Garsen Putter Grip - Ultimate - 2023 Forum Review

[GolfSpy_APH]

Testers Announced! Ultimate Putter Grip from Garsen!

A little about the grip!

"Versatility"

The Garsen Ultimate grip brings the innovation of side facing thumb position to a full size, comfortable, and slightly less exaggerated feel. This grip is a great way to gain all the biomechanical advantages to your putting stroke while maintaining a more traditional overall feel to the grip.

Unlike a traditional putter grip, the ULTIMATE has three flat sides. Like the original G-Pro design it allows you to place your hands in a position so the palms face each other and the wrists are in a neutral position.

It also allows you to place hands into many other positions creating your desired grip. It works extremely well with the claw grip. This grip was developed with input from players on the PGA Tour.

Please welcome and congratulate our testers for this grip!

@revkev
@golfinnut
@scooterhd2
@Mr. Mushball

These testers will receive all 3 Garsen Putter grips, but be doing their main review on this grip!

[revkev]

 

Garsen Puttter Grips – the Ultimate  by Kevin Loughran (revkev)

Intro

Hi all!  I’ve been a member of the MGS forum community for over ten years and completed a number of product reviews during that time.  Thank you, MGS, for entrusting me with those opportunities as well as the OEMs, particularly Garsen golf, who have entrusted our forum staff with these tests.

As my screen name suggests I am a Lutheran Pastor.  The Church and School that I serve is in St. Petersburg, FL.  One of my “duties” includes coaching Middle School golf a task that brings me great satisfaction because golf is truly a sport that may be enjoyed throughout a variety of life stages.

In that regard I have run the gamut.  I started playing as a 10-year-old, growing up in Connecticut.  However, up until junior year of college my passion was baseball and since that was a summer sport, too, I never really played enough golf to get really good at it.

That changed as my baseball playing days halted due to a bout of mono and a lack of speed and power, I like to say that I was a great one tool player. Switching over to golf I quickly got my game to where I was shooting in the 70’s.  By my early 30’s I had a young family and was attending seminary, but golf was still a part of my life as it was far more affordable and family friendly in Indiana where I went to school and served my first church.

For the longest time my handicap hovered between 3 and 5 and my game was such that I would be in the championship flight at a small club, in the A flight of a golf league, mid pack in city tournaments but not much of a threat on those few occasions that I tried moving up to state level competitions.

In 2006 we moved to St. Pete.  Florida agreed with my golf game and I was able to get my handicap down to a 1 or below for a period of three years after a few years of being able to play year-round.  At that point I was a very competitive senior player.  However, aging, some health issues and increased work responsibilities put an end to that.

Now in my mid 60’s, I still love the game, belong to a private club, the Bayou in Largo, Fl, maintain a single digit handicap, play in club tournaments and a Tuesday evening league half the year. 

 

Since my mid 30’s I’ve been known as a good putter.  I don’t exactly know what that is supposed to mean.  I do know that I hole my share of short putts under pressure, make far fewer mid ranged putts than I’d like but am very good at three putt avoidance.

 

I’m currently unhappy with the counter balanced grip on my Evnroll ER 5.  I don’t like the way it feels and at times it seems as if I’m fighting against it. 

While Garsen golf was kind enough to send us all three of their popular grips I was selected to focus primarily on the Ultimate grip.  Looking at the grip online it appears to be what I’m looking for.  “Versatility” ….”This grip is a great way to gain all the biomechanical advantages to your puttering stroke while maintaining a more traditional overall feel to the grip.”  These are among the promises being made about this grip.  And who wouldn’t want that?

In my testing, I’m looking for a grip that feels better and more natural throughout the stroke than what I have currently.  I’m getting reasonable results from putter but will test this in a traditional manner, 3 footers, 10 footers and 30 footers. League play starts during this test so I will also want to see how the grip holds up under some pressure, will it be like Tony Finau in Mexico?  Time will tell! 

 

First Impressions    9/10

Again, I would like to thank My Golf Spy and Garsen Golf for this review opportunity.  I’ve been fortunate enough to do a number of product tests through My Golf Spy.  Letters from the OEM are commonplace when one is selected to test.  However, they remain a nice touch.  What stood out to me when I opened the package that the grips came in and saw the letter were the decals.

 

I had already read Mr. Garsen’s background and knew he was once a racer.  These decals are a great tribute to that.  Instantly they recalled my childhood when many of my friends collected auto manufacturer’s decals.  Particularly they made me think of tires because my grandfather worked for Firestone.

 

In many ways the grip is the tire of the putter.  But rather than being the point of contact between the vehicle and the road, it is the point of contact between the hands and the club.  Like a tire on a motorcycle or car, the importance of the golf grip is significant.

 

 

While this review is only dealing with Garsen’s Ultimate grip each tester received all three of the most popular Garsen Golf grips offered on the website. Here’s what the site says about the Ultimate:

 

"Versatility"

The Garsen Ultimate grip brings the innovation of side facing thumb position to a full size, comfortable, and slightly less exaggerated feel. This grip is a great way to gain all the biomechanical advantages to your putting stroke while maintaining a more traditional overall feel to the grip.

Unlike a traditional putter grip, the ULTIMATE has three flat sides. Like the original G-Pro design it allows you to place your hands in a position so the palms face each other and the wrists are in a neutral position.

