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This in-depth guide compares Golf Pride versus Lamkin grips across all the key factors - from materials and technology to weather resistance, feel, and professional usage. We break down the unique advantages of each leading grip manufacturer to help you determine which provides the best tack, comfort, and performance to improve your golf game. Learn how Golf Pride and Lamkin grips differ in design and engineering so you can confidently choose the right grip for you.
Finding the right golf grip can be an agonizing decision. With so many options on the market, how do you know which will actually improve your game instead of leading to buyer’s remorse? This is especially true when debating between two industry titans like Golf Pride and Lamkin grips. Both have been trusted for generations, but which should you trust with YOUR swing?
I’ve faced the same dilemma, testing numerous grips over the years in my own quest to optimize my clubs. After extensive first-hand research, the differences between Golf Pride and Lamkin became clear. One rose above the other to best meet the needs of most amateur golfers.
In this guide, I’ll cut through the marketing fluff and detail exactly how these two grip giants compare. You’ll see what sets them apart in terms of feel, shock absorption, traction, customization, and other performance factors. After digesting these insights, there will be no question which grip line offers the best value and game improvement for YOUR specific needs.
I aim to settle the Golf Pride versus Lamkin debate once and for all! This straightforward comparison will reveal the ideal choice for your preferences, playing style, and skill level. Let’s tee up…
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Table of Contents
History and Reputation
When examining Golf Pride versus Lamkin grips, the first factor to consider is the history and reputation behind each brand. With any golf equipment purchase, you want to choose a grip line from a company that is proven, trusted, and consistently delivers quality products. Both Golf Pride and Lamkin check these boxes.
Golf Pride’s Storied History
Golf Pride has been an industry leader in golf grips since 1949. They cemented themselves early on as the choice of professional golfers and tour players. In fact, Golf Pride claims more tournament victories have come using their grips than any competitor.
Today, Golf Pride is the top producer of rubber golf grips worldwide. Most players on the PGA Tour rely on Golf Pride grips, including legends like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. This tour dominance shows the consistent quality and performance of Golf Pride grips over decades.
Golf Pride also has an impressive parent company in Eaton, giving them the resources to keep innovating. They use advanced technologies across their product line to develop grips tailored to all player types and skill levels.
Lamkin’s Rich Heritage
Lamkin has been crafting quality golf grips since 1925 when the company was started by baseball bat grip maker Elver B. Lamkin. Their first grips were leather wraps on a rubber underlisting.
Over decades, Lamkin pioneered new materials and technology to keep improving grip designs. They were one of the first to use an advanced cord embedding process for enhanced traction and shock absorption.
Today, Lamkin remains a prominent choice on tour. Notable players like Bryson DeChambeau, Bubba Watson, and Patrick Reed rely on Lamkin for superior performance and reduced hand fatigue.
Lamkin also prides itself as a “grip specialist”, focused on quality craftsmanship and customization at their Tennessee factory. This close attention to detail has built their reputation for high performance, trusted grips.
Golf Pride vs Lamkin Grips: Quick Overview
Before we dive into the full comparison, here is a high-level overview of Golf Pride versus Lamkin grips:
| Criteria | Golf Pride | Lamkin |
| Founded | 1949 | 1925 |
| Most Popular Grip | Tour Velvet | Crossline |
| Grip Materials | Rubber, cord, hybrid | Rubber, cord, hybrid |
| Price | Slightly more expensive | Slightly less expensive |
| Durability | Extremely durable | Also highly durable |
| Feel | Tacky | Soft, comfortable |
| Weather Performance | Best in wet conditions | Best in temperature extremes |
| Grip Sizes | Wide variety | Wide variety |
| Weight | Slightly heavier | Slightly lighter |
| Colors | Many color options | Many color options |
| Warranty | Yes | Yes |
| PGA Tour Usage | Most popular | Also widely used |
| Target Audience | Skilled players | Beginners and high handicappers |
This table provides a high-level overview comparing some of the key differences between Golf Pride and Lamkin. Keep reading our in-depth comparisons of performance, feel, technology, and other factors to determine which grip brand is right for your game.
Grip Materials and Technology
When choosing between Golf Pride and Lamkin, one of the biggest differentiators is the materials used in the grips and the technology behind them. The type of material impacts the feel, tackiness, traction, and durability of the grip. Golf Pride and Lamkin use different compounds and production methods to create their unique performance benefits.
