Equipment
SwitchGrips allow golfers to change putter grips quickly with no mess
Over the past several years, golf equipment companies have been pushing on-the-go customization of equipment, with adjustable drivers and moveable weights to make sure your club is exactly how you want it, when you want it.
Miami-based SwitchGrips is applying this same line of thinking to putter grips, giving the golfer the ability to quickly swap out putter grips without any of the elbow grease that has always been required. If it’s any indication, their recent selection as one of the top three “Best New Products” at the 2015 PGA Merchandise Show, means they may be on to something.
The concept behind SwitchGrips is that once you have replaced your current putter grip with the inner sleeve of the SwitchGrips putter system, then it never has to come off again. The actual grip that makes contact with your hands is an interchangeable outer sleeve that should allow a litany of combinations of look, weight and feel. The process of changing the grip is simple and can be done in less than a minute. Golfers simply need to remove a screw at the butt of the putter, slide the outer sleeve off, slide the new one on and replace the screw. That’s it.
While plenty of golfers can replace their own grips in their garage without much headache, the fact is, most golfers have never changed them without the help of a professional, let alone considered doing their own work. No work bench, no vise and no messy mineral spirits required. The SwitchGrips process allows golfers with zero technical proficiency to try all different putter grip combinations without the usual hassle.
The entry level offerings from SwitchGrips include a rubber line, The Player ($27), and a leather option ($55) with an option in color, sizes and possibly shapes to be soon to come.
A first purchase from SwitchGrips will cost golfers an extra $10 bucks and includes the inner sleeve, weight and Torx key tool. The headline grabbing group of SwitchGrips is an array of exotic animal hides that likely won’t make any friends with the PETA crowd, but will certainly peak some curiosity among those looking for the finer touch on their putter, with lines that include Stingray, Crocodile and Snake grips ($190).
Sam Snead’s famous advice about gripping a golf club as if ”you were holding a bird in your hand” earns new meaning with their unusual line of Ostrich grips.
With the recent prevalence of thicker grips both on tour and at clubs around the world, SwitchGrips gives golfers the opportunity to easily switch back and forth between different sizes until you find what’s right for you.
Weekend golfers, hackers, and single-digit handicappers alike always seem to be trying to find that elusive magic with the flatstick, whether it is experimenting with different heads, lengths or lies. SwitchGrips may just be the start of a new revolution in adjustability, allowing players everywhere to find that perfect putter feel to help trim those few extra strokes off their round.
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Whats in the Bag
Rory McIlroy’s winning WITB: 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @8.25) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X
5-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (18 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9 X
Irons: TaylorMade Proto (4), TaylorMade Rors Proto (5-9) Buy here.
Shaft: Project X 7.0 (4-9)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (46-09SB, 50-09SB, 54-11SB) Buy here, Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks (58-K @59) Buy here.
Shafts: Project X 6.5 (46-54), Project X 6.5 Wedge (60)
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour X3 Buy here.
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Pistol Tour
Ball: 2024 TaylorMade TP5x Buy here.
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Rory McIlroy’s WITB in the forums.
View this post on Instagram
The winning WITB is presented by 2nd Swing Golf. 2nd Swing has more than 100,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.
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Whats in the Bag
Kevin Tway WITB 2024 (May)
- Kevin Tway what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Utility (2), Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Mitsubishi MMT 100 TX (2), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F @51, 56-14F), SM7 (60-10S)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48-56), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: Scotty Cameron Black Baby T
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus4
More photos of Kevin Tway’s WITB in the forums.
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Equipment
Did Rory McIlroy inspire Shane Lowry’s putter switch?
Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
The timing of Lowry’s putter changeup was curious: Was he just using a Spider putter because he was paired with McIlroy, who’s been using a Spider Tour X head throughout 2024? Was Lowry just being festive because it’s the Zurich Classic, and he wanted to match his teammate? Did McIlroy let Lowry try his putter, and he liked it so much he actually switched into it?
Well, as it turns out, McIlroy’s only influence was inspiring Lowry to make more putts.
When asked if McIlroy had an influence on the putter switch, Lowry had this to say: “No, it’s actually a different putter than what he uses. Maybe there was more pressure there because I needed to hole some more putts if we wanted to win,” he said with a laugh.
To Lowry’s point, McIlroy plays the Tour X model, whereas Lowry switched into the Tour Z model, which has a sleeker shape in comparison, and the two sole weights of the club are more towards the face.
Lowry’s Spider Tour Z has a white True Path Alignment channel on the crown of his putter, which is reminiscent of Lowry’s former 2-ball designs, thus helping to provide a comfort factor despite the departure from his norm. Instead of a double-bend hosel, which Lowry used in his 2-ball putters, his new Spider Tour Z is designed with a short slant neck.
“I’ve been struggling on the greens, and I just needed something with a fresh look,” Lowry told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. “It has a different neck on it, as well, so it moves a bit differently, but it’s similar. It has a white line on the back of it [like my 2-ball], and it’s a mallet style. So it’s not too drastic of a change.
“I just picked it up on the putting green and I liked the look of it, so I was like, ‘Let’s give it a go.’”
Read the rest of the piece over at PGATour.com.
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Anna Simon
Nov 5, 2015 at 11:49 am
Hi Alex,
I am currently working with a company that is building a new product that helps golfers improve and analyze their golf swing, taking a multi-sensor approach to the swing analyzers products on the market. The product’s Kickstarter will be launching later this month. Would you like us to get in touch with you to test the product? If so, please send me your email to [email protected].