 

Once the grip was installed, I found the Ultimate grip “stiffer” than I expected.  It reminded me of a leather midsized grip that I had on a prior gamer.  That’s not necessarily bad, just different from what I’ve been accustomed to the past five or six years.

Aesthetics   8/10

At first glance there is an odd look to the Ultimate grip.  Everyone that I’ve shown it to notices it although they’ve each described it differently.  I’m sure this is because of its self-described 3 sidedness. 

 

 

I ordered black, I don’t know why, my other grips all have red in them and Garsen’s logo is red.  Regardless the black does give it a classic look which I like.

The Fit and Feel  18/20

What felt “stiff” at first quickly became normal.  I play most of my golf in warm to hot and humid conditions.  The Ultimate allows me to grip the putter lightly without being concerned that it will slip or twist. 

I’m also getting older and subject to some shakiness in my hands.  I found that I was able to take my normal grip and not have twisting.  Numbers wise on the practice green I consistently hole a high percentage of 3 footers with any putter – 95 percent or so.  What is unique about this putter grip is that I’m not having those occasional 30 footers that go off and end up 6 feet past, on the practice green or the course.

 

On The Course  17/20

Frankly this would be a higher score if the rubric didn’t include, “does it get noticed by others.”  It does and as mentioned in other parts of this review the first impression is not an accurate one.  Where the rubber meets the road Garsen Golf’s Ultimate grip checks all of the right boxes. 

 

I’ve played a number of rounds with it, including 2 competitive ones where I needed to putt everything out and I’ve yet to three putt!  According to Shotscope I was averaging 1.2 3 putts per round prior to this test.

 

The Good, the bad, the inbetween 19/20

Again, the score in this category could be perfect but I need to dock this a shade because of that odd at first three-sided look.  Far more importantly my handicap index has dropped a half a point during that time.  I’m sure there are other factors, I’ve been striking it very well but increased GIRs normally lead to an increase in 3 putts.  I have not experienced that despite facing a lot of first putts in the 20 plus foot range.  I feel very comfortable with putter in hand right now.

Play it or Trade it?  18/20

So, in an odd twist my only uncertainty is that the Max that I received from Garsen Golf looks so inviting.  I will certainly be trying it, air installed, on one of my back-up putters at some point this summer.  Look for some comments at that point.  That would be the only way that the Ultimate gets supplanted though.

 

At $34.99 MSRP it’s reasonably priced.  There are ongoing sales for all three main stay grips at around $90 which is a great value IMO.  The grip fits my grip wonderfully. It’s here to stay.

 

Conclusion

I started this review by comparing the putter grip to tires on a motorcycle or car.  I’m glad that I’ve had the opportunity to take the Garsen Golf Ultimate grip, for a test drive.  It has worked out very well for me, it fits my natural putter grip and since it bills itself as being versatile, I suspect that it will fit most people’s grips. 

I especially appreciate the reality that I no longer seem to be wrestling with my putter.  I am able to start the ball online far more consistently than before, nearly always at the proper pace.  When I miss now it’s because I miss read the putt.  That’s a great feeling.

While not the sexiest thing to test changing grips on a putter is a far cheaper alternative to the $200 plus that new ones normally cost.  I’d highly recommend that anyone struggling with putter consider changing grips first.  The Garsen line would be a great place to start. 
 

Final Score 89/100

 

 

 

 

[golfinnut]

Garsen Ultimate Putter Grip - Official MGS Forum Review by Golfinnut

Introductions:

Golfinnut - some of you know me, either by playing with me or by reputation.  LOL  Just ask @Golfspy_CG2 He'll tell you.   I've been golfing ever since I could walk basically.  My father gave me a club that he cut down for me when I was 4 years old.  I would hit balls in the yard, beg to go to the range, or ask where we were playing that week.  I was hooked early, needless to say.  I would just go hit balls when I was bored at my schools ball field, within walking or biking distance from the house.  This is way before the days of Top Golf, so you young'ins might not know how good you have it.  LOL  Ever see a kid with his golf clubs strapped across his back while riding a bike?  Well, that was me.  I played all thru high school, as well as a bit in college. (only 2 years, but that's a totally different story)  So I can be competitive if I want to be, but these days I'm just glad to get out & play when I can.  So I just play for fun & the camaraderie that this game we all love, gives me.  I play in a league once a week guaranteed, so I get some practice in regardless.  Then I can take everyone's money over the weekend!  LOL   

I live in Leesburg, VA & basically play wherever I can tee it up.  A few courses around me have closed these past few years, so it's few & far between selection near me.  So I have to drive a bit to play, which I never mind.  I've driven over 3 hours numerous times, just to play a round.  If someone asks me to play, I find a way to make it happen, one way or the other.  I have a course only 10 minutes from the house that has a decent practice area, Raspberry Falls.  This is where I'll be doing most of my testing/practicing.  

