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Review - Lamkin R.E.L. 3GEN Grips


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About this time last year I wrote that if the major American grip companies didn't start offering a selection of colored grips soon, Japanese companies like IOmic and NO1, with their assortment of bright grips, were going to start gobbling market share like my almost 2 year old gobbles blueberries (seriously…kid has a $10 a week habit…it's totally out of control. I blame her mother).

 

Here's the thing…black is boring. Sure…black grips hide dirt a hell of a lot better than say Electric Blue, but there not much fun to look at. Yeah…I know some of you don't care. And I know that some of you are put off by guys like me with my multi-colored ferrules, and multi-colored grip, but things are changing out there on the golf courses of this country.

 

Grips don't have to be black any more…in fact, I'd go so far as to say your grips shouldn't be black any more, and with established companies like Lamkin jumping onboard the rainbow bandwagon (and offering a selection of colored grips below $7.00 each), you no longer have to pay a premium to add a splash of color to your golf bag.

 

REL3GEN-3.jpg

 

Lamkin REL 3GEN

A couple months ago, my PR contact at Lamkin (who happens to be my original industry contact) sent me a selection of grips from the 2012 Lineup. For the most part, I got one of everything, and perhaps I'll talk about the putter grip, or the unique Tour White Full Cord, and even the ultra-compelling 3GEN wedge grip at a later time.

 

Fortunately, what I did receive multiple samples of what I think is the showpiece of Lamkin's 2012 grip lineup, the new R.E.L. 3GEN Color Series.

 

Here's how Lamkin describes the new grips:

 

With a collection of 11 new, non-fading color options and a complete assortment of sizes, the R.E.L. 3GEN provides golfers with an unrivaled selection of grip choices. For 2012, the R.E.L. 3GEN is available in four sizes: undersize, standard, midsize and oversize; and in 11 new colors: white, gray, blue, purple, yellow, green, red, orange, neon pink, neon purple and electric blue. The grip's distinctly minimal surface pattern helps maximize surface area contact with a golfer's hand, providing extra comfort and reducing the amount of grip pressure needed to maintain control throughout the swing. R.E.L.'s 3GEN synthetic rubber compound adds superior tackiness and reduces impact jolts without dulling shot feel.

 

Don't get too excited just yet. If you take a midsize or oversize grip, color options, at least for now are limited. Specifically, you can get R.E.L. 3GENs in black or…well, I suppose that's it.

 

If you take an undersized grip you can get your R.E.L. 3GENs in black, or neon purple, or neon pink. And, if you're fortunate enough to be a standard sized guy, all options, except the two neon colors (which are my personal favorites) are on the table.

 

REL3GEN-5.jpg

 

 

Looks

One of the knocks on previous generations of colored rubber-based grips is that the colors simply weren't that vivid. Everything was noticeably duller than what the Japanese companies were producing with their non-rubber-based products.

 

It looks like those color issues have been largely resolved as my samples are (mostly) as vivid as anything I've seen. The Electric Blue for example is probably the best rendition of a sky or Carolina blue that I've seen in any grip. The neon colors (undersized only) are as saturated as anything on the market today, and while perhaps the orange isn't quite as bright (neon) as the R.E.L. 3GEN Lamkin produces exclusively for Cobra, the standard orange isn't half bad either.

 

REL3GEN-2.jpg

 

 

The one letdown from a color perspective is the yellow. It's not bright, it's not vivid. It's a dirty mustard color that simply doesn't do it for me.

 

As long as I'm talking about disappointing colors, Lamkin does offer the R.E.L. 3GEN in a 360 model. For those of you who don't know what that is, it's a logo-less grip with a consistent tread pattern that allows the grip to be used with those adjustable drivers where the shaft orientation changes when the shaft is adjusted (basically everybody's driver except Callaway and Titleist).

 

Not surprisingly that 360 performs as well as standard R.E.L. 3GEN, but it's only available in black, which is totally cramping my style. Not cool, Lamkin. Not cool.

 

REL3GEN-6.jpg

 

 

Feel

For a number of years I was a dedicated Crossline user. In many respects I see the R.E.L. 3GEN as the evolution of that classic grip (although the original is still available, as it should be…this isn't one of those New Coke debacles or anything). The tread pattern is noticeably different from the Crossline, and, surprisingly, is shallow compared to much of the other rubber grips on the market today.

