game with The Matchplay Swift Sunday, designed for the golfer who values simplicity and efficiency. Featuring a 5.25-inch 3-way top, this bag offers a minimalist approach to club organization, perfect for those who prefer to keep their gear light.  The single strap system ensures easy and comfortable handling throughout your round.  With six well-appointed pockets, including a customizable zip-off ball pocket face, this bag provides just the right amount of storage for your essentials while allowing for personal customization. Embrace a sleek, lightweight design that doesn’t compromise on style or functionality with the Matchplay Swift Sunday.

$315.00 from Fairway Jockey

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Jones Sports Co. Trunk Caddie

My trunk became a mess this season when I started using a remote power trolley and kept it in my car.

Just this simple trunk organizer from Jones has helped me immensely by allowing me to store my shoes vertically and giving me a place to throw golf balls, jackets and other miscellaneous items that were just floating in my trunk.

Read my full review here.

Trunk Caddie – Charcoal

The Trunk Caddie is the perfect organizer for the back of your car or trunk. Designed with convenience in mind, it folds neatly with a snap closure when not in use and expands accordion-style to hold all your essentials. Featuring multiple compartments, it keeps your gear secure and organized, making it ideal for trips to the course or everyday errands. Durable and compact, the Trunk Caddie ensures your trunk stays tidy and efficient. The new series features a recycled, ripstop material, woven from 100% PET single-use plastic bottles. The most innovative, durable, and water-resistant fabric to date, the series supports Jones’ commitment towards a more sustainable future. Tested and proven in the ever-changing climate of the Pacific Northwest.

$85.00 from Fairway Jockey

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Sun Day Red Osprey golf shoes

I’m not a spiked shoe guy, so Sun Day Red’s first footwear releases didn’t really catch my eye, but their newest release, the Osprey, really surprised me.

I guess I shouldn’t have been shocked that a shoe designed for Tiger Woods would be super stable, but it’s without doubt SDR’s most comfortable shoe so far, too.

Read my full review here.

Sun Day Red Osprey Golf Shoes

A versatile golf shoe that seamlessly transitions from office to course, combining performance materials with minimalist design for the modern golfer’s lifestyle. Available in four core colourways. Where performance meets versatility, across the diverse terrains of an active life. The Sun Day Red Osprey stands as the perfect companion for those who move seamlessly between worlds—from office meetings to afternoon tee times, from casual dinners to weekend adventures. Crafted with premium materials and subtle sophistication, this shoe delivers the comfort needed for all-day wear and the performance required for confident strides on any surface. Tiger has made the Osprey his go-to shoe for life’s off-course moments—from casual outings to making statement entrances at TGL events—reflecting his understanding that today’s golfer needs footwear that performs across all aspects of a dynamic life.

$160 from PGA Tour Superstore $160 from Sun Day Red

Bushnell A1-Slope rangefinder

I got several new rangefinders this year, but my favorite was actually the simplest and the smallest.

Bushnell’s new A1-Slope rangefinder fits very nicely in my hand and adds no weight to my golf bag when I play.

Bushnell A1-Slope

Precision and Slope Gone Ultra-Compact – the A1-Slope is the smallest Bushnell Golf laser rangefinder ever and features our patented, Tour-trusted Slope Technology.

$299.99 from Bushnell

Golf Pride Reverse Taper Small

I’ve never used a putter grip like the Golf Pride Reverse Taper. As someone with smaller hands, but still wants to use an “oversized” putter grip, the new RT smalls fit perfectly in my hands.

The unique larger lower-hand section of the RT also really makes my right hand feel like it’s working for my stroke, rather than against.

Read my full review here.

Golf Pride Reverse Taper Pistol (Small)

Reverse Taper putter grip technology stabilizes both hands for a more square putter face at impact. A pistol kick on the back of the grip locks the heel pad of the upper hand to the putter grip and the slim upper hand and wide lower hand offers enhanced control, no matter your gripping style. Featuring a dimpled pattern throughout to boost traction and a soft, tacky feel that plays well in all conditions.