Everybody has seen the Garsen grips on Tour & the commercials on TV.   So many players swear by these grips & they are getting a lot of traction by players like Tony Finau.  I believe they made a grip especially for him called the "Tony Finau Ultimate?"   But I plan on replacing my Scotty Cameron grip with the Ultimate.  Luckily I have a number of Scotty putters that still have the original grip on.  So I'll be able to do a direct comparison between the two.  I'm hoping this grip gets my hands in comfortable position where they stay.  I have a tendency to manipulate my hands out of position on the grip a lot.  One of the main reasons why my putting has gone to hell & a handcart recently.  I expect that if my hands stay where they are supposed to, I can get the face back to square at impact more consistently.  This in turn will give me a lot more confidence in my putting.  You know ... you get into a funk, start talking down to yourself, you just can't make a thing, so your confidence goes right out the window, no matter what you try.  I want to get to where it becomes automatic when I get on the green.  No excessive manipulation of the grip ... just pick a line & go.  If I miss them because I misread the break, great.  I just don't want to miss them because of a bad stroke.  If I can lock in my wrists into one place & reduce excessive movement, I will be happy.  

Garsen has been putting out some really bold claims IMO.  So I want to see if they are right, put their money where there mouth is, so to speak.  If this helps me lower my putts per round & per hole ... eliminate the damn 3-putts for sure!  I can't stand losing strokes that way ... it's really inexcusable in my book.  We shall see, only time will tell.  I will put a lot of testing/practice with this grip, that's for sure.  It's one thing I want to clean up in my game, putting.  One of the many reasons why I'm thankful for the opportunity!  

 

First Impressions (9 out of 10)

Unboxing of the grip, I was fairly impressed.  Each grip was individually wrapped in it's own plastic bag.  Unlike when you get a grip from one of the many other OEM's, that are just thrown in the box haphazardly.  I mean, I get it, it's not like it's glass or anything but still.  That kind of matters to me because I believe it shows pride in their product.  

I especially liked the feel, the tackiness of the grip.  It's one thing about putter grips that I have a pet peeve about.  Some claim to have tack, when in fact, they really aren't.  I say this only because my hands sweat like a wh*re in church, so the way it feels in my hands over a rounds time is a big deal.  So as Judge Smails said "it slipped" because of his worn grip, I believe I will have no need for that excuse.    

 

So Garsen claims "Versatility" with this grip.  This may be worth while to those of you who like to switch your grip around, like the "Claw" or "Split hand" grips.  But, as for me, I am a traditionalist & have the basic reverse overlap grip.  It's design, according to Garsen, is supposed to align the backs of the palms of your hands facing the target more, while keeping the wrists in a more neutral position.  That's if you choose to run your thumbs down the side as I have shown above.  But that grip over the testing period was not very comfortable to me, nor very consistent, when it came to distance control.  Once I switched back to my conventional overlap grip, it felt very comfortable.  

I saved you the agony of seeing my awful golfers tan lines on my Flintstone feet by cropping the pictures above.  LOL    The closeup of the grip you can see that my wrists are pretty neutral & spot on IMO. (I'm no Pro obviously, so someone who is, please tell me otherwise)

Aesthetics (8 out of 10) 

What I can say that I like the most about this grip is the color scheme.  The bold blue (my favorite color) really stands out.  Being slightly larger than normal, it seems to fit perfectly in my hands.  I also like that Garsen decided to put the logo down the side of the grip, instead of on top.  I'd like to think that this came from Tour players request.  I myself prefer it this way, because I don't like looking down & seeing the logo.  It's distracting to me.  Petty, I know.  It's one of the reasons why I use the Tourna Grip over my existing grips before.  

The Fit and Feel (15 out of 20)

My on real issue with it could be cosmetic or a manufacturing flaw in just my grip (others can chime in & let me know if theirs is the same).  But at the very top of the grip, the plastic knob is pretty sharp & digs into my wrist/hand when I grip it at the end.  Seems as though the rubber ended too early or the cap didn't seat far enough down the grip.  

 

 

Grip seems to be a perfect fit for my hands, not too large but also not thin, like a regular pistol grip would be (i.e. Scotty Cameron that I'm comparing it to)  Like I said before, the tackiness is great & the material seems to work great with my sweaty hands.  And if you don't feel that it's tacky enough, just run a wet towel over it & dry it back off ... Bingo, right back where it should be.  See, I don't have to use a wet towel, because my hands serve as a waterfall onto the grip.   It's definitely better feel than the Scotty grip and the Super Stroke that I have on another Cameron Newport 2.  Only reason why I deduct some major points from this is because of that design issue with the cap at the top.  Other than that, they have a great grip on their hands.  If it turns out that this is only happening with my grip, then I could easily change it to a 19/20 (nobody's perfect!) 

On The Course (18 out of 20)

2nd round I played with the grip, someone asked me (after I had drained a few 1 putts in a row) "hey, what's that grip you have on your putter?  I notice it's not the original Scotty grip."  I handed it to him & he says "wow, it feels great .. no wonder you put it on."  Later at the end of the round, I let him use it on the putting green & then he really fell in love with it.  "Do they offer it in any other colors?"  "Why yes, yes they do."  So Garsen should pay me a commission, cause he said he was going to buy 2, one for him & one for his son.  LOL  

I have only had one 3-putt with it since it's been installed.  That speaks volumes to me.  That has been my downfall in my putting stats, throwing away strokes needlessly.  Any time I can get my distance control right, I have a better chance of scoring well.  Leaving in & out of the bag, some of my putter grips wear excessively on the butt end, this one does not.  Mainly because of the plastic cap on the end but it covers enough of the edge that the grip itself does not come in contact with the bag or other grips.  There also hasn't been any excessive grip wear where my hands are placed.  On my other grips, over time, they do.  So that's one of the reasons why I add an over layer tape that most people use for tennis ... Gamma grip or Tourna Grip.  With the latter being my favorite because it helps absorb the moisture/sweat in my hands.  (you will see it in following photos) See .... always coming back to my sweaty hands.  LOL   

My comparison testing was done with an older Scotty that still had the pistol grip on it.  (see the Tourna Grip as I stated above)  This was one of my favorite putters back in the day.  Still is really that's why I have never gotten rid of it.     

