Equipment

Can a golf grip really help you gain distance?

Published

7 years ago

Jul 12, 2016

Lamkin makes the claim that with more traction and comfort, leading to a lighter grip pressure, golfers can actually gain speed and distance by using its new Z5 grip. But what makes this promise of “better traction and more comfort” any different than any other grip on the market?

Well, the Z5 grips have 5 different sections, or “zones,” each of which have different designs and are made with different materials. The rationale here seems to be that since each hand has a different function during the swing and setup, and they have different needs from a grip, that the grip shouldn’t be uniform from top to bottom.

Zones 1 and 2, the top two zones of the grip, have a cord weave and a horizontal pattern that’s said to provide traction in all weather conditions. And since most golfers wear a glove on their top hand, the cord probably will not put the hand in danger of discomfort.

From left to right: Zones 1, 2 and 3.

Zone 3, the middle zone, has what Lamkin calls “FingerLock panels,” helping to secure the thumb of the golfer’s top hand by having both the corded, horizontal pattern like the first two zones, but surrounding it with a “simulated rope texture.” According to Lamkin, this will give the golfer a feeling of control that allows a lighter pressure.

For those who don’t like the feel of Zone 3, the grip can be installed with its logo down, which effectively rids golfers of the feel of this zone and extends Zones 1 and 2.

Zones 4 and 5 have what the company calls a “shallow microtexture,” which is softer on the lower hand, since most golfers do not have a glove on that hand. The V-shape dividing line between the colors is there as a reminder for golfers where the proper placement of their fingers should be. This is said to promote control and consistency.

Zone 4 of the Z5 grip.

Lamkin’s new Z5 grips, made from a proprietary compound, are available in both standard (50 grams) and midsize (60 grams) in three colorways: Black/White, Blue/White and Red/White.

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Related Topics:grips Lamkin

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Andrew Tursky

He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

12 Comments

Mel Sole

Aug 7, 2016 at 8:33 am

I tend to agree with John. My experience with Lampkin grips is that they do not last. The last set lasted for about 3 months (and I don’t play a lot as I’m an instructor and teach all day) I have no more confidence in Lampkin for the future!

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snowman

Jul 13, 2016 at 10:37 pm

I believe bottom line that grips are a commodity; use any quality grip that feels good to you. Properly sized Grip of any material /brand and you’ll be fine. hi tech materials, zones and such are just a marketing strategy to convince us to spend more on grips. Lots of majors won with the old boring GP green victory grips and the newer plain-jane tour velvet.

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john

Jul 13, 2016 at 10:23 pm

if these are made with the same material as the utx (the top half looks exactly like a utx) then they’ll wear out before you reach the 18th green, they’ve lost their way of late

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Golfer

Jul 13, 2016 at 12:26 pm

I’d like to see a comparison on trackman between these grips and other grips.

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myron miller

Jul 13, 2016 at 12:11 pm

All well and good but what if your hands are arthritic and you have trouble with smaller grips and need non-tapered grips. Doesn’t seem to look like a jumbo grip.

Also it would be nice to see some actual test numbers to see if for the same club, the grip actually makes a difference in distance and clubhead speed? Or is this just advertising hype? Personally i seriously doubt it makes any difference in swing speed or distance. And why would I care for my wedges and short irons. isn’t the function for these, accuracy and consistency?

Maybe for woods/driver/long irons it might make a difference, but I’d really like to see real tests to prove this statement.

Is it actually lighter than other companies grips?

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c2

Jul 13, 2016 at 8:39 am

Looks like the Golf Pride multi-compound to me, about as original as Taylormade’s composite drivers. Manufacturers copying another should at least have the decency to not act like they have invented something new.

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- Paul
  
  Jul 13, 2016 at 8:45 am
  
  Sharpro came up with the original “Multi compound” New Decade design, not Golf Pride.
  
  Reply Report comment
dd

Jul 13, 2016 at 2:52 am

So by gripping down it eliminates the top 2 sections, thus defeating the purpose of this grip altogether. Brilliant. Now I have no idea what the grip is supposed to feel like nor where to put my hands. What would small handed player like Lydia Ko do, when both her hands are small enough that almost 2 inches of the top and bottom of the grip are not used. I’ll be sure to tell people that this is for players with giant hands only. Brilliant.

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Dude

Jul 12, 2016 at 8:19 pm

What are the odds that this will cost $10+/grip? Do the benefits make it worth 3x more than a crossline?

What happens if you turn the logo down. Will your hands be in a Forbidden Zone?

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Tider992010

Jul 12, 2016 at 12:06 pm

I really like Lampkin Grips. I would try these in a heartbeat.

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- Milo
  
  Jul 12, 2016 at 12:22 pm
  
  I use UTx, awesome grips.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Nolanski
  
  Jul 12, 2016 at 6:05 pm
  
  I’m a crossline full cord guy myself but these are interesting.
  