Many Thanks,
Anna Simon
Pingback: GolfWRX.com – SwitchGrips allow golfers to change putter grips quickly with no mess | SwitchGrips USA
Welby
Feb 11, 2015 at 12:09 pm
Or just use an air compressor and no grip tape to swap as often as you like. (Just please never EVER do it to match your outfit.)
Lowell Madanes
Feb 8, 2015 at 12:15 pm
This is similar to when Winn grips came out and all you had to do was purchase the wrap to replace the grip. Interesting concept. Not sure if the price point will gain many buyers but you never know.
Stan
Feb 8, 2015 at 1:57 am
I have to agree on what they go by on the best products awards. It should be the
best gimmick award. There is so much more to a product then just being at the
PGA show and being best in show kind of like a dog contest. Oh that’s right it’s
not like it’s free to be there they have to pick somebody. It’s not legit unless it’s
tour proven!
John
Sep 26, 2015 at 8:01 pm
Looks tour proven to me. Switchgrips had a top 5 finish with Stewart Cink at the Canadian Open and reached near the top at the British Open. We’ve seen 6 different guys using it on tour …thinking it’s not a gimmick.
Joke of a grip
Jul 6, 2016 at 8:24 am
6 different guys. What guys . And if Cink loves it so much why is he not playing it now.
John Lefebre
Feb 8, 2015 at 1:16 am
WHAT A JOKE!!
John Lefebre
Feb 8, 2015 at 1:15 am
I Agree with you Butch,
A complete dud.. By the way is this crap approved
by the USGA ?I see nothing about that anywhere.
People have been cutting grips off for ever I don’t
see this as the next best thing it’s the newest FLOP!!!!
Butch
Feb 8, 2015 at 12:59 am
This is a complete joke. What do you mean no mess!
I have to install the sleeve first first right? This is a
complete overpriced DUD!!! Will it match my dirty socks.
John Lefebre
Feb 8, 2015 at 1:17 am
I AGREE WITH YOU BUTCH…….
paul
Feb 6, 2015 at 2:43 pm
there has been a few times when I have wanted to try a different grip on my putter but the cost of this system is too much. $37 for a bare bones start with $55 to $190 for a grip? c’mon man. the golfing assoc. wants to get more people playing the game but the vendors jack the price sky high on equipment and if it’s not right for you, then what? it’s hard to sell a used grip for a system that very few people have. in all fairness the concept is good, but it is just to expensive for most average golfers to try out. IMHO paul
mike
Feb 6, 2015 at 1:07 pm
YEA I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN ITS SEEMS COOL AND ALL THAT. I TRIED THESE AT THE PGA SHOW
AND I WAS NOT IMPRESSED. FIRST OFF THE GRIP IS TO SHORT NOT THE STANDARD SIZE AND THE
END CAPS WERE REALLY ANNOYING THE TOP ONE DUG INTO MY PALM AND THE FEEL WAS KIND OF DEAD. IMO
Scooter McGavin
Feb 6, 2015 at 12:54 pm
I don’t understand how some of these “top product” awards are decided. I mean, yeah, the idea is cool, but once you think any further beyond that, I can’t think of a level where this is practical. I know it may not be possible, but a system that allows you to install ANY grip (not just this brand) would be much more valuable. For the price of their grips, you can have pretty much any non-leather grip professionally installed. Labor at my local store is only $3. I can see a certain limited use for fitting, like for fitting to the correct size, but even then, most customers will want other brands and models of grip. Top all of that off with the fact that you shouldn’t be changing your grip that frequently anyway, because you need to give one some time for you to adjust to it before you can know if it will work for you. Maybe I’m missing something, but please let me know if I am neglecting a valuable use for this system as it is, at the price that it is.
Todd
Feb 6, 2015 at 12:16 pm
You got that right every HACK! No serious golfer would even think about wanting to match
their outfit.
Jeff Smith
Feb 6, 2015 at 10:41 am
I bet every pampas cigar smoking hack will go for this lame idea
Todd
Feb 6, 2015 at 9:56 am
What happens if you want to change putters? You have to buy a whole new system?
This could get a bit pricey.
John
Sep 26, 2015 at 8:04 pm
I just had to buy another inner sleeve when I changed liters it was only about $10
John
Sep 26, 2015 at 8:05 pm
Was only $10 when I changed *putters
Ryan
Feb 6, 2015 at 12:50 am
Switch Grips have been a thing in Tenpin Bowling for AGES now.. Was waiting for them to attack the Golf scene… I’d prefer to see these being used for people who excessively wear-out grips.
Kerry Corcaran
Feb 5, 2015 at 7:03 pm
Maybe I can match my underwear!
Mitch Robbins
Feb 5, 2015 at 2:57 pm
Are you serious? Wow like I really want to match my putter grip to my outfit…
Golfraven
Feb 5, 2015 at 2:15 pm
I like the idea. Maybe I would’t go as far as trying to match the grip color with my outfit but would be keen to try different sizes and shapes of grips. Playing the SuperStroke Flatso now but it was a risky and time consuming change from previous pistolero grip. If I didn’t like it it would be money thrown out of the window. Wonder why not all OEM offering such option especially when going through putter fitting. should be an easy thing to have separate heads and set of different shafts and grips.
Jay
Feb 5, 2015 at 1:58 pm
And add extra weight to it on the days I’m feeling fat!!!
Ryan Stewart
Feb 5, 2015 at 12:51 pm
Perfect, now i can finally match my putter grip with my outfit!