Equipment
Best Grips: A company that lives up to the name?
As a boy growing up in Texas, Zach Sewill didn’t want to be a firefighter or football player. He wanted to be a professional golfer. Hands bloodied from hours of practice led to a realization — he needed better grips. What he found was both an answer and the foundation for a career.
In 2003, Sewill and his father (Harry) started a small company in Conroe, Texas, that distributed leather grips as the U.S. arm of Grip Master. Everything was hunky-dory until 2008 when what Sweille termed, ahem, “creative differences” led the companies to part ways.
In 2010, Sewill decided to go it alone and started BestGrips.com. With the support and guidance from his dad, he set out to produce the best golf grip in the world.
From left to right: MicroPerf, Gridiron and Classic
The company’s first grip, the Classic ($17 each) is a firm grip with a smooth surface. The MicroPerf ($18 each) is slightly softer and more textured than the Classic. The Gridiron ($19 each) has the most texture and is made from the exact same material as collegiate and professional footballs. Both the Classic and MicroPerf are available in oversized as well.
Each grip has a leather chassis and is produced from 100 percent genuine leather, a key component to being the best, Sewill says.
Best Grips also use “Pro Taper,” which adds more size — approximately three wraps underneath the golfer’s dominant hand — to the bottom of the grip. There’s also “Pro Tac,” which infuses a blend of food-grade materials directly into the leather. The result of Pro Tac is the only grip in golf that truly gets tackier as it gets wetter.
Best Grips also offers two different putter grips (Pistol and the D), which are offered in a variety of textures, colors and styles. Designer and exotic options (think ostrich and sea snake) drive the price north, but are still quite a bit less than similar products from other niche companies.
The Gridiron putter grip uses the same material as footballs.
Sewill prides himself on a willingness to provide customers custom options on every product, without any bulk order requirements.
Best Grip’s custom Puttershoe headcover in Black Carbon Fiber.
To be successful, you have to be committed to a vision of who you are and what you can do, Sewill says. He bases this stance on some advice he received from his father, Harry.
[quote_box_center]“You can’t out Wal-Mart, Wal-Mart, but they can’t out Harry, Harry,” his father says.[/quote_box_center]
Point being, the big box volume sellers may move a lot of product, but they can’t give you the same personal experience and access that a company like Best Grips can.
Don’t mistake the lack of presence on the major tours as anything significant. For now, Sewill isn’t interested in selling as many grips as he can. While the company has grown in excess of 20 percent each of the last four years, he says it’s more important that his company “continue(s) to produce everything in house, even if that means we someday can’t produce as much as we’d like to.”
To that end, Best Grips only publicly advertises on GolfWRX and depends on word of mouth for the rest. The company does work with putter maker TP Mills, as well as several other smaller companies that Sewill describes as “more appreciative” of the business relationships they establish.
Best Grips is a small company that pushes authenticity and customization in an arena of larger companies that thrive on volume sales. Excuse Sewill if that seems a bit rigged, if not disingenuous.
For now, Best Grips is committed to living out Sewill’s credo to provide “an unparalleled customer experience and one-off customized products made from the highest quality materials at a reasonable price.”
Hard to argue with that.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D LS (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7TW (5-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold X100
Wedges: TaylorMade Prototype (50-SB09), TaylorMade MG5 (56-HB12, 60-LV07)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400
Putter: TaylorMade TP Juno
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Christiaan Maas’ clubs here.
TaylorMade Golf’s MySpider program underwent a substantial overhaul over the last month. Firstly, the company launched the option to customize the Spider ZT model, and now the program has returned with the MySpider Tour and MySpider Tour X.
The revamped page now gives golfers complete control over every visual and functional detail of their putter on the popular Tour and Tour X head, with every cosmetic idea thought of. In MySpider Tour, golfers can choose from four head finishes, 16 paint fill colors, nine Surlyn face insert colors, three aluminum insert options, six sightline configurations, and four hosel options — L-neck, small slant, double bend, center shaft. Six sightline options are available in MySpider Tour, including the optically engineered True Path alignment system. MySpider Tour X gives builders the option of four head finishes, four hosel configurations, and five sightline options, also including True Path alignment.
One of the more interesting features of the new MySpider program is the availability of three distinct face insert options. Along with the usual Surlyn Pure Roll insert trusted by Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, which can be customized from nine colors, golfers can now also select firmer options. Two are offered with the black aluminum Pure Roll insert, slightly firmer than the traditional insert, or for the firmest feel, golfers can choose from two colors of milled aluminum inserts.
Another fun addition to the MySpider Tour is the ability to use the “Tommy Sightline.” The custom alignment aid design, which was first drawn onto Tommy Fleetwood’s putter by PGA Tour Rep James Holley, is based on the milled sightline on his Spider ZT head. There are five shorter lines on the left and right of a longer central line serving as the traditional short line alignment aid.