I was putting from 5, 10 & 15 feet respectively, with 3 balls at each .... concentrating on distance control & speed.  I would go thru the paces with one putter at a time, from each distance, then write down my makes vs misses vs 3-foot circle likely hood of 3-putting.  I would do this on the putting green after each round, just so I was sufficiently warmed up.  

• 5-feet:  Ultimate Scotty on average was better (2 out of 3 made), while misses were all within tap in range with both
• 10-feet:  Ultimate (1 out of 3) vs Original (2 out of 3), all within tap in range
• 15-feet: Ultimate (1 out of 3) vs Original (2 out of 3), all within tap in range 
• Also did the "Clock drill" as well as putting to the fringe

Even though I didn't make as many as I would have liked most days, I always left them within tap in range.  Back to my original statement of how it's helped with my distance control.  Grant it, this test was only at a max of 15 feet.  But I also tested them both from about 30 - 40 feet by putting to the fringe, instead of the hole.  This drill has always helped me with my distance control.  I also did the "Clock drill" (we all know what that is, so no need for a description)  When there was room on the putting green, I would take the distances out as far as I could from the hole, anywhere from 3 feet to about 25 feet.  Very few were not within that magical 3 foot circle that we all strive for.  BTW ... the greens were only at about a 10, so not really that fast.  That has a lot to do with consistency.  That's why my putting game does not travel well.  If I go to a course out of my area that has really fast greens & don't have a lot of time to get used to them before a round, I struggle with pace & distance control. 

Ultimate from 10 & 15 feet, respectively.  All within tap in range, with 2 made from the 3 foot mark & 1 from 10-feet.

My cats getting in the way of my practice.  LOL   Judge the stroke if you must ... be gentle!    

 

 

The Good, the Bad, the In-Between (18 out of 20)

The main thing I want to recommend to Garsen is the manufacturing or cosmetic issue with the top of the grip.  I hope mine is just an anomaly & they aren't all designed this way.  But over time, it's going to make me choke down on the grip, essentially shortening it even further.  I already play a 33" putter.  Sheesh .... before long I'll look like Michelle Wie  

 

They did well with the color scheme for sure.  I love the Blue!  The Red in the MAX grip is nice too, so that's my next test.  If you're a player that likes to tinker with your grip a lot, then this is definitely the grip for you.  There are numerous ways to place your hands on the grip, so you should find one that is most comfortable.  I'm a traditionalist in many ways, with the overlap grip no exception.  

Play it or Trade it? (18 out of 20)

Considering this grip has helped my putting, mainly with distance control, it's a definite "Play it" grip.  It won't be coming off anytime soon, that's for sure.  Not sure if it's the confidence it's given back to me in my putting or not, but whatever it's done, I don't want it to stop.  Cause it's helping me win some $$$ in my league play.  If I were to have bought this grip, I would have already paid for it 3 times over.  Which on the topic of price, I think it's on the same page as others in the putter grip market.  Garsen's grips cost $34.99, while Super Stroke grips cost between $29.99 & $34.99 respectively.  Anyone that likes to tinker with grips just "because" then I would definitely recommend this grip to try.  You won't be disappointed.  

Conclusion

Garsen's introduction into the putting grip technology has really given the golfer a lot of options to choose from.  Whether you're a tinkerer, like to manipulate & change your grip often or just looking for a replacement for your existing grip, you should definitely give this grip a try.  Tackiness is great, feels really comfortable in your hands.  No manipulation needed, it just sits where it should.  Just watch for cosmetic issues at the butt end of the grip.  Take advantage of the many color schemes available from Garsen, especially if you have a favorite color like I do.  Pricing stands with others in the market, so don't worry about that.  Garsen believes the Ultimate grip is the most versatile in the entire lineup.  I would say that's true because I could see how you could place your hands in various positions.  I've enjoyed testing this grip & it will be in my bag for the foreseeable future, that is for sure.  I actually enjoy putting now & believe I can make it from anywhere.  And that's the best thing to have ... confidence.  Hey ... if it's good for Tony Finau, it's good for me.
 

Final Score (86 out of 100)

Just wanted to throw this in as well.  This little guy was making sure I was practicing the right way.     I have never seen one this small.  I know they have to start somewhere but sheesh ... he wasn't any bigger than my fingernail.  (Spadefoot Toad, excuse the dirt under my fingernails ) 

 

 

Edited June 6, 2023 by golfinnut
update

[heavygolffeels]

Garsen Ultimate Putter Grip - Official MGS Forum Review by scooterhd2

Introduction:

Hey Spies! Your favorite substitute teacher Mr.  is here! AKA scooter. 

