Quick Look: Lamkin i-Line Putter Grips

[GolfSpy Dave]

 

Website: http://www.lamkingrips.com/putter-golf-grips/i-line

 

Winter is Here, Get a Grip

Though the calendar says that winter is still weeks away, I know that some of you Northerners have already shut golf down for the year. While I don't have much experience with the snow stuff, I do have first hand experience with the lameness of not playing golf.

 

I don't know if you are like me, but when I'm not getting to play with my golf gear, I think about buying new gear and about how I can mess with my current stuff. It's a bit ironic that not playing golf actually increases golf expenditures. Just last week, I had to pull my hand away from the mouse twice, fighting off driver purchases that I didn't need, but really wanted.

 

I avoid the big equipment purchases in winter, but not the small ones. Winter is my season of tinkering. This is when I look at slight tweaks to my current stuff. One of the areas that gets a lot of attention, and alteration, is the grip on my putter.

 

Putter grip experimentation is a simple, and cheap, way to make some changes to the critical putting stick. Plus, when the weather outside is nasty, you can probably find some way to putt indoors. Maybe you even have a golf friendly basement. I have always wanted a golf friendly basement...

 

 

Lamkin i-Line Putter Grips

I used the Lamkin i-Line club grips last summer during my 14° SLDR experiment. While the SLDR was not a great fit, the grips were excellent in the hands. Soft, tacky, and bright colored, just about everything I look for in a grip.

 

Needless to say, I was interested when Lamkin released the i-Line putter grips. I was definitely curious after playing the other i-Lines. It's interesting to see how regular grips are re-imagined into putter grips. Sometimes it works, sometimes, not so much.

 

Here are the i-Line specs from Lamkin, and I'll follow up with my impressions and a little something else to share.

 

 

Grip Features

• Unique feeling thermoplastic material
• Best-selling Crossline surface pattern
• Tacky material and etched texture promote an ideal light-pressure grip
• Traditional putter size and profile for maximum shot feedback
• six colors
• 0.058 core
• 61 grams

 

 

Playing the Lamkin i-Line Putter Grip

Color

OK, so some of you don't immediately think colors when you think putter grips. Color may not be what I ultimately look at to make my decision, but it does get my attention. The i-Line grips come in five bright colors, and black. The colors are definitely bold, which is exactly what I look for in a grip.

 

Although it made the orange grip jealous, I went with the magenta grip for testing on the Bellum Winmore 707. Why not? Who else makes a magenta putter grip?

 

 

Comfort and Play

The grip has a very hand-pleasing shape that seems to be a touch larger than a traditional standard grip. When I compare it to the Pure Grips standard, the i-Line is just a smidgen larger.

 

It has a nice flat top, with well rounded corners. The underside of the grip is pretty close to traditional pistol architecture. For me, it immediately felt comfortable and familiar.

 

 

Texture and Feel

The texture on the i-Line is unique. The classic Lamkin Crossline pattern provides excellent traction, and again feels familiar to me having played Crosslines on my irons for a few seasons. That's not the unique part.

 

Lamkin says that the thermoplastic material is "unique feeling", and they are not kidding. It's different. It feels soft, but not squishy, again something that I found very comfortable.

 

We find the uniqueness in the texture of the plastic. The grip actually feels a touch waxy. Now waxy is not a descriptor that I ever want to hear with a putter grip, inspiring visions of putters slipping from hands. It's not slippery, just a touch, well, waxy. What's crazy is that it's a tacky waxy. I'll coin the term you are looking for...

 

The Lamkin i-Line putter grip is ta-xy.

 

 

I guess it could also go the other way and be wa-cky but that's just silly. Regardless, somehow Lamkin has created a grip with a smooth texture, that is still tactilely stable, or ta-xy.

 

It really has a different feel to it. Personally, I like it, but I do see this as a point of contention for some. I'd counsel you to keep an open mind and roll a few with it before you truly decide.

 

You are now thinking, "That's great Dave, but how will I roll a few?" Luckily, I'm here to help. You see, Lamkin generously sent me some extras, and I am going to pass them along to you. I have two of each color, and all you need to do is to post below which color you would like me to send you. Naturally, there are a few rules to my generosity.

1. Post a comment below saying what color you would like. If you are one of the first two for a color, you get one.
2. Continental USA addresses only. Shipping is coming out of my pocket on this one, not MGS's.
3. Only one grip per person.
4. I'll update the available colors at the end of each day.
5. You must actually try the grip and report back on how you like it. You just post your thoughts, and maybe a photo in this thread. Nothing too tough there.

 

That seems simple enough. So let me know what color you would like. When you see your name listed below, shoot me a PM with your shipping info and get the grips in the mail pronto. Can't wait to hear what you all think as well.