 

While nothing like a cord, the R.E.L. 3GEN is moderately firm. It's got some squish to it, but doesn' feel squishy, or give you the impression that the grip might have come loose from the shaft. It's probably only slightly firmer than those $18 Japanese grips that I have on my irons right now.

 

Because I needed to write this review, and because I needed to build a couple of wedges, and because the R.E.L 3GENs provide an excellent match for my ferrules, I through one each on a Miura K-Grind, and Miura C-Grind wedges that I just assembled.

 

Once the grips were installed what I found must surprising was the tackiness of the grip. Again, as a guy who plays a more expensive Japanese grip, I was basically blown away that a rubber grip with shallow tread could provide anything remotely close to the same level of playable firmness and tackiness. Color me (oh that was bad) impressed.

Performance

 

It's not like I have any of equipment necessary to do an exhaustive torque study on the grip. For me it's pretty simply. Either I like the way the grip feels or I don't…and even then, the thing better damn sure perform well when it's raining, or when it's excessively humid.

 

The first part is easy. With a firm, yet comfortable feel the R.E.L 3GEN provides excellent feedback on full shots and those little touch shots around the green. I'm sure the same is true for Lamkin's wedge grip, but it's only available in black, and as petty or nonsensical as it may sound, that's a deal breaker for me these days.

 

Where rubber grips have always disappointed me is when, with a little bit of moisture, the go from perfectly tacky to unplayably slick. After playing the 1st day of my Spring Member/Member in the rain I can report that the Lamkin R.E.L. 3GENs were as easy to hold on to as anything else in my bag. Granted, I did have to go to the rain gloves for the better part of 9 holes, but regardless of whether I had a single standard glove, or was completely gloved up, I never struggled to keep my grip, and I never felt like I had to dial it back at all.

 

REL3GEN-4.jpg

 

 

Cleaning and Durability

One thing I love about my high-end, snobby, Japanese grips is that they're incredibly easy to clean. Just a touch of solvent and the dirt, grease, and grime comes off, tackiness is restored, and there's zero deterioration of the material. Incidentally, I've found that acetone works well, but evaporates quickly. WD40 also works well, but takes a bit more elbow grease. GolfWorks grip solvent however cleans them up like a champion. Try any or all of the above with a rubber-based grip, and you're going to get a towel full of color, which I'm sure isn't great for the grip.

 

I've tried cleaning the R.E.L. 3GEN with warm soapy water. Most of the dirt came off, but I had to spend as much time on one grip as I'd spend cleaning my entire bag.

 

I've only about 6 rounds in on the 3GENs right now, so it's far too soon to make any definitive comment on durability. I can say that there is currently no visible wear. While I would tell you that after six round there should never be any visible wear, there are some grips I've tried in the past that were virtually destroyed by this point.

 

Let's call it so far, so good, and plan for a follow up in a few months.

 

REL3GEN-1.jpg

 

Final Thoughts

If I'm being perfectly honest, my plan for the Lamkin R.E.L. 3GEN was to leave them on my wedges just long enough to write this review, then rip them off and then regrip with my grip of choice. While there is an OCD part of me that struggles with the grips on my wedges not matching those on my irons, I'm liking the R.E.L 3GENs enough that I've decided to ride them out for the season, or however long they last.

 

They offer a firm, but soft, but not too soft feel that I like, and a tackiness that's as good as anything I've used to date. You could easily spend better than twice as much for similar performance. Durability is certainly a consideration, but I don't have enough info to make any distinctions in that regard. The bottom line is that for now, the R.E.L. 3GENs aren't broke…so I ain't gonna fix ‘em. They're staying on my wedges.

 

REL3GEN-7.jpg

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I'm playing the black midsize on my irons, got them on sale for $2 per grip and like them. Like the Performance Plus 3gens better because they taper slightly less, but these are good grips.

