New Grips from Golf Pride. Mind = Blown

[dlow206 6,850]

https://mygolfspy.com/we-tried-it-golf-pride-concept-helix-grip/

No tape, no solvent, no air? mind = blown

[Kansas King 271]

I think they are a great idea. The biggest thing I would be curious of is if it's difficult to get the grip to not look twisted/misaligned on the club. I know the surface design should help with this but it's not hard to tell if a rubber grip is twisted. The other concern would be if these grips felt weird or not. I would be curious if parts of the grip would fell a little thinner or thicker depending on how it was twisted. If Golf Pride can get these priced close to their tour velvets, I think they may have a winner. I think it's important to remember that they are probably trying to expand the grip market and get those people that maybe have some worn out grips but are reluctant to change them because of the cost or hassle. 

[03trdblack 855]

I feel like this idea just validates the method of putting on grips with an air compressor.  Once I started using air to install all my grips, I never went back!

[rbsiedsc 2,045]

So now Arccos has to develop new sensors to fit this grip it looks like. Interesting concept.

[dlow206 6,850]

Trying to figure out who exactly the target market for these grips are. For folks that go into a shop and have the shop regrip their clubs, maybe a portion of these folks will now want to regrip themselves, but most will still pay the shop to regrip. For folks that already do air, don't think they will change. For folks doing tape and solvent, i think only a small portion may consider this new approach. 

[cnosil 17,022]

I think they are a great idea. The biggest thing I would be curious of is if it's difficult to get the grip to not look twisted/misaligned on the club. I know the surface design should help with this but it's not hard to tell if a rubber grip is twisted. The other concern would be if these grips felt weird or not. I would be curious if parts of the grip would fell a little thinner or thicker depending on how it was twisted. If Golf Pride can get these priced close to their tour velvets, I think they may have a winner. I think it's important to remember that they are probably trying to expand the grip market and get those people that maybe have some worn out grips but are reluctant to change them because of the cost or hassle. 

Looks like $10 a grip.

[Berg Ryman 4,070]

12 minutes ago, cnosil said:

Looks like $10 a grip.

And that's why I think these work as a concept product for now, but might not make a wide consumer impact. As mentioned above, at 2.99 a grip labor cost for most big box stores plus cost of grip, they've gotta get that cost down to make it work. Plus, what about all us who need that in between sizing from wraps. I think you'll see some proof of concept here before it goes widely integrated if it goes wide at all.

It's an interesting project and worth following, but I don't see it taking off like GP hopes it will. It just seems like trying to make a better mouse trap for the sake of making it.

[GolfSpy Barbajo 9,313]

1 hour ago, Kansas King said:

I think they are a great idea. The biggest thing I would be curious of is if it's difficult to get the grip to not look twisted/misaligned on the club. I know the surface design should help with this but it's not hard to tell if a rubber grip is twisted. The other concern would be if these grips felt weird or not. I would be curious if parts of the grip would fell a little thinner or thicker depending on how it was twisted. If Golf Pride can get these priced close to their tour velvets, I think they may have a winner. I think it's important to remember that they are probably trying to expand the grip market and get those people that maybe have some worn out grips but are reluctant to change them because of the cost or hassle. 

That was the toughest part for me - getting the pattern right. My first attempt, as you saw in the pix, was WAY over-tightened and twisted to distortion. It is relatively simple to loosen the grip and start over.  The hand-twisting of the grip itself takes some practice - at least it did for me. And you can do it as many times as you need to. Also, if you do all the steps in reverse, it's very easy to remove the grip completely and put it on another club, if you wanted to do that for whatever reason. 

This is Golf Pride's first attempt, so I'm sure we'll see further refinement and more options in the future. I doubt the method would support an ALIGN grip, but one never knows that they come up with. 

As for who it's for, that's an interesting question. I'd say anyone who wants to regrip their own clubs. I can see on and off course pro shops utilizing these, as well. An on course shop could regrip an entire set in maybe a half an hour and have them ready to play right away, while off-course shops could do a while-you-wait re-gripping. All possible, but we'll have to see. I'm guessing the golf industry looked at Golf Pride's very first slip-on rubber grip in 1953 with a few raised eyebrows as well - after all, there's nothing wrong with leather wraps, amiright??? - so it'll be interesting to see where this idea goes. If nothing else, it is innovative and very different. 

[Chip Strokes 3,691]

39 minutes ago, dlow206 said:

Trying to figure out who exactly the target market for these grips are. For folks that go into a shop and have the shop regrip their clubs, maybe a portion of these folks will now want to regrip themselves, but most will still pay the shop to regrip. For folks that already do air, don't think they will change. For folks doing tape and solvent, i think only a small portion may consider this new approach. 

golfers who live in apartments and don't have the space to set up a grip station would like this a lot.  also, people who would normally bring their clubs in to get re-gripped can save themselves a little cash if they're getting new grips every year.  

another thing to consider is that if GP gets this to work across all their grip models, you can test out 5 different grips on your gamer club in just a few minutes and decide which you want to put on your set.  

it's not for everyone but i think there's a decent chunk of the market that would go for it.

[tony@CIC 18,736]

21 minutes ago, cnosil said:

Looks like $10 a grip.

I saw that as well. Interesting strategy since they're priced slightly below my MCC+4's  Note I'm not a target market for these  - I kinda like the way I'm doing them plus what if I wanted to put the ARCCOS sensors on. 