$29.99 from PGA Tour Superstore

Garmin R50 launch monitor

If you want an all-in-one launch monitor and simulator system that doesn’t even require a screen, the Garmin R50 is your answer.

Not only is it an optical launch monitor system, which makes it more accurate indoors, but the huge screen also makes it an easy transformation for your backyard hitting net. The applications are almost endless.

Read my full review here.

Garmin Approach R50

Play year-round with Approach R50 — the premium golf simulator and launch monitor that puts you on course to play your best game from drive to putt.

$4,999.99 from PGA Tour Superstore

ALSO AVAILABLE ON: Amazon, Garmin

Grooveit Mini-G brush

I never realized how useful a club brush would be to me until I tried the Grooveit Mini-G. This is the same brush that you see PGA Tour pros clip to their belt loops while their on the range and I see why so many do it.

No longer do I need to go back to my golf bag to wipe off my clubface every few swings. And now, they have NCAA-licensed options so I can rep my Penn State Nittany Lions (despite their performance on the football field this season…).

Read Zephyr Melton’s review here.

The post These are GOLF’s gear editor’s top products of 2025 — so far appeared first on Golf.

The post Why your golf grips might be way more important than you realize appeared first on Golf.

The post Why your golf grips might be way more important than you realize appeared first on Golf.

You can feel it in your backswing. That little moment when everything either clicks… or doesn’t. 

You can feel it at impact. When the club stays quiet in your hands and the ball leaves the face exactly how you pictured it. 

And if you’ve played this game long enough, you’ve definitely felt the opposite: hands slipping, tension creeping in, swings going sideways for no reason at all. 

Maybe your swing isn’t falling apart. Maybe it’s your grips letting you down. 

And chances are, it’s not something you’ve spent much time thinking about. But ask any Tour rep, master fitter or serious player, and they’ll tell you grips are the “secret sauce” for better ball striking most golfers never pay attention to. 

Your grip isn’t just about feel, it’s about function 

Let’s kill the idea that grip selection is about comfort alone. That’s like picking a putter based only on color. 

Grips affect release patterns, grip pressure, hand speed, and overall control. Play the wrong grip, and your swing starts making subtle compensations, such as gripping tighter, releasing differently, losing consistency…without you even realizing it. Too slick? You squeeze harder. Too soft? You lose feedback. Wrong taper? The club turns in your hands. 

A well-fit grip, built around the way you swing, quietly fixes a lot of those issues. And the right grip doesn’t just feel better. It helps you swing with freedom and repeatability. 

Size isn’t just a hand measurement 

One of the biggest myths in golf is that your grip size should match your glove size. Wear a large glove? Go midsize. Small glove? Stick to standard. 

It’s not wrong… but it’s not absolute, either. 

Grip size is as much about swing mechanics as hand measurements. A player with large hands might prefer a smaller grip to promote a faster release. Another player might choose jumbo grips to quiet down twitchy hands and minimize face rotation. 

It’s personal. It’s about feel. And with grip technology in 2025, you’ve got the freedom to dial it in with precision. From standard to midsize to jumbo, and everything in between with a few wraps of tape, you’re not stuck choosing from a chart. You’re choosing based on performance. 

That’s why Tour players mix and match. Midsize on the driver, standard on the irons, jumbo on the wedges; there’s no one-size-fits-all when you’re chasing feel. 

Feel is a fitting variable, too 

There’s a reason fitters obsess over swing weight, shaft flex, launch angles…and yes, grips. The grip is your control panel. It’s the first thing your brain responds to in the swing. It sets the tone for tension, tempo, and even intent. 

Here are a few options from Golf Pride that give players the right tools to unlock better golf. 

– Tour Velvet is the classic — used by more Tour players than any other grip. Balanced, no-nonsense, and ultra-reliable. 

– MCC is the hybrid hero: corded upper hand, softer lower hand, perfect for players who want feel and control. 