I bought my first set of clubs in 2013 at the age of 28, mostly to have some sticks for the yearly company golf tournament. I was living in Oregon at the time, working in an industry that was fairly seasonal and super busy during the peak summer golf season.  I was hoping to pick up the game, but ended up only playing two or three times a year and never broke 100. In 2019, I moved to Arizona and decided to really pursue the game more. My work is more flexible. I live right next to a golf course, I work right next to a golf course, the weather is great , no excuses. And so I put in the time on the range, watched countless videos on youtube, had a few lessons, immersed myself in golf content and web forums, became a semiprofessional club flipper on ebay, and I was fortunately able to work my handicap down to under 5 in about 3 years despite having 3 young kids. I’ve sort of plateaued there, and I’m content with that for the time being. 

 

 

I’m sure I’ve driven Garsen’s analytics team mad over the years because I’ve been to their webpage about a thousand times, clicked through every product, watched the videos on every grip, and... failed to purchase.  Sorry! I’m just an avid researcher and I am so intrigued by putters and putter grips and just want to know all that is out there. There's so many options it's hard to choose, but there is no doubting that Garsen has some really fascinating products. That's why I keep window shopping them.  And of course you see the adoption, and in some cases long time use, by pros like Tony Finau and Dylan Fritelli, so you know they are putting out quality. I am absolutely thrilled and grateful to have this testing opportunity, so thank you so much MGS and Garsen! 

I went through a long stint of experimenting with different grips, different holds, different putter lengths, heavier swingweights, counterbalanced grips, before I realized or admitted that my putting stroke just sucks. So I sold all my fancy putters, bought a Yes! Putter for pennies, and have been grinding for months on start line drills and ladders drills, and wouldnt you know, my putting is much improved. Now that I have some confidence and some consistency, its a great time for me to use the grip to fine tune things rather than searching for an overhaul. Garsen's tagline is really resonating with me - "Don’t change your stroke, just get a Garsen." I have a putting mat to do some quantitative testing and can set up some games on the practice greens, but for me, the real testing is out on the course and is mostly feel based. Is the face being delivered square, is the applied speed and ball speed matching up, and is the feedback in the hands matching the strike? And that’s where Garsen will need to shine to make the bag! Interesting timing for me on this test... I am headed to  Scotland  May 27th-June 4th. Will a Garsen grip be in the bag?

 

First Impressions (9.5 out of 10)

While the packaging is no frills, I was immediately impressed with the color ways. Each grip is solid in color with no blemishes. The transitions from the coloured grips to white text is pure. After taking them out of the plastic packaging, I was also quite pleased that they were virtually odorless. I’m not sure that directly and completely correlates to quality, but I have had cheap grips before that absolutely wreak for days, and that was not the case here, so that’s an added bonus for me.

In regards to the Ultimate, the grip has a consistent tackiness and softness in the hand that is quite pleasing. What immediately stood out to me is that the Ultimate is very light at just 55 grams. That not much different than a regular iron grip and quite different from most of the putter grips I've used in the past that have been in the 70-85 gram range. Still, my first thoughts when holding the Ultimate were that we need to get this on a club ASAP, so that has to be deserving of a strong first impression score. I immediately put the Max on myself with air and had my local shop do a standard tape and solvent installation with the Ultimate on my gamer Yes! CNC milled putter. 

 

Aesthetics (8.5 out of 10) 

I’m a big fan of the more subtle branding. The G on the grip cap. The smallish Garsen logo running down the side of the grip. I do wish that the Ultimate branding followed that same line of thought. In the Max and Quad Tour, the grip model names are both much smaller and more discreetly placed. In the Ultimate, it’s a bit loud for my taste with white text running right down the center of the grip. To be fair, it's not anything that you wouldn't also see on a Super Stroke or Rosemark grip. But I'd be more keen on a black on black version. Still, it’s a simple, clean design without any defects. It certainly looks the part of an upgraded aftermarket grip. 

 

The Fit and Feel (16 out of 20)

It’s hard not to like the in hand feel of the Garsen Ultimate. It’s a softer, fairly tacky grip, and the material rates highly as a shock absorber. The grip is non tapered and has to be one of the longer grips I’ve used at 11.5 inches. In theory that might work well for people with split hands grips, claw, or left hand low. I found it versatile for my neutral grip with the added length helping on side hill lies with the ball above your feet where you need to choke down. There seems to be alot of versatility here for various grip types. 

I did notice that in my first practice session with the Ultimate, I had a strong tendency to push putts. I ended up changing my grip slightly, and strengthening my right hand some and was quickly able to normalize my stroke. Feels like Garsen is successful here in getting/forcing the grip more in the palms, as your left hand has to get a bit weaker and the right hand a bit stronger. This externally rotates the arms and gets the elbows more tucked. I can’t say it feels immediately natural in the hands for me, but I do sense more of a straight rocking motion when putting. And when I got in the zone, it worked well for me. Nothing beats draining some putts at work!

One thing that bothered me early, but that I started to become accustomed to, was the dampened feel off the putter. I might be hyper conditioned to it using a blade and previously using a Golf Pride Pro Only which is very firm, but I found the Ultimate to be too quiet for my tastes. It seems to mask mishits and make everything feel mushy. I compare it to the Evnroll face. I imagine some people prefer that feel and for me it’s not a deal breaker, but just not my preference. 

