Brand Spotlight: Golf Pride

I have re-gripped many clubs in the time I've worked at golf stores and golf courses. I can smell the solvent on my hands just thinking about it. I have found some grips that I like, and others I tell people to not even bother looking at because they aren’t worth the trouble. Golf Pride always seems to deliver in their products. Let’s discuss the different types of grips you can find with Golf Pride.

Tour Velvet - The OG is the one used most by tour pros on various tours around the world. There is a reason that many companies use the Tour Velvet as their standard grip option on golf clubs. They suit so many golfers from various aspects. The all-rubber grip provides a comfortable and tacky feel, these grips hold up very well in all different types of weather. For players not quite sure which type of grip they are after, the tour velvet is a perfect starting point. The +4 option is a non-tapered grip, meaning the grip is the same diameter down the entire grip. This allows players to reduce the strain from gripping the club too hard. Tour Velvet also comes in a corded version that Tiger himself uses on all of his clubs. This grip features a cotton twill fiber that allows for more grip and a rougher feel. Tour Velvet also comes in a white color option, which does look sharp as long as they stay clean.

MCC - Multi-Compound-Cord. Rory and Rahm both use this grip, which features both rubber and cord to provide the best of both worlds. Under the gloved hand, the corded portion allows for the best grip and texture, and the non-gloved hand features a rubber section for comfort and feel. Compared to the other grips, I have seen this one hold up the best in the scorching summers of Arizona, which is why so many people here have it on their clubs. If you are someone who doesn’t like to wear a glove, I highly recommend this grip because it offers a good feeling of control but is still comfortable. The MCC also features so many different color options, that you can get creative with the style of your clubs.

Z Cord - Picture having the knurling from a barbell in your hands. This grip is a full cord grip, and the roughest grip Golf Pride offers. For someone who has sweaty hands and trouble gripping the club with moisture, this grip is perfect. I put this grip on my wedges because for some reason I like to take my glove off when I hit my wedges. Once I grip my club, I know that it is not going to slip one bit. These grips are also very firm and can be a bit uncomfortable if you have sensitive hands or have strong grip pressure. I would recommend getting one club with this grip and having a range session with it before committing all your clubs to this grip. Again, because of the corded design, it holds up very well in the Arizona heat, but I do think it takes a bit more work to keep clean and remain tacky, compared to the MCC.

Tour Wrap - For all those golfers who played baseball growing up, this grip is for you. The Tour Wrap is a one-piece rubber wrap grip, that provides comfort and style. If you prefer to not wear a glove, this is also a good choice. It is much softer than the MCC. The rubber also absorbs the vibrations really well to help with hand/wrist pain. The grip also is very tacky. I do think this grip is the most high-maintenance of all the Golf Pride grips though. Most grips can probably go 5-8 rounds before needing to be wiped down and cleaned. I have found that the Tour Wrap need could benefit from a cleaning after every 3rd round or so. If you have a dry towel handy during your round, it would be a good idea to wipe the grip down after each swing. The Tour Wrap is by far the best wrap-style grip for the hot climate of the desert and does hold up for the most part in the heat. Again, this grip like some of the others has a variety of colors to choose from, but I personally like the white grip, which is probably the most common color I have seen.

CP - The CP2/CP-Pro/CPX line of grips are by far the softest grips Golf Pride makes. These grips offer soft, multitexture, and enhanced vibration absorption. If you are someone who has a lot of hand pain when playing or has a tight grip, these are perfect for you. The CPX model is the newest. I have to say it performs pretty well. These grips also feature less taper in the bottom section, which again helps with grip pressure. My only complaint is I have personally seen these grips get beat up and worn down very quickly in Phoenix. Some don’t even last a full season. But if you live in more mild climates, these grips would be perfectly fine. I put the CP Pro grips on my father-in-law's set and he mentioned it was the first time in several years that his hands were not throbbing after a round of golf. I did find one hack with the CP line of grips which can help with the texture. Regular soap and water works great, but after they are dry, use a window cleaner. Just use a few sprays, then dry the grips and the tacky feeling is much better than before.

Other - Golf Pride also makes putter grips, yet I can’t talk about them because I have never tried one of their putter grips. The TV, Z Cord, and MCC also feature an Align Ridge version. This means on the bottom of the grip sits a ride that aids with proper technique for club gripping. If you want to give these a try, buy them and put them on yourself. These are very difficult to put on. It's hard to line up the logo to the leading edge, while making sure the ridge is lined up. Not to mention, if you have a stronger/weaker grip, the ridge will need to line up differently to accommodate your hand placement. The employees behind the services counter won’t know your grip style and just line the ridge up as close to standard as they can.

Golf Pride has been the most trusted grip by professionals over the last 15 years for a reason. But if you are still unsure about which grip is best for you, check out the link here and find your next grip from Golf Pride.