In The Bag
Driver: TaylorMade M2 (2017) w/ Project X T1100 HZRDUS Handcrafted 65x 
Strong 3 wood: Taylormade M1 15* w/ ProjectX T1100 HZRDUS handcrafted 75x
3 Hybrid: Adams PRO 18* w/ KBS Tour Hybrid S flex tipped 1/2"
4 Hybrid: Adams PRO 20* (bent to 21*) w/ KBS Tour Hybrid S flex tipped 1/2"
4-AW: TaylorMade P770 w/ Dynamic Gold Tour Issue Black Onyx S400

SW: 56* Scratch Tour Dept(CC grooves) w/ Dynamic Gold Spinner
LW: 60* Scratch Tour Department (CC grooves) w/ Dynamic Gold Spinner
XW: 64* Cally XForged Vintage w/ DG X100 8 iron tiger stepped
Putter: Nike Method Prototype 006 at 34"

Have a ton of back-ups in all categories, but there are always 14 clubs in the bag that differ depending on the course and set-up. Bomb and gouge. Yes, I'm a club gigolo.

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Ever get a chance to see how these stack up against the NDUR models?

 

I bought a couple of NDURs when they first came out. They weren't for me. I found them a bit too firm for my tastes, and it's really weird, but the standard-sized ones felt just a hair oversized to me.

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+1 to rookieblue... I have had the 3Gen midsize white on my irons for two years now.. I get to play about twice a month. If you want me to share some pics I can, these grips still feel great, not new but great!

Whats in the bag:

 

Titleist 910D2 10.5 Graphite Design Y7-S

Adams 1600 proto 14.5 Graphite Design AD DJ

Titleist 910F 17 Ust Tour Black

Titleist 910H 22 Diamana Kali

Adams Idea Pro A12 4-9 KBS C Taper

Titleist Vokey SM4 46 degree w/ DG Spinner

Mizuno MP R12 50-54-58 DG spinner

Ping Redwood ZB

Ball Nike 20XI-X

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+1 to rookieblue... I have had the 3Gen midsize white on my irons for two years now.. I get to play about twice a month. If you want me to share some pics I can, these grips still feel great, not new but great!

 

I had the whites on the last 3-4 sets before these and bought 30 of the midsize Blems. Ran out and caught these on sale and have maybe 6 left. Waiting to find more PP 3gens in white. My favorite grip in a while for irons and wedges. Not soft and not firm. These are my second favorites. They're a touch softer. I wish they'd release these in a midsize cord version. They'd be perfect then, IMO. A good midsize cord is hard to find, and I think this rubber compound would be good with a cord.

In The Bag
Driver: TaylorMade M2 (2017) w/ Project X T1100 HZRDUS Handcrafted 65x 
Strong 3 wood: Taylormade M1 15* w/ ProjectX T1100 HZRDUS handcrafted 75x
3 Hybrid: Adams PRO 18* w/ KBS Tour Hybrid S flex tipped 1/2"
4 Hybrid: Adams PRO 20* (bent to 21*) w/ KBS Tour Hybrid S flex tipped 1/2"
4-AW: TaylorMade P770 w/ Dynamic Gold Tour Issue Black Onyx S400

SW: 56* Scratch Tour Dept(CC grooves) w/ Dynamic Gold Spinner
LW: 60* Scratch Tour Department (CC grooves) w/ Dynamic Gold Spinner
XW: 64* Cally XForged Vintage w/ DG X100 8 iron tiger stepped
Putter: Nike Method Prototype 006 at 34"

Have a ton of back-ups in all categories, but there are always 14 clubs in the bag that differ depending on the course and set-up. Bomb and gouge. Yes, I'm a club gigolo.

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Need to regrip my backup set -- somehow I don't think these would work on a set of Hogan's. Ole Ben would be spinnin' in his grave....

 

What's in the bag:
 
Driver:  :titelist-small:TSR3; :wilson_staff_small: DynaPWR Carbon
FW Wood: :wilson_staff_small: DynaPWR 3-wood; :titleist-small: TSR 2+
Hybrids:  PXG Gen4 18-degree
Utility Irons: :srixon-small: ZX MkII 20* 
Irons:;  :Sub70:699/699 Pro V2 Combo; :wilson_staff_small: D9 Forged;  :macgregor-small:MT86 (coming soon!); :macgregor-small: VIP 1025 V-Foil MB/CB; 

Wedges:  :cleveland-small: RTX6 Zipcore
Putter: :cleveland-small: HB Soft Milled 10.5;  :scotty-small: Newport Special Select;  :edel-golf-1:  Willamette,  :bettinardi-small: BB8; :wilson-small: 8802; MATI Monto

Ball: :bridgestone-small: Tour B RXS; :srixon-small: Z-STAR Diamond; :wilson_staff_small: Triad

Stat Tracker/GPS Watch: :ShotScope:


 
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  • 2 months later...