In practice sessions on the Perfect Putt mat from 8 feet to the larger hole, I had mixed results with the Garsen Ultimate. On one hand I had more 10/10 sessions, but also more on the lower spectrum. It seemed to run hot or cold for me. Certainly more volatile. On average I made 8.1 putts with the Ultimate versus 8.15 with my Golf Pride Pro Only, which is slightly worse but not likely to be statistically significant given the sample size. But it’s hard to ignore posting three 6/10s. It is frustrating missing the hole, but I also got hot at times so there may be something to build off and keep working towards. Perhaps some unlocked potential. Here's the results of 20 trials with each grip putting 10 times in a row to a target 7 feet away:

 

On The Course (15 out of 20)

Boy did I do some on course testing! Besides running around a few local tracks, the Garsen Ultimate and I did the grand tour of Fife in Scotland and visited Lundin Links, Dumbarnie, The Old Course, The Duke’s Course, The New Course, Carnoustie, Kingsbarns, Gleneagles, and even a lap around the Himalayas .

 

I had caddies for 5 of my rounds in Scotland and 3 mentioned and asked questions about the Ultimate grip. My caddie at the New Course noticed right away and when I putted lights out that day and literally could not miss I found him taking practice strokes on the teebox on more than one occasion. On the flip side, I had the best ball striking day of my career at Kingsbarns where I shot a 77 with three 3 putts, 4 missed birdie putts inside 7 feet, and honestly never made any putt that wasn’t inside the putter length. Post round my caddy said that it was an absolute treat watching my tee to green game but that I should throw my putter in the ocean!  Ouch! 

And that pretty much sums up my on course feelings. At times feeling unstoppable and in command, and other times not feeling comfortable over the putt and playing with ball position, grip, and stance mid round searching for something. There's potential here, but in this testing span I wasn’t able to completely harness it. 

As far as durability goes, I tested the Ultimate as hard as I could in the time period. Between the 100 degree days in Phoenix, even hotter temps in my car, travelling across the pond, British Airways losing my golf bag on the way back for a few days, we certainly gave it a run. I tried to melt you, break you, lose you, and certainly pulled you out of my bag more times in 6 days than I ever thought possible. But one wipe with a damp towel and the Garsen is looking as good as day 1.

I did also keep a PPR stat just because it felt like the right thing to do. But I think its a tough comparison under any conditions, but even more so putting in Scotland on massive greens. I feel like it’s hard not to putt more and often a three putt feels like a good thing when you are 50 yards away. That being said, here’s 10 rounds played with the Garsen Ultimate versus my previous 15 rounds with the Golf Pride. My average went from up 32.5 to 33.6.

 

The Good, The Bad, The Inbetween (18 out of 20)

High marks here because Garsen was a great company to work with. Communication and shipping was quick and efficient. I’m still feeling blessed that we are getting the opportunity to work with all 3 grips, and I’ve noticed they have the same package together for sale on their website. Really smart. I did not have any of the quality issues on the grip cap that others saw. In fact, I’ve been impressed with the durability and ease of cleaning. I also installed the Max grip myself with air and had my shop install the Ultimate. Both installs were quick and easy. I truly don't have anything bad to say about the grip or company other than my own performance at times. 

The one oddity that I have to point out is the difference in texture between some of the grips. I noticed the differences on the website and it appears to be validated with our testing samples. The Blue and Green grips have a G cut out stacked across the grip. The red has a diamond like texture and the black has more of a honeycomb look. I doubt there’s any performance difference, but what gives? Different batches? Different manufacturing facilities? Different versions? I know consistency with grips is difficult and even different colors will have different weights, but it just seems odd that the texture would be different. At least what we got is consistent with what is shown on the website…

 

Play it or Trade it? (15 out of 20)

A bit of a tough call here because I had moments where I did truly putt my best with the Ultimate. But on the other hand I didnt feel consistent enough where I would use this grip tomorrow in a tournament if my life depended on it. That being said, I’m going to take it off with air to preserve it because you just never know. I could see myself going back to it. Maybe I could get it dialed in and reduce the off days, but for now I am eager to try the Max and Quad as well. I've had very good training sessions this past week with the Max and am very intrigued by it.

That being said, I think the Ultimate is probably the most versatile of the bunch and was a great introduction to Garsen. I think any grip style could get comfortable on this grip, and besides fitting a neutral grip well I feel it's especially favourable to left hand low and claw styles.

In terms of value, I think the Garsen lineup is more than fair. You can certainly find a Lamkin or Golf Pride for less, but when you start looking at Rosemark, P2, Evnroll Gravity, 2THUMB, etc, the price is right in line. Superstroke floats at or just under that price point as well. When you buy all 3 together in the core pack, its $26 a grip which seems like a great deal. Feels like if you have a putter that you love and are committed to, that might be the way to go. Knowing some big names on tour are playing Garsen as well, has to authenticate the quality and value. 

 

Conclusion

Garsen has 69 tour wins, so they are clearly doing alot right. The Ultimate is undoubtedly a quality grip. I love the materials and in hand feel. It’s been plenty durable thus far. And I think Garsen is successful here in forcing some biomechanical efficiencies. While it took some conscious effort on my part to change my hand position, I think that was exactly the goal of the grip and in that way it’s a success. Weaker left hand, stronger right, palms more together, elbows more tucked, easier to move the unit together. I find all of that to be true, but maybe did not translate exactly as I hoped to the golf course where I ran more hot and cold than normal.

That being said, I think the Ultimate forces more subtle changes than the rest of the Garsen lineup, so I can’t wait to see what’s in store with the Max and Quad Tour.

