Product Review: Golf Pride MCC Plus4 Align Grips

Every week, I am inundated with nearly identical releases from companies touting their product that won on Tour. From “What’s in the Bag” to which ball or shaft the winner played, it becomes a bit numbing.

That said, I’m always impressed with the amount of Tour players who choose to play Golf Pride grips. Not because I have a strong opinion on which grip is better than others, but because the company does not pay a single player to play its product.

Think about that for a second. In a world where sponsorship and participation is often determined by the highest bidder, Golf Pride gets more than 80 percent of Tour players to use their grips without paying for the endorsement. That’s huge! Heck, a certain Tour player wasted an entire year in his prime playing an inferior ball because he wanted the money.

For most amateurs, whatever grip comes on the club off the rack is fine. But what happens when it’s time to re-grip? Choose wisely.

The same goes for more serious players being fitted for custom clubs. Depending on where you go, you have your choice of 20+ grips from which to choose. Which will it be?

I suggest giving the MCC Plus4 Align grip a try.

There are two very unique aspects of the MCC Plus4 Align grip:
  1. The larger feel of the grip (reduced taper) in your lower hand promotes a lighter grip pressure, which allows for less tension in the hands and creates more fluidity and power throughout the swing. Tour players generally achieve this feel by adding extra layers of tape; and
  2. The raised red ridge rises, which allows for consistent hand placement and heightened clubface awareness throughout the swing. These pair to promote a square clubface at address and impact.

As a bonus, the proprietary brushed cotton cord fuses moisture-wicking cotton fibers into a new soft rubber material for added stability in any conditions. This helps if you’re caught in a downpour or playing on a hot day with sweaty hands.

A general rule of thumb from the past was to replace your grips based upon how much you played. If you play once a week, re-grip every year. Twice a week? Two times a year. That changes, of course, if you have excessively sweaty or oily hands. With today’s technology, I think you can get away with re-gripping less often. Grips are lasting longer than ever.

That said, don’t hesitate to make the change if you’re unsure. A worn grip can totally derail your game. Slipping at impact by as little as 1/8 inch can send your shot 10-20 yards offline. Imagine making a good swing and missing your target wildly, all because of a minor slip of your grip.

If I may make one other suggestion ... Have a trained professional re-grip your clubs. The alignment aspect of the MCC Plus4 Align grip is an excellent tool, but can be counterproductive if installed incorrectly.

Check out the MCC Plus4 Align and other styles at golfpride.com.