Equipment

Best Grips: A company that lives up to the name?

Published

9 years ago

Mar 14, 2015

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.

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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.

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Chris Nickel

I didn't grow up playing golf. I wasn't that lucky. But somehow the game found me and I've been smitten ever since. Like many of you, I'm a bit enthusiastic for all things golf and have a spouse which finds this "enthusiasm" borderline ridiculous. I've been told golf requires someone who strives for perfection, but realizes the futility of this approach. You have to love the journey more than the result and relish in frustration and imperfection. As a teacher and coach, I spend my days working with amazing middle school and high school student athletes teaching them to think, dream and hope. And just when they start to feel really good about themselves, I hand them a golf club!

18 Comments

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.

Reply Report comment
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!

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
kess

Mar 16, 2015 at 1:46 pm

Currently using the major leaguer on my putter. Love it. Great communication from the owner too.

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
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

Reply Report comment
- 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.
  
  Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
- 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.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Curt
    
    Mar 15, 2015 at 9:54 pm
    
    Well said Chris! Someone sold him a used grip for a reason?!?!
    
    Reply Report comment
  - 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.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Awedge333
  
  Mar 16, 2015 at 8:56 pm
  
  I have a black ostrich on my Low Tide putter – it is simply great!
  
  Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
slider

Mar 14, 2015 at 9:21 pm

nice but hard to find I will stick with my GP patriot grips

Reply Report comment
- 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
  
  Reply Report comment
- 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.
  
  Reply Report comment

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

17 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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