 

Final Score (82 out of 100)

[Mr. Mushball]

Hi Spies!

For those who aren't yet familiar with me, I'm perhaps the worst golfer on the forum.  I started playing seriously in 2020 and have been working on improving my game, and I think I have, though the scores don't show it without some deep analysis.  The time is coming though!  While I don't think equipment will fix my skill deficiencies, I am curious and hopeful that some new design will work better with my game and give me a boost.  Isn't that why we're all here?

Putting used to be somewhat of a strength in my game.  I recently haven't been doing too well, giving up some easy points where I had no business missing.  I haven't had this analyzed, but about a year ago I switched from an old Wilson BT-2 blade putter to a Kirkland Signature KS1.  I love the feel of the KS1 being a counter balanced putter with a SuperStroke grip.  Also, I probably have changed my putting mechanics and my eyeglass prescription over the years, all leading to trouble aiming.  What is causing this, and can a different grip help some errors in my setup, body alignment, and overall stroke to improve my putting?  We're here to find out.

My current handicap is a high 41.7, compared to the 37.6 I had at the end of last season.  A good amount of this is in both short game errors (longer putts, more strokes to get on green), but also in putting.  I currently average about 42 putts per round.  That's over half of par!  I'm curious whether the Garsen Ultimate can help me drop this closer to 36 on average, which is closer to where I think my skill level should be.  Are lag putts ending up closer?  Are my target lines being followed more accurately?  Is my speed control better overall?  

I would like to give results for both of my putters using the Ultimate compared to current grips.  Was hoping to have photos of both of my current weapons to include with this intro, but as I'm traveling this week didn't have an opportunity to capture their likenesses in digital media.  More will come when I get home and can do my product unboxing.

 

The Review
June 11, 2023

First Impressions, 9 out of 10

I liked the look of the ULTIMATE as soon as I opened the envelope.  It came to me in a FedEx envelope as they are lightweight and need no padding.  Not sure if this is how they are generally shipped to customers, would have been nice to see their normal packaging/branding.  Deducted a point for this.

The ULTIMATE is supposedly designed to allow you to use any grip style you want.  In essence, it is similar to a straight SuperStroke type of grip, with a flat thumb pad on the front perpendicular to your club face, and a rounded thick body.  It’s a bit slimmer than the SuperStroke Mid Slim 2.0 that came on my Kirkland putter.  I installed it on my old Wilson BrassTech BT-2 putter that I bought in 2001.  It had a hard rubber thin pistol grip that did have a flat face, but cramped my hands during initial comparison testing. 

The old grips

 

The Aesthetics get a 9 out of 10.  Frankly, this grip looks great.  I love having a bright color on the top to go against my brass putter head.  The construction is of high quality, and the ‘G’ shaped pattern on the grip looks nice.  I had to take a point away as the top cap seems a bit sloppily placed and has some glue showing. 
 

For fit and feel I give it 9 out of 10.  The grip material is about as hard as shoe leather and has a slight give, but is fairly firm in your hand.  It has good tackiness and doesn’t feel like it will slip.  I wet my hands to simulate rain and it still felt secure as I made a few putts.  My fingers didn’t feel quite as glued on as when dry, but I was in no risk of slipping.  It’s a bit slimmer than my SuperStroke Mid Slim 2.0, but felt like it filled my grip comfortably.  I do like the feel better than the foamy feel of the SuperStroke.  The ULTIMATE also has a seam in the back that lines up with the center of the flat front thumb pad.  This helped me to envision my face alignment with my hands so I wasn’t fooled into the optical illusion of being aimed inside.  I would however like it to be just a smidge thicker. I think it would keep me from inadvertently twisting more, so minus a  point.  Maybe I'll try and add more tape.

 

Performed as expected in real life i.e.,on the course, 20 out of 20  This grip felt great and helped me see the lines better.  The color of the grip really stands out against the darker green grass if I have to lay it down.  While it didn’t keep me from three putts, shots were more on line and I could control speed better than with my SuperStroke.  I usually use a standard grip, but other grip styles felt secure as well.  I did try claw, reverse claw and prayer grips with good comfort.

Some other thoughts, 19 out of 20

This grip has been easy to be with from the start.  Shipping was fast, but maybe that was because it probably didn’t come to me through their normal distribution.  The personal touch was nice, but will take a point off for not being able to speak to the customer experience. Installation was easy.  I used the compressed air installation with just a single tape layer.  The grip has stayed firm through all of my play and testing, about five rounds worth.  Replacing it was easy as well, as I made a mistake and installed it upside down initially.  In all it took me less than 30 minutes with the mistake to get it installed. I really like the feel of the seam on the back, it gives me an extra sensory data point in lining up my putt. The feel of the ball translates well through the grip and I can tell where on the face I mishit the ball.  I have yet to find anything I dislike about the club aside from the glue on the top piece.
 

Good to go, or got to go?  19 out of 20

This is a grip I’d keep in my bag.  I like it way better than the grip this club came with, and better than the SuperStroke on my Kirkland putter.  The MSRP on this grip is in line with similar offerings from other manufacturers, and seems more than fair. I’m playing in a tournament June 17th and I plan on taking this setup with me.  Does it help me shoot better?  I think so.  And that means it probably does.  

A downside I can see is they may have a hard time holding up for some.  I  keep my putter in the second row in my bag between the lob wedge, pitching wedge and 7-iron.  The grip under the cap seems to be wearing out from rubbing against the other club's grips.  