See below for the full specifications sheet for MySpider Tour and Tour X:
MySpider Tour
MySpider Tour X
Equipment
Then and now: Comparing Rory McIlroy’s current setup to his record-breaking 2019 Canadian Open victory
In Rory McIlroy’s first appearance at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, he crushed the record books to earn his 16th PGA Tour title in dominating fashion, winning by seven shots over Shane Lowry and Webb Simpson.
McIlroy’s score of 22-under-par 258 is the lowest 72-hole score to date at the Canadian Open, and his closing 61 is also the best final-round score in the history of one of golf’s oldest tournaments. Finally, with his win in 2019, McIlroy became only the sixth player to win the career Triple Crown, adding to his victories at the U.S. Open in 2011 and The Open Championship in 2014, joining Tommy Armour, Walter Hagen, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Tiger Woods in a coveted list.
So, with that, why not compare his current setup to the clubs he used to break all the records?
Driver
2019: TaylorMade M5 (9 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees @8), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7X (45 5/8 inches)
McIroy led the Tour in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee in 2019; he’s doing the same in 2026. Between now and then, McIlroy has switched from the Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX (a shaft with slightly more feeling in the tip) to the original Fujikura Ventus Black 7X, having just made the change to the heavier version from playing the 60X.
What’s interesting about McIlroy’s 2019 setup is that the weighting on his driver is actually set in the high-draw setting, using the T-Track weighting system, whereas in the Qi4D, he’s currently using a heavily rear-weighted setup. (Two 13-gram weights in the rear and only two 4-gram front weights.)
The TaylorMade M5 driver he played in during his Canadian Open win was the company’s first head that they claimed to design to initially exceed the USGA’s COR limit, and then injected with tuning resin to bring it back in bounds.
Fairway woods
2019: TaylorMade M6 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX; TaylorMade M5 5-wood (19 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 90 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8X; TaylorMade Qi4D 5-wood (18 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9X
The TaylorMade M6 fairway wood that McIlroy was using during the 2019 season is still in the bag of some of the best golfers on Tour in 2026. Just check out Justin Rose’s winning setup from the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this year. This year, though, McIlroy has still been searching for his top-end-of-the-bag setup, having played both the new Qi4D and the Qi10, which he won the Masters with.
The same shaft swap can be seen in the fairway woods as the driver, along with slightly less loft on the 5-wood.
Irons
2019: TaylorMade P750 (4) Buy here, TaylorMade P730 (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0
2026: TaylorMade P760 (4), TaylorMade Rors Proto (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0
The biggest difference between McIlroy’s custom set and the stock P730s is the groove design. While the P730s were constructed with 14 MX-9 grooves on their milled faces, McIlroy’s proto heads instead use the higher-spinning, 16-groove layout of the TW2 grooves. Other big differences between the sets are that McIlroy’s 7- and 8-irons have thinner toplines, are 1 degree stronger in loft, and are 1/4 inch longer than the original P730 builds.
With McIlroy’s 4-iron, the switch from P750 to P760 sees a transition to a two-piece construction with Speed Foam in it, which allows McIlroy to launch the ball slightly higher, with more workability.
Wedges
2019: TaylorMade Milled Grind (48-09SB), TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09SB, 56-09SB, 60-LB09), Shafts: Project X Rifle 6.5
2026: TaylorMade MG5 (46-09SB, 50-09SB, 54-11SB, 60-08LB @61), Shafts: Project X 6.5 (46-54), Project X 6.5 Wedge (60)
Between 2019 and 2026, McIlroy’s focus on his short game has been much more apparent. It was the reason why he switched back to the TP5 golf ball, to help with launch, spin and control with his wedges leading up to his career Grand Slam victory in 2025. The most apparent changes to McIlroy’s wedge setup are his lofts and bounce. He’s slowly delofted his pitching to a sand wedge, but has increased the loft on the lob wedge, bending his current 60-degree to 61. With that, adding more loft to his lob wedge also slightly increases the bounce and leading-edge sit point, so, as a result, he plays a lower-bounce lob wedge compared to 2019. The MG5 wedges are also softer than the first Milled Grind option from 2019. McIlroy also no longer plays the full-face grooves found on the Hi-Toe.
Putter
2019: TaylorMade Spider X
2026: TaylorMade Spider Tour X
Notice anything similar. Yes, the copper finish on Rory McIlroy’s Spider X putter in 2019 is a slightly more reflective finish than the recently released torched PVD finish. McIlroy was using the True Path alignment system, but now uses only a single white sightline.
Ball
2019: 2019 TaylorMade TP5 (#22)
2026: 2025 TaylorMade TP5 (RORS)
As mentioned above, McIlroy had transitioned from the TP5 to TP5x golf ball since his victory in Canada in 2019, but now is black with the same style of golf ball as his victory at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.
Grips
2019: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
2026: Golf Pride MCC
Interesting, McIlroy actually used Golf Pride’s Tour Velvet Cord grips during his victory in 2019 (it was during a 2+ year switch to the corded TV) as opposed to his usual MCC grips, which he has played for most of his career.