Golf Pride’s Materials and Tech
One of Golf Pride’s most popular grips is the Tour Velvet rubber grip. This uses a blended rubber compound that provides a soft, tacky feel preferred by tour players. The rubber material gives excellent traction, even with sweaty hands.
Golf Pride also employs advanced technology like their brushed cotton cord embedding process. This intertwines cotton fibers into rubber for improved cushioning and resistance to moisture and dirt. Grips like the MCC Plus4 use this technology specifically for superior performance in wet conditions.
The Tour Velvet ALIGN grip combines a rubber underside with a thermoplastic polyurethane outer layer. This gives customized tackiness and unique textures for ideal traction.
Lamkin’s Innovative Materials
The Crossline by Lamkin is one of golf’s most iconic cord grips. The distinctive pattern comes from deep-etched channels that expose the cotton cord fibers. This improves traction and provides a classic feel that many golfers prefer.
Lamkin is also an innovator when it comes to rubber compounds. Their proprietary rubber blend used in grips like the UTx provides a firm, tacky feel with excellent torsion control. Lamkin also employs an advanced double-crosshatch pattern for durability.
Lamkin’s use of advanced synthetic materials gives grips like the Genesis excellent shock absorption and a soft, comfortable feel. This makes them ideal for golfers concerned about hand fatigue and vibration.
So in summary, Golf Pride leans on trusted rubber and cord while innovating through brushing and embedding technology. Lamkin grips highlight proprietary rubber blends and synthetics that focus heavily on shock absorption. Your ideal material comes down to the feel and performance you want in your grip.
Performance and Feel
When researching Golf Pride versus Lamkin, two of the most important considerations are grip performance and overall feel. The right grip can enhance your traction, swing tempo, and shot consistency. But grips also need to feel comfortable in your hands during repeated swings. This section examines how Golf Pride and Lamkin deliver on both fronts.
Golf Pride’s Performance
Golf Pride grips are designed to provide maximum traction and control for optimal swing performance. Rubber grips like the Tour Velvet use an incredibly tacky compound that creates friction and prevents club slipping.
The MCC Plus4 is Golf Pride’s top-rated grip for improving grip pressure. The unique brushed cotton cord material helps reinforce proper hand placement for more consistency.
Across the product line, Golf Pride uses advanced techniques to provide firm, stable grips that promote a controlled, accurate swing path. This gives you the performance to execute shots with precision.
Lamkin’s Superior Comfort
While Golf Pride focuses on traction and control, Lamkin grips highlight unmatched shock absorption and comfort. Their proprietary rubber and synthetic blends minimize vibrations and impact on your hands.
This cushioning effect helps reduce hand fatigue so you can play through 18 holes without wearing down your grip strength and endurance. Models like the Genesis excel at dampening vibration for supreme comfort.
Lamkin’s super-soft feel also provides great traction and stability. So while known for comfort, their grips still allow golfers to play with consistency and control. You don’t have to sacrifice performance for a softer feel.
So in summary, Golf Pride leans into firm, tactile grips purpose-built for control and precision. Lamkin offers similarly precise performance but with more emphasis on eliminating vibrations and maximizing comfort, especially over long rounds. Determine which asset aligns with your needs and preferences.
Weather Resistance
One often overlooked factor when choosing grips is how they perform in various weather conditions. Both Golf Pride and Lamkin produce grips designed to withstand the elements so your game isn’t compromised by moisture, heat, or cold. Here’s a look at each brand’s approach to all-weather playability.
Golf Pride’s Moisture Resistance
Golf Pride grips are engineered with special compounds and textures to resist absorbing moisture. This maintains optimal traction and tackiness even when grips get wet from rain, humidity, or sweaty hands.
The MCC Plus4 is Golf Pride’s premier all-weather grip. It uses a brushed cotton cord material that wicks away moisture. This helps provide a dry, stable grip surface in wet conditions. The intertwined cotton fibers also resist hardening in dampness or high heat.
Rubber grips like the Tour Velvet ALIGN are also highly water-resistant. So Golf Pride provides excellent wet weather performance across their traditional rubber and hybrid grips.
Lamkin’s Temperature Stability
Lamkin also produces a variety of all-weather grips, but they highlight stability across a wide range of temperatures. Grips like the Genesis excel in both very hot and very cold conditions.
The Genesis utilizes proprietary rubber and synthetic materials that avoid hardening or softening significantly as temperatures rise or dip. This maintains a consistent feel and tackiness regardless of the weather.
