Golf Pride are flipping the way we see putting and it may just change your game
Your hands are the sole connection between you and the golf club, yet how often do we really think about what grips we are putting on any of our golf clubs let alone our putter?
So, should we be thinking more about how we hold the golf club and what grip we have on the putter? Golf Pride certainly think so, and their new Reverse Taper grip could be the solution.
Golf Pride Reverse Taper Grips: Research and Technology
Golf Pride are the dominating name in the market when it comes to grips but their market share is made up of full swing grips with their putter grips barely scratching the surface of what is possible. In order for this to improve they knew they needed to make some changes and so began the research.
Golf Pride partnered with SAM PuttLab (Science & Motion Golf) to take an in-depth look at what happens when golfers are putting. Through analysing hundreds of players strokes they made some interesting discoveries.
Golf Pride’s research showed each of your hands contributes differently during the putting stroke. This begged the question. Why are grips generally the same width at the top and the bottom, and would a different design improve golfers putting?
“Within the putter grip category, we observed a trend in which manufacturers were actively trying to design products that removed the hands from the putting process, whereas our research indicates that by optimising the connection between the hands and grip, players can improve their performance,” says James Ledford, President of Golf Pride. “Through hundreds of concept iterations, our innovation team created Reverse Taper, which has tested quite positively with players of all skill levels.”
The Reverse Taper design involves a smaller upper half of the grip vs a bigger lower half. The smaller upper half helps anchor the top hand to provide the best stability. In contrast, the larger lower half helps reduce tension in the lower hand for smooth acceleration.
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In testing, this showed the club face was returning remarkably more square compared to a standard parallel style putting grip. The wider lower section also prevents micro levers in the stroke, or in other words, stops players flipping their wrists.
In a world where we are constantly looking for ways to get better Golf Pride have added an route of improvement many would have never considered.
As well as the new shaping Golf Pride had to make material changes for the Reverse Taper design to work. Typically, Golf Pride use rubber for their grips but this would have been way too heavy with the shape and size of the new designs.
Polyurethane is used to make sure the grips are the correct weight but also deliver the right softness and texture. Despite there being multiple sizes, the weight of each model maintains a balanced ‘sweet spot’ so golfers can sense the putter head throughout the stroke.
This material can also be coloured and patterned easier leading to the Reverse Taper design having more visual cues for finger recognition and placement.
The Models
Round – From the name, you can guess the shaping here. It is round and following the reverse taper theme is narrower at the top than the bottom. Golf Pride believe this is the most versatile option in the range and will suit the majority of golfers.
Pistol – This model is aimed at golfers still using a more traditional pistol-style grip. The slimmer upper half of the grip is squarer in styling which is ideal for stabilising the club face. Golf Pride also say this will be good for golfers who have a left-hand low technique.
Flat – This has a similar overall shape to the round but has a much flatter front surface. Golf Pride are saying this is ideal for golfers who have a palm-to-palm putting stroke or people who have less arc to their stroke.
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The Details
Available: March 26th
RRP: £34.99
Models/sizes: Pistol, Round, Flat (Medium or Large)
