Rubber
Leather
Cord/Half-Cord
Quick Comparison
Oversized/Undersized
Rubber
Rubber grips are made by adding granulated cork, as well
as other materials in the liquid rubber. The
"cork" serves to displace the rubber, and is
the reason many grips are called "composition"
grips. It also makes the overall weight of the grip
lighter. The rubber/cork blend is checked to assure the
proper viscosity, and is then molded in a high pressure
molding machine. After molding, the grips are sanded and
painted. Some of the features of rubber grips are: easy
installation, "reminder ribs" for hand
placement, and they are less expensive.
Leather
Most of the "stars" over forty use leather,
while the younger players use various rubber molded
grips. The reason has very little to do with the quality
or playability of the grip, but simply a difference in
what each generation has been accustomed to. One of the
features of leather grips (generally made of cowhide or
calfskin) is that they have a nice soft, pliable, tacky
feel. A few of the drawbacks are its difficulty to
install, and its price.
Cord/Half-Cord
Most of the more popular rubber models come in an
optional "cord" grip, in which strands of
fabric thread are embedded in the rubber grip. This makes
for a better non-slip contact with hand or glove,
especially when wet with rain or sweat. However, it does
wear out gloves faster than non-cord grips. (Hands, too.
:-)
Many of the "cord" models also come as "half-cord", in which the top of the grip (where your thumbs are) are smooth rubber and the bottom (where your fingers wrap around the club) are cord.
Rubber Grips
- Slip-on design
- Easy to install
- Less expensive
- Rough when corded
Leather Grips
- Usually wrapped spiral design
- Harder to install
- More expensive
- Natural soft, tacky feel
Oversized/Undersized
Grips come in a standard size, but can be padded to a
larger diameter with tape on the shaft under the grip. It
is also possible to get larger and smaller diameter
grips. A few of the pros and cons:
Oversized
- For larger hands
- Minimize arthritis pain
- Decreases hand action, promoting a slice
Undersized
- For smaller hands (most women)
- Increases hand action, promoting a hook