Edgolf these grips actually do better in the wet. If you check the description on Lamkin.com it explains how we you start to feel that the grip is getting a little dry just take a damp cloth to them and they tack right back up. I had them in a pretty good down pour and never had a concern about loosing traction. Great question..

Whats in the bag:

 

Titleist 910D2 10.5 Graphite Design Y7-S

Adams 1600 proto 14.5 Graphite Design AD DJ

Titleist 910F 17 Ust Tour Black

Titleist 910H 22 Diamana Kali

Adams Idea Pro A12 4-9 KBS C Taper

Titleist Vokey SM4 46 degree w/ DG Spinner

Mizuno MP R12 50-54-58 DG spinner

Ping Redwood ZB

Ball Nike 20XI-X

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I've got these on every club in my bag but the putter. I've got 25-30 rounds with them this year and can't find a single negative about them, love the feel, look, and durability of these grips.

 

Great review T. and I totally agree with you about the yellow grip! I put that one on my hybrid because I don't hit that club much so I don't have to look at it.

Driver: Ping G410 10.5* w/Hazrdus Blk 6.0 (S)

Fairway W: Ping G400 3 Wood w/stock (S)

Hybrid: Taylormade Gapr Lo 3 w/stock (S)

Irons:  Ping i210 4-PW w/Dynamic Gold 120 (S)

Wedges: Callaway Jaws 48, 52, 56 w/Dynamic Gold 120 (S)

Putter: Odyssey 3T

Ball: Taylormade TP5 X 

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Edgolf these grips actually do better in the wet. If you check the description on Lamkin.com it explains how we you start to feel that the grip is getting a little dry just take a damp cloth to them and they tack right back up. I had them in a pretty good down pour and never had a concern about loosing traction. Great question..

 

Looks like it's time to change out my Iomic to those.... thanks !!

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Loved the review - I have the crossline on everything but it's been so flippin wet that even they aren't working - it's either wet because it's hot and humid or wet because it's raining.

 

I might give one of these a try on a club just for kicks - but it will be black. B)

Taylor Made Stealth 2 10.5 Diamana S plus 60  Aldila  R flex   - 42.25 inches 

SMT 4 wood bassara R flex, four wood head, 3 wood shaft

Ping G410 7, 9 wood  Alta 65 R flex

Srixon ZX5 MK II  5-GW - UST recoil Dart 65 R flex

India 52,56 (60 pending)  UST recoil 75's R flex  

Evon roll ER 5 32 inches

It's our offseason so auditioning candidates - looking for that right mix of low spin long, more spin around the greens - TBD   

 

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Every golfer should have the wedge grips on their wedges. Nothing is better. It's changed my wedge game.

What's In The Bag:

 

Adams 9064LS

Ben Hogan Edge CFT Ti

Ben Hogan Apex Edge 4-PW

TaylorMade ATV 50* 54*

Mizuno Bettinardi BC3 Tour Issue

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Spyers I will be honest I had all of my Irons with these for the two years.. and I keep GP new decades on my wedges because I get a better feel for my shots. These are some Awesome grips that add that little bit of comfort if you need it and grip when you want it (always) now after a couple of months you are going to start noticing that they are drying out. Just take a damp cloth and wipe them down before your round and they will be just as tacki as the day you put them on... Glad everyone likes them, a lot cheaper than Iomics

Whats in the bag:

 

Titleist 910D2 10.5 Graphite Design Y7-S

Adams 1600 proto 14.5 Graphite Design AD DJ

Titleist 910F 17 Ust Tour Black

Titleist 910H 22 Diamana Kali

Adams Idea Pro A12 4-9 KBS C Taper

Titleist Vokey SM4 46 degree w/ DG Spinner

Mizuno MP R12 50-54-58 DG spinner

Ping Redwood ZB

Ball Nike 20XI-X

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  • 3 months later...
  • 4 years later...

