Equipment

Luxury and Function, the World of Best Grips

Published

10 years ago

Mar 31, 2016

It is hard to dispute that leather is, in many ways, the definition of luxury. But in golf, where leather head covers are in vogue these days due to a fairly recent renaissance, and leather grips continue inch their way back into the mainstream, it has been somewhat forgotten. As technology continues to affect almost every wrinkle of the golf business, Best Grips is doing its part to keep leather relevant in the modern game of golf.

Located near Houston, Texas, Best Grips has been making leather grips since 2003. In 2010, Best Grips ceased acting as the U.S. distributor for The Grip Master and started manufacturing its entire line of grips within the confines of the State of Texas. For those around in 2014, GolfWRX reviewed some of the then-available products developed by Best Grips, highlighting both the pros and cons of those products.

Currently, one of the highlights of Best Grips’ Club Grips is its use of ProTac, which provides increased tackiness when wet. The downside being that upon application of ProTac into the leather, its color changes, limiting its use to certain color grips (i.e., black and tan). While there is arguably nothing quite like ProTac otherwise utilized in the leather grip industry, its application limited Best Grips’ ability to offer color in its grip line.

Fast-forward to 2016 and Best Grips has solved its color dilemma, at least with respect to head covers, putter grips (be on the look-out for a new midsize pistol grip in the near future), and putter covers (available soon) through its introduction of the GT-L line of products. Designed with the intent to push the boundaries of “stock” options, Best Grips is now able to offer 10 plus leather colors (with more coming) and what amounts to thousands of custom options (all handled in-house, even embroidery and laser engraving).

Consistent with its tenants to (1) sell only what they would play, and (2) never pay anyone (including, playing professionals) to endorse its products, Best Grips continues to focus on the consumer. Incidentally, Best Grips does offer “Tour Issue” products at a discounted price for those regular golfers proud to openly represent Best Grips at their local club. Generally, you have to grab them quick because Tour Issue offerings are only available once a year and while supplies last, unless Best Grips decides to extend their run (which can happen).

For those still wondering if leather might be right for you, keep in mind that despite upfront costs that exceed its comparable rubber counterparts, you will get your money’s worth. The reason being, with proper care such as regular cleaning after use, leather grips have a longer shelf life then rubber. Whereas, rubber immediately begins to deteriorate upon production, leather can last.

As a whole, the GT-L line was developed in response to customer demand for color and its GT-L headcover is a best seller for the company. In discussing Best Grips generally and the GT-L line further with Albert “Zach” Sewill, President of Best Grips, it was evident that the future is bright for the company. Beyond the pursuit of success, however, Zach made it clear that it remains important to Best Grips to continue pushing the concept of customization at a price point that challenges other companies to keep pace in order to benefit players such as you and me.

You can learn more about Best Grips on its website. Best Grips offers a monthly/semi-regular newsletter to keep up on not only the company, but other golf-related topics as well as a blog known as the “Grip Life Blog.”

Equipment

Slab city on the Korn Ferry Tour — Lead Tape Report

Published

9 hours ago

Jun 10, 2026

Andrew Von Lossow

This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.

Joel Thelen

Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.

First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.

Mitchell Meissner

Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.

Whats in the Bag

Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)

Published

9 hours ago

Jun 10, 2026

Will Schube

Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.

Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X

3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX

7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX

Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

See more in-hand photos of Bud Cauley’s clubs here.

Equipment

Name every set of irons you’ve owned – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

9 hours ago

Jun 10, 2026

Will Schube

In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.

@Lamosteve began:

Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine

Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6

Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”

Entire Thread: “Name every set of irons you’ve owned.”