Lamkin’s focus on rubber compounds and vibration-dampening make their grips ideal for minimizing the numbness and slipping that cold weather can cause during a round. The shock absorption also helps prevent over-gripping when hands get hot and sweaty.
So Golf Pride emphasizes tacky grips that limit moisture absorption, while Lamkin provides excellent stability across temperature swings. Both are critical for playing your best in any weather conditions mother nature serves up.
Durability and Longevity
For any golf equipment purchase, you want grips built to last. Replacing worn and slippery grips too often can get expensive. When examining Golf Pride versus Lamkin, both deliver excellent durability to maximize the lifespan of your grips.
Golf Pride’s Extreme Durability
Golf Pride utilizes advanced technologies and high-grade materials specifically for enhanced durability. Their rubber compounds retain elasticity and avoid drying and cracking over time. This preserves the soft, tacky feel for many rounds.
The Tour Velvet, Golf Pride’s most popular grip, maintains its texture and performance through extensive play. It stands up well to abrasion while retaining moisture resistance.
Golf Pride’s hybrid grips like the MCC Plus4 also offer long-lasting playability. The multi-material construction provides durability along with weather resistance.
Golf Pride also employs manufacturing techniques focused on longevity. Their proprietary double-crosshatch stamping creates superior torsion control while reinforcing the grip’s structure. So the grips maintain stability and tackiness even after heavy, repeated use.
With Golf Pride grips, you can expect many seasons of peak performance before needing to replace them. Their unmatched durability ensures you get your money’s worth from the investment.
Lamkin’s Excellent Durability
Like Golf Pride, Lamkin also excels at producing extremely durable grips that maintain quality over time. Models like the UTx use proprietary rubber compounds that continue providing tackiness and shock absorption even after hundreds of shots.
Lamkin’s unique technologies also contribute to grip longevity. The grip’s distinctive Crossline traction channels both enhance grip and reinforce structural stability for greater durability.
Lamkin’s synthetic blends stand up well to abrasion, humidity, and wear and tear from repeated play. Grips like the Perma-Wrap use advanced materials wrapped precisely for consistent quality and tackiness over an extended lifespan.
While Golf Pride edges out Lamkin in top-tier durability, both provide excellent longevity. With either brand, you can trust your grips will retain their performance and feel for multiple seasons before replacement becomes necessary. This ensures you get the most value over the life of the grips.
When durability is a priority, Golf Pride and Lamkin represent two of the best options on the market. Rely on both brands for grips built to excel for the long haul.
Customization and Hand Fit
Properly fitting your grips to your hands is crucial for ideal swing control and comfort. Both Golf Pride and Lamkin offer various customization options to get a personalized fit.
Golf Pride Fitting Options
Golf Pride provides grips in a wide range of sizes to accommodate different hand sizes and desired thicknesses. Standard, midsize, and oversize options allow you to fine-tune the fit.
Many Golf Pride grips can also be easily built up with tape or trimmed down for further customization. This flexibility helps golfers dial in the perfect profile and thickness for their grip style and hand size.
Lamkin’s Custom Fitting
Like Golf Pride, Lamkin also manufactures their grips in a range of sizes. From standard and midsize to jumbo and oversize, you can find the right fit for your hands.
Lamkin grips are also highly customizable using grip tape. Adding layers reinforces the grip while increasing the thickness as needed. Lamkin even offers personalized fitting services to identify your ideal grip type and size.
Price and Value
Along with performance, the cost of Golf Pride and Lamkin grips may factor into your decision. Here is how the two brands compare in price and overall value:
Golf Pride as a Premium Brand
Golf Pride grips come at a slightly higher price point than Lamkin. Their tour-quality grips range from $10-$15 per grip. Golf Pride is positioned as a premium brand.
However, the extra cost does deliver added performance and longevity. So you get a good return on investment over the many seasons. Golf Pride grips maintain peak playability before needing replacement.
Lamkin Delivers Value
Lamkin grips retail for around $8-$12 per grip, making them a great option for budget-minded golfers. You still get Lamkin’s quality construction and materials for less upfront cost.
Between the two, Lamkin grips offer better value, especially if replacing grips annually. But Golf Pride provides a strong value proposition for those willing to pay a bit more for grips that endure year after year. Both provide quality relative to the price point.
Target Audiences
Golf Pride and Lamkin tailor their grips to appeal to different golfer profiles. Understanding these target demographics can help find the right match.