Golf Pride MCC Grip

The MCC™ (New Decade® MultiCompound) is an innovative hybrid grip that fuses the positive performance of rubber and cord. The MCC boasts the Golf Pride® exclusive Brushed Cotton Cord in the upper hand area for firm all-weather control, and a performance rubber material in the lower hand for ultimate feel and responsiveness.

$12.99 from Fairway Jockey

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– ZGRIP Cord is for those who want the firmest, most aggressive texture. It shines in heat and humidity. 

– CPX and CP2 Pro or CP2 Wrap bring softness and shock absorption to the table — ideal for those with hand pain or high grip tension. 

– Plus4 gives you a built-in “extra wrap” feel in the lower hand, reducing tension and smoothing out the transition. 

Golf Pride MCC +4 Grip

The MCC Plus4™ is a tour-proven, hybrid golf grip featuring a larger lower hand and new softer rubber material. The MCC Plus4 simulates 4 additional wraps of tape on the lower hand to encourages lighter grip pressure, reduced tension, and increased power.

$12.99 from Fairway Jockey

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These aren’t just textures. They’re performance profiles. 

Finding your Golf Pride fit 

If all this has you wondering where to start, good… you’re thinking about your grips the right way now. 

Start by trying different sizes. Standard, midsize, jumbo; they all feel dramatically different in your hands. And it doesn’t stop there. Add a couple wraps of tape, and suddenly a grip you thought was too soft now feels firm and responsive. Golf Pride’s designs are built to adapt, and small changes go a long way. 

Think about how your hands behave during the swing. Do you feel like you’re squeezing too tight? Do your hands get jumpy at the top? Are you blowing through gloves faster than usual? Those are signs your current grip isn’t giving you the feedback or security you need. 

Material matters, too. If you play in humid summer heat or sweat a lot, you might benefit from corded grips like the ZGRIP or MCC. If you play in cooler temps, or just prefer less aggressive texture, the Tour Velvet or CPX will feel better in your hands. 

Gear

Minjee Lee's clubs: Inside her KPMG Women's PGA-winning setup

By: Johnny Wunder

Some fitters will even let you hit shots on a launch monitor with different grip builds. You’d be surprised how much your dispersion can tighten up or how your face strike location can improve, just by changing the grip. 

And if you’re not ready to regrip your whole set just yet, start with the clubs you use most: your driver, 7-iron, and your go-to wedge. You’ll notice the difference faster than you think. 

Last thing; change them before they go bad. Grips wear down slowly. You don’t notice it until you do. Once a year is smart. Twice a year if you play a lot or live somewhere hot. 

The Tour secret that shouldn’t be a secret 

Walk down any practice tee at a Tour event, and you’ll hear the same conversation in different forms: swing tweaks, yardage gaps, and yes, grip setups. 

Why? Because at that level, every variable matters. And when you’re trying to control face angle within fractions of a degree, the grip you choose isn’t just important, it’s foundational. 

If Tour players obsess over it, maybe the rest of us should, too. 

Don’t just grab what’s on the shelf

Golfers love to tinker with everything from lie angles to launch metrics. But too many still treat grips like a commodity… something that comes on the club and only gets swapped out when it’s getting slick or falling apart in their hands. 

Let’s change that. 

Your grip isn’t an accessory. It’s your interface with the golf swing. It’s your feedback loop. It’s where confidence starts. 

And if you haven’t thought much about it until now, you’re not behind — you’re right on time. 

There’s a better feel waiting for you. More control. More consistency. And yeah, probably a few more fairways. 

You just have to put the right grip in your hands. 

Ready to overhaul your bag? Book a fitting at True Spec Golf.

The post Why your golf grips might be way more important than you realize appeared first on Golf.

The post This is the most common misconception about grips | Fully Equipped appeared first on Golf.

The post This is the most common misconception about grips | Fully Equipped appeared first on Golf.

If you find yourself struggling with your game to the point that you get to the top of your swing and feel that the club is going to fly out of your hands, we’re here to tell you that it might actually be the arrow, not the archer, in this case.