 

6 minutes ago, GolfSpy Barbajo said:

I can see on and off course pro shops utilizing these, as well. An on course shop could regrip an entire set in maybe a half an hour and have them ready to play right away, while off-course shops could do a while-you-wait re-gripping.

I see the only real benefit to the shops being the play immediately strategy. No real advantage to the off-course shops. 

[Siamese Moose 386]

As a "no apologies" tech geek, I am very intrigued. I want to know how it works! Find it, cut it! Cut one open and let me see what the interior looks like. Please?!

I have to believe that considering the new technology and design costs, the $10 price is temporary, and designed to get them in the field and gain some acceptance. If the final price remains at $10, I will be shockingly pleased. 

[yungkory 10,338]

2 hours ago, Chip Strokes said:

golfers who live in apartments and don't have the space to set up a grip station would like this a lot.  also, people who would normally bring their clubs in to get re-gripped can save themselves a little cash if they're getting new grips every year.  

another thing to consider is that if GP gets this to work across all their grip models, you can test out 5 different grips on your gamer club in just a few minutes and decide which you want to put on your set.  

it's not for everyone but i think there's a decent chunk of the market that would go for it.

that would be cool to test them if they're able to make it work in all of their grip "styles"

another use case: changing your grip MID ROUND!?!?!?!?!

gotta make a pit stop after the 12th hole, need to change grips for the final stretch

[Kansas King 271]

2 hours ago, cnosil said:

Looks like $10 a grip.

Tough sell to do a full regrip with these at that price.

2 hours ago, GolfSpy Barbajo said:

That was the toughest part for me - getting the pattern right. My first attempt, as you saw in the pix, was WAY over-tightened and twisted to distortion. It is relatively simple to loosen the grip and start over.  The hand-twisting of the grip itself takes some practice - at least it did for me. And you can do it as many times as you need to. Also, if you do all the steps in reverse, it's very easy to remove the grip completely and put it on another club, if you wanted to do that for whatever reason. 

This is Golf Pride's first attempt, so I'm sure we'll see further refinement and more options in the future. I doubt the method would support an ALIGN grip, but one never knows that they come up with. 

As for who it's for, that's an interesting question. I'd say anyone who wants to regrip their own clubs. I can see on and off course pro shops utilizing these, as well. An on course shop could regrip an entire set in maybe a half an hour and have them ready to play right away, while off-course shops could do a while-you-wait re-gripping. All possible, but we'll have to see. I'm guessing the golf industry looked at Golf Pride's very first slip-on rubber grip in 1953 with a few raised eyebrows as well - after all, there's nothing wrong with leather wraps, amiright??? - so it'll be interesting to see where this idea goes. If nothing else, it is innovative and very different. 

Did the grip feel normal once it was put on or did it feel like there were thinner/thicker parts from the twisting and stretching of the grip?

[GolfSpy Barbajo 9,313]

1 hour ago, Kansas King said:

Tough sell to do a full regrip with these at that price.

Did the grip feel normal once it was put on or did it feel like there were thinner/thicker parts from the twisting and stretching of the grip?

Felt pretty much like a Velvet 360...

[PMookie 13,153]

No go for me since I always need to add tape under the grip.

[IDontGiveAchuck 177]

I'm intrigued, to be honest.  I might have to look at getting a set of these.  I have to get new grips for the Zelos shaft testing anyway...

[MattF 10,548]

14 hours ago, PMookie said:

No go for me since I always need to add tape under the grip.

That stood out to me as well. If you need tape build up, then these aren't the grips you're looking for.

[SlowNLow 380]

I commend the innovation, makes life more interesting, but I'm an old tape and solvent guy.   All of that twisting seems like a lot of work.

I love the smell of naptha in the morning.

[knightsofnii 982]

On 12/1/2020 at 1:49 PM, Siamese Moose said:

As a "no apologies" tech geek, I am very intrigued. I want to know how it works! Find it, cut it! Cut one open and let me see what the interior looks like. Please?!

I have to believe that considering the new technology and design costs, the $10 price is temporary, and designed to get them in the field and gain some acceptance. If the final price remains at $10, I will be shockingly pleased. 

 

 

Are they as easy to remove as they are to install?  

I just did my first air grip install (without solvent) and it was awesome.  In the past I've used air as a means to slip the grip over solvent and tape easier. 

Removal with air can be tough, I've popped a couple   so loud.  

 

 

[EasyPutter 745]

On 12/1/2020 at 12:09 PM, dlow206 said:

Trying to figure out who exactly the target market for these grips are. For folks that go into a shop and have the shop regrip their clubs, maybe a portion of these folks will now want to regrip themselves, but most will still pay the shop to regrip. For folks that already do air, don't think they will change. For folks doing tape and solvent, i think only a small portion may consider this new approach. 

I'm probably in that target market; late to the game using "Experienced" equipment with grips that have seen their prime a while ago in sharp contrast to a new club added to the bag, someone who has never regripped a club but is coming around to getting the courage to learn a new skill, a do-it-yourself tinkerer who gets help only as a last resort.  Golf is a growing obsession and knowing more is quickly followed by doing more or at least wanting to do more.  The comment in the article about if it is not done right the first time it can be undone and tried again is a huge plus, meaning it's not "going to be how it's going to be" and either live with it or cut it all off and start again.