Golf Pride Targets Skilled Golfers
Golf Pride positions itself as the choice of professionals and other highly skilled players. Models like the Tour Velvet cater to those wanting maximum tackiness and control to lower scores.
Advanced grips like the MCC Plus4 also help refine elements like grip pressure – critical for golfers with more refined swings. The focus is on optimizing performance through superior traction and stability.
While anyone can benefit from Golf Pride, the grips really target golfers with some experience and an interest in fine-tuning their game. If reducing strokes is your goal, Golf Pride provides an edge.
Lamkin Focuses on Comfort and Beginners
Lamkin designs their grips for a broad range of players, especially beginners and high handicappers. Models like the Genesis prioritize shock absorption and a soft, comfortable feel.
Rather than go for high-performance control, Lamkin aims to make grips that minimize fatigue and vibration. This helps newer players as they build consistency.
Casual and recreational players also benefit from Lamkin’s comfort-oriented approach. Lowering scores comes second to enjoying your round with hands that feel great.
Professional Usage
Looking at what grips pro golfers use provides further insight into Golf Pride versus Lamkin.
Golf Pride is the #1 grip on the PGA tour. Nearly 80% of professionals choose Golf Pride, including big names like Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy. This reinforces Golf Pride as the gold standard in quality and performance.
However, many pros still opt for Lamkin. Notable players like Patrick Reed and Bryson DeChambeau prefer Lamkin’s soft feel and technical innovations.
Seeing both brands used by the best players shows that either option can support elite-level play when properly fit. It comes down to aligning with your personal preferences as a player.
Environmental Sustainability
With eco-consciousness on the rise, the sustainability efforts of Golf Pride and Lamkin are worth considering. Both brands are taking steps to reduce waste and utilize greener materials.
Golf Pride’s Eco-Friendly Initiatives
Golf Pride aims to reduce their environmental impact through innovative material use and recycling programs.
The company partners with the wildlife conservation organization OnCourse to support habitat restoration projects and raise awareness about sustainability in golf. This demonstrates Golf Pride’s commitment to green business practices.
While they still rely heavily on rubber, Golf Pride is exploring ways to increase sustainability across their lineup where possible.
Lamkin’s Sustainable Production
Lamkin is similarly focused on eco-friendly manufacturing techniques and sourcing. Their production process recycles all excess rubber and minimizes scrap waste. The company also utilizes recyclable packaging for their grips.
Lamkin partners with suppliers focused on sustainable rubber harvesting methods that protect forest ecosystems. Their rubber comes from sources using reduced impact tapping processes.
The grips themselves also support sustainability through their unmatched longevity and durability. Lamkin users typically replace grips far less often, reducing future waste. The company also aims to offset carbon emissions from their shipping and distribution channels.
Looking Ahead
Both Golf Pride and Lamkin grips represent sustainably-minded options for golfers who value eco-friendliness. As demand grows, expect both brands to continue improving through renewable materials, responsible manufacturing, and innovative technologies that protect the planet. When businesses like these lead by example, the entire golf industry benefits.
Conclusion
When choosing between Golf Pride and Lamkin, you really can’t go wrong. Both represent premier grip brands that offer distinct performance advantages. But by comparing the key factors, we can determine which grip is best for most golfers.
There’s no question that Golf Pride and Lamkin produce grips fit for the world’s best players. The PGA Tour usage proves both can deliver at the highest level. Golf Pride may have a slight edge in adoption, but Lamkin also equips major winners.
Where the brands diverge is their specific focus. Golf Pride emphasizes unrivaled feel and control for low handicappers chasing performance. Lamkin leans into comfort and shock absorption tailored to casual and beginning players.
For most average golfers not playing at an elite level, Lamkin grips provide advantages that are hard to beat. Their comfortable, vibration-minimizing design reduces hand fatigue and lets you play longer without wearing down your grip strength or endurance. And their outstanding durability means you’ll replace them less often.
So for the majority of weekend warriors and aspiring players, Lamkin is the superior choice. The focus on comfort over performance gives high handicappers an edge. And Lamkin does this at a more budget-friendly price point than the premium Golf Pride.
However, serious golfers playing competitively may still prefer Golf Pride. The unbeatable tackiness and traction give your swing maximum control. Lower scores are the priority here.
In the end, you can trust either brand to upgrade your equipment. But for most recreational players, Lamkin grips offer advantages that make them the winner in this matchup. Try them yourself to experience the response and soft feel that will bring out your best game.