What’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
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James g
Mar 19, 2015 at 11:23 am
I ordered a head cover for my 3 wood and it is amazing. I get so many great comments on it. I have not broken down to get the grips yet. Part of the reason is I have been going back and forth between iron sets but now have settled on the gamers so I will be ordering grips. Only issue for me is there is no mid-size. The standard seems too small and the oversize too big.
Tom K.
Mar 18, 2015 at 6:26 pm
Wanted to say thank you to Harry and Zach at BestGrips for going the extra mile in helping with my leather grip selection. Awesome grips, awesome service!
Hernán Lazarde
Mar 17, 2015 at 11:10 pm
Zach is an amazing guy, personally, as a friend of mine, but much more importantly, from a professional and customer service point of view. His work ethic is great, his attention to detail is stupid awesome and his willingness to work with each client, whether a next door neighbor, a golf buddy or a guy from across the Atlantic, is priceless. I’m been to his shop and the way both his dad and Zach care about their equipment, the machines that, alongside their craftsmanship, make Best Grips what they are, is immeasurable. They really love what they do and it shows… in every single product they make.
kess
Mar 16, 2015 at 1:46 pm
Currently using the major leaguer on my putter. Love it. Great communication from the owner too.
Adrian
Mar 16, 2015 at 12:28 pm
I too am a very satisfied customer of Best Grips (micro perf). I previously had the high-end Grip Masters installed but they were too tacky and the butt end of the grip had excessive wear. It made no sense to be paying $20-25 per grip premium only to have the rubber end-cap wear out way before the grip. The Best Grips have a better composition they’re slightly more rounded on the end-cap which I suspect prevents the issues I was experiencing with Grip Masters.
Separately, the “feel” of the Best Grips (I’ve only tried/used the Micro Perfs) is perfect no pun intended. Slightly less tacky than the Best Grips but more over, there’s no residue that stays on your hands or gets all over your shafts… something else that was a tad annoying about my priors.
The fact that Zach’s product is slightly less expensive is pure upside. I can’t say they are the best grips available because that’s subjective and some rightly prefer the feeling of a rubber/compound grip. But, I can say they are indeed the best leather grip available and after one year showing 0% sign of wear. I reckon these will have a minimum of 3 years life.. which easily justifies the price/grip.
Brendon
Mar 16, 2015 at 5:34 am
I use the the grip master grips from Australia,so happy with these and when it rains they grip so well,good to see another leather grip manufacturer out there,will check them out.
RG
Mar 15, 2015 at 10:30 pm
Thank you soooooo much! I have been dying to try a leather putter grip for ages and now I know where to go.
Dave
Mar 15, 2015 at 8:30 pm
I have worked with this company since 2004 and can attest to the quality of the products and the integrity of the folks who work there. I have yet to get any product from them that was less than they offered, and in most cases got a better grip/putter cover/head cover than what they said it was.
I would go so far as to say that any product offered by this family will be superior to any other.
If you can find another group of individuals who are more dedicated to serving the golfing public please let me know. Smiles, Mad Honk
Curt
Mar 15, 2015 at 9:52 pm
A lot of companies start out with this much care and pride, then go down the slippery slope of all profits.
Brian
Mar 15, 2015 at 4:21 pm
I have one Best Grip Black Ostrich putter grip that I bought used and its a piece of crap. It feels like plastic instead of Ostrich and the quills barely go half way down.
What the article doesn’t say is that their cowhide putter grips start @ $35. For that you can get The Grip Master Pittards Cabretta Tour Stitchback @ $35. Or you can get their closeout Kangaroo Putter Stitchback for just $25. That is an awesome grip.
Sorry to dump on a sponsor, but The Grip Master is the better grip.
Chris Nickel
Mar 15, 2015 at 4:56 pm
Certainly everyone is welcome to their opinion – but if I read your post correctly, you said you bought a used grip – correct? Not really and apples-apples comparison. FWIW, I’m sure Grip Master makes nice grips as well – but you can’t compare a used product to a new one.
Curt
Mar 15, 2015 at 9:54 pm
Well said Chris! Someone sold him a used grip for a reason?!?!
Brian
Mar 18, 2015 at 7:08 am
Fair enough, but it was a ‘new’ pull off of a tour putter. It was my one and only experience with a Best Grip and frankly, I was disappointed.
Awedge333
Mar 16, 2015 at 8:56 pm
I have a black ostrich on my Low Tide putter – it is simply great!
Scott
Mar 15, 2015 at 9:46 am
I used the leather grips from Australia for a few years. I ended up replacing m clubs before the grips wore out. I need a Jumbo or a mid size that I can build up. Let me know when You guys have those. Thanks.
slider
Mar 14, 2015 at 9:21 pm
nice but hard to find I will stick with my GP patriot grips
RI_Redneck
Mar 15, 2015 at 9:45 am
What’s hard to find about them. Go to the website and there they are.
BT
Chris Nickel
Mar 15, 2015 at 4:50 pm
I can tell you Zach is very easy to work with and would be happy to help you create whatever it is you like – Most grips like this aren’t readily available at your local Golfsmith, but that’s pretty true of most niche products.