On this week’s episode of GOLF’s Fully Equipped, Golf Pride’s Eric Gibson and Greg Cavill joined the show to tell co-hosts Kris McCormack and Wadeh Maroun the most common misconceptions people have about grips.

According to Gibson, it’s simpler than people would expect.

“The most common ‘Aha moment’ that we hear is when someone feels a worn and a fresh grip side by side to one another,” Gibson said. “It’s the psychological side of that aha moment, which gives them that confidence that they are making a choice.”

Gear

Get a grip: The most overlooked fix in your bag

By: Kris McCormack

Gibson said Cavill’s engineering team has plenty of research to back up the claim that fresh grips can increase ball speed by 2 mph, but he acknowledges most consumers don’t see the value in such a small benefit.

What they’ve found is that most golfers change their grips because of a negative experience with their worn-out ones that causes them to finally re-grip their clubs.

“That’s just a moment in time, but each of us have been in that position,” he said. “And you know darn well that the minute you’re standing over that golf ball again, whether it be the same club or a different club, you’re worried as to whether or not that grip that you’re holding in your hand is slipping. And so that’s the challenge of this brand and this category.”

Golf Pride MCC Grip

The MCC™ (New Decade® MultiCompound) is an innovative hybrid grip that fuses the positive performance of rubber and cord. The MCC boasts the Golf Pride® exclusive Brushed Cotton Cord in the upper hand area for firm all-weather control, and a performance rubber material in the lower hand for ultimate feel and responsiveness.

$12.99 from Fairway Jockey

View Product

Gibson and Cavill said one in five players around the world have never purchased new grips before. So they view their job at Golf Pride as trying to educate those players on why new grips will benefit their game and endeavoring to get them to change grips before they have a negative event like the one described above.

“You’re trying to kind of authentically put fresh grips in consumers’ hands for them to have that moment,” Gibson said. “Even before we have more and more data at our fingertips of why it matters.”

For more from Maroun, McCormack, Cavill and Gibson, listen to the full episode of GOLF’s Fully Equipped here or watch it below.

Looking for the right clubs for your own game? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

The post This is the most common misconception about grips | Fully Equipped appeared first on Golf.

The post How Golf Pride is developing custom fitting for grips | Fully Equipped appeared first on Golf.

The post How Golf Pride is developing custom fitting for grips | Fully Equipped appeared first on Golf.

Even in 2025, with customers willing to spend thousands of dollars on a set of custom-built golf clubs, grips are still often overlooked in the fitting process.

On this week’s episode of GOLF’s Fully Equipped, co-hosts Kris McCormack and Wadeh Maroun were joined by Golf Pride COO Eric Gibson and Head of Engineering Greg Cavill to discuss how players should go about selecting the right grips and how the company is dialing the process.

Cavill said that grips are usually the last question a fitter asks during a fitting.

“It’s typically, ‘What do you play right now?’ And, ‘What color do you prefer?’, which is tragic,” Cavill said.

Accessories

Golf Pride's new Align Max grips accentuate this popular feature

By: Jack Hirsh

Cavill added that Golf Pride isn’t just trying to say the grip question should be answered at the beginning of a fitting. There needs to be research to back that up, and Golf Pride is working on more education on what exactly custom fitting for grips is.

“My team is hard at work building up that database, that knowledge,” he said. “When you have a customer come into Pinehurst office here, understanding where they fall within the segmentation, the types of play that they’re into, whether it’s competitive, whether it’s recreational, the wear characteristics, not just on the grip but also on their hands, any ailments, etc., the list keeps on going.”

The proper grip, he said, should blend both comfort and performance needs.

Gibson explained that it starts with the size of the hands and then you factor in what a player likes to feel in their hands and if they want to have a ridge, like Golf Pride’s Align technology.

Golf Pride MCC +4 Grip

The MCC Plus4™ is a tour-proven, hybrid golf grip featuring a larger lower hand and new softer rubber material. The MCC Plus4 simulates 4 additional wraps of tape on the lower hand to encourages lighter grip pressure, reduced tension, and increased power.

