September 12, 2025
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Grips are one of the most underrated pieces of golf equipment, yet they directly influence feel, control, and confidence. The “best” grip depends on your hand size, playing conditions, and personal feel preferences. I’ll break it down into popular grip types, examples of pro golfers and what they use, and general recommendations for amateurs.

🏌️ Types of Golf Grips & Their Benefits

  1. Tour Velvet (Golf Pride)
    • The most played grip in golf. Offers a blend of comfort, traction, and a classic feel.
    • Pros who use it: Tiger Woods (Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord), Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka.
  2. Multi-Compound / Hybrid Grips
    • Example: Golf Pride MCC (Multi-Compound Cord)
    • Cord in the upper hand (firmer, tackier) + softer rubber in the lower hand (more comfort).
    • Great for players who want a balance of control and feel.
    • Pros who use it: Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Rickie Fowler.
  3. Full Cord Grips
    • Cord material throughout — excellent traction in humidity or rain, preferred by players with stronger swings.
    • Pros who use it: Justin Thomas (Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord), Tony Finau, Bubba Watson.
  4. Tacky / Soft Grips
    • Example: Lamkin Sonar / ST+2 Hybrid
    • Softer, tackier feel, often preferred by players with sensitive hands or those who want extra comfort.
    • Pros who use Lamkin: Keegan Bradley, Brandt Snedeker.
  5. Oversized / Midsize Grips
    • Reduces wrist action, good for players with arthritis or those who want more stability.
    • Pros who use it: Bryson DeChambeau (JumboMax XL grips — significantly larger than standard).

🔥 Pro Examples of Unique Grip Choices

  • Tiger Woods – Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord, reminder ribbed. (Classic, firm, no nonsense.)
  • Phil Mickelson – Golf Pride MCC, midsize. (Extra stability for his short game.)
  • Bryson DeChambeau – JumboMax XL Oversized grips (about 125g each, more than double the weight of standard grips).
  • Rory McIlroy – Golf Pride Tour Velvet.
  • Jordan Spieth – Golf Pride MCC (Multi-Compound).
  • Sergio García – Lamkin UTx Cord.

✅ Recommendations for Amateurs

  • If you want all-around performance: Golf Pride Tour Velvet (standard).
  • If you play in hot, humid, or wet conditions: Golf Pride MCC or Tour Velvet Cord.
  • If you want comfort & tackiness: Lamkin Sonar or Winn Dri-Tac.
  • If you struggle with grip pressure or arthritis: Midsize or Oversized grips (e.g., Golf Pride CP2, JumboMax).

👉 Pro tip: The fit is just as important as the brand. Grip size (undersize, standard, midsize, jumbo) should match your hand size and swing style. Too small → leads to overactive hands and hooks. Too large → can cause blocks or fades.

⚙️ Fit Variables That Matter

When choosing grip, it’s not just the model but fitting details make a big difference:

  • Core size & diameter: How thick the grip is internally vs externally; huge effect on feel.
  • Taper vs reduced-taper: Grips with less taper (i.e. more uniform thickness through length) make you use lighter grip pressure; traditional taper makes top of grip fatter than bottom, which some prefer / need.
  • Texture / surface finish: Cord, ribbed, smooth, micro textures, etc. Affects traction / how slick it feels, especially in wet or sweaty conditions.
  • Weight & balance: Heavy grips can reduce clubhead speed (slightly), change feel; but can help with tempo and stability.
  • Feel & comfort: Hardness / softness, how it “sits in the hand,” whether it causes fatigue.