  Reply Report comment

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Whats in the Bag

Ruixin Liu WITB 2023 (October)

Published

7 hours ago

Oct 3, 2023

GolfWRX Staff

Ruixin Liu what’s in the bag accurate as of the Walmart NW Arkansas LPGA Championship.

Driver: Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero (9 degrees @8)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana

3-wood: Titleist TSR1 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw White 55 S

Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 75 R

Hybrid: Ping G430 (22 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 75 R

Hybrid: Ping G430 (26 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 75 R

Irons: Titleist T200 (6-PW), Titleist T150 (7-PW)
Shafts: AeroTech SteelFiber i95

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (48-10F), WedgeWorks Proto (54-M), Miura MG-R01 (58)
Shafts: AeroTech SteelFiber i95 cw (48, 54), UST Mamiya Recoil 95 (58)

Grips: Golf Pride MCC, Grip Master

More photos of Ruixin Liu’s WITB in the forums.

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Whats in the Bag

Will McGirt WITB 2023 (October)

Published

9 hours ago

Oct 3, 2023

GolfWRX Staff

Will McGirt what’s in the bag accurate as of the Sanderson Farms Championship.

Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees @9.5)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Red 6 X

3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X

3-wood: Ping G430 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X

5-wood: Ping G430 Max (18 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X

Irons: Srixon ZX5 Mk II (4, 5), Srixon ZX7 Mk II (6-PW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X

Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 Tour Rack (50-10 Mid, 54-12 Full, 58-09 Full)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 125 Wedge

Putter: Scotty Cameron prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Victory Cord

More photos of Will McGirt’s WITB in the forums.

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Equipment

Club Junkie Review: Graphite Design Tour AD VF wood shaft

Published

12 hours ago

Oct 3, 2023

Brian Knudson

Graphite Design has been a legendary brand in the world of premium golf shafts since the company was founded in 1989. Graphite Design has had some popular shafts over the years, but they are probably most well known for the Tour AD DI that was released in 2010. Today we are talking about the newest shaft in the Graphite Design lineup, the new VF. The letters do stand for something, Victory Force, and according to Graphite Design every victory requires force! For a more in-depth review, please check out the Club Junkie podcast below or on any streaming platform. Just search “GolfWRX Radio.”

Out of the box, the VF has a very familiar look with a red handle section and a black tip section that are separated with the traditional 10 silver rings. The color combination is definitely more subtle than some of the other Tour AD shaft combinations. Graphite Design doesn’t make too many low-launching shafts, so the VF is filling that need. The VF will suit players looking for low/,id launch and low spin shaft to put in their driver or fairway wood.

The shaft profile is a firm+ handle section, it matches the stiffest handles Graphite Design shafts, with a stiff midsection, and finally a very stiff tip. Exotic materials are used along with MSI Design to maintain stability and consistency. Graphite Design uses Torayca M40X carbon fiber in the handle section to make it stiffer and enhance control of the shaft. Ultra-high modulus Torayca T1100G is used in the middle and tip section for added stability without losing that smooth feel.

I built up the VF shaft using a universal tip system that allows me to use the shaft in any driver head. The building went extremely smoothly as every Graphite Design shaft I have ever installed has a consistent tip diameter and I have never had any issues with a sloppy fit. Once the VF was cut to length and installed, the shaft has a great look that doesn’t jump out as distracting or eye-catching. If you are playing a TaylorMade Stealth 2, then the shaft blends in naturally and they look to visually be great partners!

You would expect a smooth and responsive feel from any Graphite Design shaft and you will get just that with the VF. For me the shaft was exactly as Graphite Design describes, being mid/low launch and offering a very penetrating ball flight. The Tour AD XC might launch a touch lower, but I like the feel and consistency I get from the VF just a little bit more. No matter what driver head I used, the VF seemed to offer ball flight in a similar window, slightly lower than the Fujikura Ventus TR Blue I was using. Even shots into the wind showed no real signs of rising or ballooning. Spin was also lower than I expected with the VF shaft. On the course, I noticed a penetrating, boring flight no matter where I hit the ball on the driver face. Shots struck low on the face held a good amount of distance and even the low heel strike seemed to launch lower and carry further.

I even took a couple of driver heads out to the range with a launch monitor and noticed that I rarely saw a spin number with a “3” in front of it. Almost every shot, good and not so good, seemed to spin around that 2,600 RPM number. With many fittings and shaft tinkering, that is usually on the lower end of what I find with my swing. As I said with the shaft being mid/low launch I was seeing an average of around 11 degrees while using a couple of 10.5-degree driver heads. On course, the VF was very straight and consistent and while it seemed easier to square up than I expected, it did not want to go left as easily as some other shafts. I would consider the flight just slightly fade biased but if you release the club properly you will be rewarded with a straight shot down the fairway.

Overall, the Graphite Design Tour AD VF is a really solid mid/low launch and low spin option with a smooth feel. It is starting to gain some traction on the professional tours and could be a great shaft for your swing as well.