$12.99 from Fairway Jockey

View Product

One of the issues Golf Pride has confronted it is that, according to the company’s research, one-in-five golfers don’t know to replace their grips and among those who do, a large percentage don’t replace them all at once.

Many golfers also settle on particular grips because someone gave them to them, and they became comfortable with them, even if they weren’t right.

“We could come out tomorrow with a new point of view on how grips should be included in custom fitting,” Gibson said. “I think what we are guarding against is the fact that we hold such a large portion of this category that we want to make sure that we are absolutely certain that it’s going to improve the confidence of the golfers. Otherwise, it would be irresponsible of us.

“We want to make sure that we’re responsible when we do it, because it’s going to be a large change management exercise for the industry.”

For more from Maroun, McCormack, Cavill and Gibson, listen to the full episode of GOLF’s Fully Equipped here or watch it below.

Looking for the right clubs for your own game? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

The post How Golf Pride is developing custom fitting for grips | Fully Equipped appeared first on Golf.

The post Golf Pride’s new Align Max grips accentuate this popular feature appeared first on Golf.

The post Golf Pride’s new Align Max grips accentuate this popular feature appeared first on Golf.

Golf Pride is doubling down on its popular Align raised reminder grip technology with the release of its new Align Max grips.

Align technology has been available since 2017 across many Golf Pride models and has built a dedicated following among Tour pros and amateurs alike. Xander Schauffele used MCC Align grips to win both of his major championships in 2024.

The technology aims to promote consistent hand placement by adding a visible raised reminder ridge along the underside of the grip. This also helps players be aware of the clubface position throughout the swing.

Reminder grips aren’t a new concept; they were commonplace back in the 1950s, before the USGA implemented grip conformance rules in the mid-1970s that limited the height of any internal grip reminder.

But when Align grips hit the market in 2017, the ridges quickly became what Golf Pride said was one of its most successful grip technologies ever.

For the next generation, Golf Pride listened to feedback of players who said they wanted an even more pronounced ridge. With the new Align Max, Golf Pride has made the ridge 25 percent higher (to the maximum height permitted under USGA rules) and extended the ridge further down the grip.

Accessories

Harris English's win came after 1 under-the-radar gear switch

By: Jack Hirsh

The new techn has already picked up a win with Harris English capturing the Farmers Insurance Open last month in his first week with a full set of the Align Max grips.

“Our brand purpose is to design grips for the hands of all golfers that will inspire a feeling of confidence so they can perform their best,” Golf Pride President James Ledford said in a release. “With Align Max we reached new heights of what is possible in grip design, resulting in breakthrough technology that provides golfers the confidence their hands are in the right place every shot, for unparalleled consistency.”

Golf Pride invested millions in designing the new grip, with the Align Max ridge now being built directly into the core of the grip.

Compared to the original Align, the new Align Max ridge features a smooth texture and a firmer feel. Because of the larger and firmer material, Align Max grips will be easier to install as well.

The Align Max isn’t replacing the original Align grips. It will simply provide a different option to players who want to maximize the benefits of the raised rib.

Golf Pride’s new Align Max is now available in both MCC and MCC Plus4 models in both standard and midsize.

Want to overhaul your bag for 2025? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

The post Golf Pride’s new Align Max grips accentuate this popular feature appeared first on Golf.

The post Harris English’s win came after 1 under-the-radar gear switch appeared first on Golf.

The post Harris English’s win came after 1 under-the-radar gear switch appeared first on Golf.

After his staffer’s win at the Farmers Insurance Open this weekend, Ping Tour rep Kenton Oates called Harris English a “creature of habit and routine.” 

“He loves the process of what it takes to be great at this game and this bleeds into what you see in his bag,” Oates said.

Looking into English’s golf bag, it’s not hard to see where Oates gets the “creature of habit” characterization. It starts with his 14-year-old Ping Scottsdale Hohum putter and then goes to his G400 fairway wood, which came out in 2018. The only current line model clubs Harris has in the bag are his set of Ping Blueprint T irons.