Final conclusion

The Garsen ULTIMATE putter grip is a fantastic upgrade for your putter.  The grip design lets you get the feel you need to line up and execute your putts reliably.  Bright color options help it stand out, and the grip feels firm yet tacky.  The best of all worlds.  Well priced, good distribution, and easy self installation if you choose to go that route.
 

Final Score - 95 out of 100

 

And the old one?

- Mr. Mushball, a.k.a Morgan Sackett

Edited June 12, 2023 by Mr. Mushball
Review post

[Josh Ross]

Heck yeah, congrats to y'all! Looking forward to the feedback!

[sirchunksalot]

Congratulations everyone! This should be an interesting review. 

[cojobro77]

4 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Testers Announced! Ultimate Putter Grip from Garsen!

A little about the grip!

"Versatility"

The Garsen Ultimate grip brings the innovation of side facing thumb position to a full size, comfortable, and slightly less exaggerated feel. This grip is a great way to gain all the biomechanical advantages to your putting stroke while maintaining a more traditional overall feel to the grip.

Unlike a traditional putter grip, the ULTIMATE has three flat sides. Like the original G-Pro design it allows you to place your hands in a position so the palms face each other and the wrists are in a neutral position.

It also allows you to place hands into many other positions creating your desired grip. It works extremely well with the claw grip. This grip was developed with input from players on the PGA Tour.

Please welcome and congratulate our testers for this grip!

@revkev
@golfinnut
@scooterhd2
@Mr. Mushball

These testers will receive all 3 Garsen Putter grips, but be doing their main review on this grip!

Congratulations!

[DonnieGolfs]

Congratulations everyone, this should be one of the more interesting test,I think having the correct putter grip can make a huge impact on shots gained on the green for the average golfer. 

[revkev]

Thanks guys - very excited to be selected for this test. Thanks Garsen and MGS moderator team. 

[xOldBenKenobiX]

5 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Testers Announced! Ultimate Putter Grip from Garsen!

A little about the grip!

"Versatility"

The Garsen Ultimate grip brings the innovation of side facing thumb position to a full size, comfortable, and slightly less exaggerated feel. This grip is a great way to gain all the biomechanical advantages to your putting stroke while maintaining a more traditional overall feel to the grip.

Unlike a traditional putter grip, the ULTIMATE has three flat sides. Like the original G-Pro design it allows you to place your hands in a position so the palms face each other and the wrists are in a neutral position.

It also allows you to place hands into many other positions creating your desired grip. It works extremely well with the claw grip. This grip was developed with input from players on the PGA Tour.

Please welcome and congratulate our testers for this grip!

@revkev
@golfinnut
@scooterhd2
@Mr. Mushball

These testers will receive all 3 Garsen Putter grips, but be doing their main review on this grip!

Congrats testers 

[GolfSpy_KFT]

Congrats testers! Looking forward to your reviews!

[GolfSpy TCB]

@revkev
@golfinnut
@scooterhd2
@Mr. Mushball

Congratulations guys... Enjoy your testing process.  Can't wait to see the results!

[golfinnut]

WhooHoo!  Excited to try this grip out.  Heard so many good things about it.  Plus ... I need Something to help me with my putting.  Hopefully this is the answer I've been looking for. 

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

Congrats testers following along this one. Love my current grip but depending on how this review goes when it comes time to replace this has my attention 

[Lee Stanek]

Congrats Testers.  I am in the market for a new putter grip so I can't wait to hear how it goes for everyone!  

[ejgaudette]

Congrats testers looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

[MDGolfHacker]

Congratulations testers!

[GolfSpy_BEN]

Congrats on selection! I am interested to see how the Ultimate stacks up against the Max and will be following along.

[golfinnut]

Funny thing is I was going to purchase a Garsen grip if I wasn't selected for this.  Haha!    I already had them in my sights!  

[tdroma98]

Congratulations Testers! Look forward to reading your reviews! 

[Tom the Golf Nut]

Congrats testers.

[Berg Ryman]

Cool tech that I must admit intrigues me a touch. Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!

[Mr. Mushball]

I am very curious about these grips and can't wait to try them out!  I am very happy with the Super Stroke grip I have on my gamer, but would love to see if these offer more.  I'm going to be following all three testing threads as I'm also intrigued by the Quad Tour.  Putting is certainly an area that I could use some improvement in, and these are supposed to help with your body mechanics.  Hopefully that means the ball goes where I want it to more often than not.

[RjGolf4Life]

Congratulations testers!

[revkev]

Hoping mine gets here before I go to Firt Wayne on the 15th. I’m intending on playing twice while in Indiana. 

[revkev]

And so it begins…

[Fongle]

I just picked up a Nike Method Midnight 007 with a Garsen grip on it. Just rolled it on the practice mat so far, but it feels really good, seems to help in getting a neutral back and forth stroke for me at least.

[Mr. Mushball]

I'm seeing other testers receiving their packages and I'm getting psyched.  I'm traveling this week and am looking forward to getting home to a nice welcome package.  Will have to get on the course as soon as possible after Mother's Day to give the Ultimate a rip!

[ChitownM2]

Congrats testers, definitely looking forward to reading what you have to say as I'm sitting here looking at their site and debating on picking up the variety pack