 

Grips Available:

Magenta: Dean D & fozcycle

Orange: PGA_09 & 1 more available

Lime: zerostate & 1 more available

Yellow: MGoBlue100 & Jmikecpa

Black: Joezilla & 1 more available

Turquoise: Tophand576 & hckymeyer

 

[westy]

Magenta? That's fuschia surely!

 

Are they doing any oversize versions? My one issue with superstokes is they aren't tacky enough.

[fozcycle]

Using Lamkin R.E,L. 3Gens

[Tophand576]

Why not Turquiose.

 

I too, am a frequent golf grip changer. Looks like a great chance to try out a new option.

Thanks!

[lmh3]

I've been thinking of trying this grip, I use the club grips on all of my clubs in orange. I usually use the Super Stroke 2.0

[GolfSpy Dave]

Using Lamkin R.E,L. 3Gens

If you want to try one of these foz i need a color choice

[hckymeyer]

I'll test out the other turquoise. Putting is one of the few things I can still do in the basement

[MGoBlue100]

I'd be happy to try any color you have available.  I have REL 3 Gens on all my clubs, and LOVE them!  Black or Yellow probably my preference.

[GolfSpy Dave]

I'd be happy to try any color you have available.  I have REL 3 Gens on all my clubs, and LOVE them!  Black or Yellow probably my preference.

Got both colors still. Just let me know which one you want.

[MGoBlue100]

Let's do yellow.  Most likely less popular than black.

[Dean D]

Magenta it is - please - already have Iomic orange on my irons, lime green on my wedges, blue on my driver, white on my 3 wood and black on my hybrids. using Lamkin round with four wraps on my putter but ready to change. People ask all the time about my grips with all those colors and I always tell them about the "other" Lamkin line (this one) available locally and less expensive. Love to see your name in my mailbox.

[Jmikecpa]

Put one on my son's putter earlier this summer and he loves it.  Grip has held up well and the feel is fantastic.  I think that I am going to actually go with these on my full woods, irons and wedges for next season.

[Joezilla]

I'll take a black one please. I am just too traditional I guess. 

 

Joe

[fozcycle]

I'd be happy to try any color you have available.  I have REL 3 Gens on all my clubs, and LOVE them!  Black or Yellow probably my preference.

Me too......I have the Cobra Blue REL 3 Gens on all but my putter

[Jmikecpa]

I will test out a yellow if it is still available. Just ordered 20 yellow I-lines for the rest of the clubs in the bag.

[MGoBlue100]

I've had the yellow grip on one of my older Odyssey putters (Rossie II) for a couple weeks now.  I can't tell you that I'm that thrilled with it at this point.  The "waxy" feeling that GolfSpy Dave described feels slippery to me.  Admittedly, this is a limited sample size.  I've putted one 18-hole round (on a cold day) and fooled around inside the house and garage rolling putts.  I read somewhere about using "Formula 409" on these specific grips (irons) to increase the tacky feeling.  I'm going to give it a try.  I really like a tacky putter grip, as I'm consciously trying not to strangle the thing.  I'll keep working with this, and see if this grip and I can cohabitate.  I'll keep y'all posted...

[jbil8802]

I'll test out a black one on my Ketsch if it's still available.

[hckymeyer]

Haven't had a chance to install it on a putter yet, but I thought I should drop by and give an initial impression.

 

I'd have to concur with the previous posts around tackiness.  It is tacky, but it could be more tacky.  When cold it feels downright slippery, but get it up to room temperature and it's not too bad.  It's tacky enough to hold on to, but probably not something I'd want for a full swing with a driver.  I'm really loving the shape though.  I've been putting with a Superstroke for the past season and I forgot how nice a flat front grip can feel.  It's a pretty sharp angle, almost a perfect U shape and sits nice in the hands and lets the thumbs rest comfortably on top.  My only real complaint so far is that I wish they offered it in a mid-size.  Only standard is available and if it was a little bigger I could see it giving the Superstroke a run for it's money.

 

I'll probably install it after Christmas and put it through it's paces.  Until then I'll leave with some thoughts from my 3yr old.  "I love these things because they make my fingers super long"

 

[zerostate]

Always nice to have Lime with my Corona Extra.  I have a mainland address for such opportunties.  Thank you

[zerostate]

Thanks Dave for sending to my Honolulu address.  The material is very similar to that used by Star Grips.  I like the crossline surface vs. the pseudo-wrap of the Star's.  Also a similar feel to some Karakal grips, but I'm certain it will hold up better.  And the Lime is zesty; it's going on my tropically-pimped TearDrop TD 47.