But if you look a little closer, English actually swapped a piece of gear into his bag for the first time this week in San Diego.

English became the first player to switch into a full set of Golf Pride‘s new MCC Align Max grips. Golf Pride has yet to release the Align Max so details are scarse at the moment, but Golf Pride’s U.S. Competitions Manager Brett Zollman confirmed the new design is based on the company’s popular Align grip technology, but with a new enhanced reminder.

Golf Pride’s Align grips, similar to a traditional ribbed grip, feature a reminder ridge along the underside of the grip to help players maintain awareness of face angle. But with Align, instead of being inside the grip, the ridge is on the exterior of the grip. Xander Schauffele won two majors last season with the MCC Align, which originally came out in 2017.

Harris made the switch to the Align Max from the original Align on Monday, with just two days before the early Wednesday start at Torrey Pines.

Accessories

Golf Pride partners with Stephen Curry for limited-edition grip kit

By: Ryan Barath

“What he liked about it in particular in his glove hand, he felt like he had more feel of the reminder in that hand, and also his bottom hand and in his fingers,” Zollman told GOLF Sunday. “He’s a really feel player and you know that was that was a big thing for him being able to get awareness with his fingers.”

English was introduced to the new grip last fall, but Torrey Pines was the first time he actually saw the finished grip ready to be installed.

But Harris was interested in Align Max from the first time he was shown it, especially in the new manufacturing processes Golf Pride used to make it. So when he got to the Farmers, Zollman said it was a pretty easy transition.

“These guys when they’re when they get involved with a new product, they don’t need too much of a reminder to what it is and what’s going on,” Zollman said. “Especially if it’s something just another elevated product with you currently using.”

While Harris was the first player to put Align Max into play, other pros tend to take notice when someone tries something that works for them. Expect to see more players trying out and even putting in Align Max in the coming weeks as Golf Pride gets it in front of more players.

Want to overhaul your bag for 2025? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

The post Harris English’s win came after 1 under-the-radar gear switch appeared first on Golf.

The post Need new putter grips? Why you should consider Golf Pride’s Reverse Taper appeared first on Golf.

The post Need new putter grips? Why you should consider Golf Pride’s Reverse Taper appeared first on Golf.

Not every putter grip is created equal, and the new Reverse Taper models from Golf Pride have received rave reviews (literally) since they were released in the spring.

GOLF’s Fully Equipped podcast crew Wadeh Maroun and Kris McCormack recently put them to the test and were equally impressed.

What makes these grips different from the rest is in the name — the thicker part of the grip is at the bottom, which Golf Pride says reduces hand tension and improves stability.

There are three Reverse Taper models: the Flat, Pistol and Round.

As McCormack explains in the video above, the Round is the more traditional model, the Pistol grip has more of a defined edge and helps lock in the top hand, while the Flat grip would typically work better for players who like to keep their palms facing each other, ideal for “somebody that drives that stroke with more of a pull with that lead hand.”

“Within the putter-grip category, we observed a trend in which manufacturers were actively trying to design products that removed the hands from the putting stroke, whereas our research indicates that by optimizing the connection between the hands and grip, players can improve their performance,” said James Ledford, president of Golf Pride, when the grips were unveiled in March. “Through hundreds of concept iterations, our innovation team created Reverse Taper, which has tested quite positively with players of all skill levels.”

The grips come in medium and large sizes and retail for $29.99. Click below to learn more, and click here to listen to the latest episode of GOLF’s Fully Equipped podcast.

Want to overhaul your bag for 2025? Find a True Spec fitting location near you.

Golf Pride Reverse Taper Putter Grips

Golf Pride’s Reverse Taper putter grips are designed to reduce hand tension and improve stability.

$29.99 from store.golfpride.com

The post Need new putter grips? Why you should consider Golf Pride’s Reverse Taper appeared first on Golf.