I`ve just moved to these grips and so far so good.The feed back from my wedge shots is fantastic.

I`ve been a fan of tour velvet but these are nice and tacky.and provide great feed back from the shot.

:callaway-small: rouge subzero Fujikura Evo 2 shaft

:titelist-small:  F2  3 wood Mitsubishi rayon 

:titelist-small:  818.21 hybrid Even flow black

Ben Hogan irons apex 4 shafts 

:mizuno-small: S18 wedges 50/54/58

:titelist-small:  Cameron and Crown M1

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I`ve just moved to these grips and so far so good.The feed back from my wedge shots is fantastic.

I`ve been a fan of tour velvet but these are nice and tacky.and provide great feed back from the shot.

I've had orange ones on my wedges. You really have to clean them often to keep the tackiness. I find that they hang on to oils and dirt much worse than any other grip I've had before and tend to get very slick.

 

The color stays strong but I've been shopping to find another grip for my wedges that won't require so much cleaning.

 

 

Sent from carrier pigeon using MyGolfSpy

In my ATumSBM.jpg Pisa, riding on a hXf3ptG.jpg 3.5+

:ping-small: G410+
:755178188_TourEdge: EXS 5W
:cobra-small: King F7 Hy

:ping-small: i500 5-GW
wxW5hk4.jpg Equalizer 56/60
:ping-small: Heppler Ketsch

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  • 4 weeks later...

I've had orange ones on my wedges. You really have to clean them often to keep the tackiness. I find that they hang on to oils and dirt much worse than any other grip I've had before and tend to get very slick.

 

The color stays strong but I've been shopping to find another grip for my wedges that won't require so much cleaning.

 

 

Sent from carrier pigeon using MyGolfSpy

I have a nice rubber cleaning solution that keeps all my grips tip top and super tacky

:callaway-small: rouge subzero Fujikura Evo 2 shaft

:titelist-small:  F2  3 wood Mitsubishi rayon 

:titelist-small:  818.21 hybrid Even flow black

Ben Hogan irons apex 4 shafts 

:mizuno-small: S18 wedges 50/54/58

:titelist-small:  Cameron and Crown M1

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I have a nice rubber cleaning solution that keeps all my grips tip top and super tacky

Fancy lol

I just wet a towel and wipe them down after a round. Hit the grips and club faces then put them away.

Love these grips. Can't go wrong with lamkin imo

 

BigTazz

Grip in Rip it

Chicks dig the LONG ball!

         Grip n Rip it

Chicks dig the LONG ball

In my :callaway-small: staff bag

:cobra-small: King F7+ Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 60 - Graphite Tour X-Stiff

:755178188_TourEdge:  CBX 13.5 3 Wood

:1332069271_TommyArmour:  Atomic Irons 4-AW (reviewing)

:cleveland-small: CG16 Satin 52*

:cleveland-small: 588 RTX 2.0 56* and 60*

Sentio Sierra 101-M Putter

 

Proud tester of the Tommy Armour ATOMIC Irons 

 

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The rubber cleaner I use is called trinity death grip.

Yes soap and water does a nice job and scores a birdie.

But the death grip bags an eagle everytime for less than £10 and last for ages.

:callaway-small: rouge subzero Fujikura Evo 2 shaft

:titelist-small:  F2  3 wood Mitsubishi rayon 

:titelist-small:  818.21 hybrid Even flow black

Ben Hogan irons apex 4 shafts 

:mizuno-small: S18 wedges 50/54/58

:titelist-small:  Cameron and Crown M1

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Fast Orange hand cleaner is cheap and it works great in cleaning grips.

WITB:
Driver Ping Anser 8.5 deg Diamana 'ahina X
3 Wood Adams LS Stock S or TM 14 deg MiniDriver stock S
Irons Ben Hogan FW 15 KBS Tour V S
Wedges Ben Hogan TK 15 KBS Tour V S
Putter Nike Method Concept
Launch Monitor: SkyTrak

 

Play Right-handed

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