Leather golf grips don’t get the appreciation that they deserve. While the golf world slowing starts to learn about them, I thought I would write a budget-focused article on the best leather golf grips on the market for 2021.
Real quick, though, here are the basic reasons why I (and many other golfers) love leather grips:
- They last longer. Leather grips last much longer than rubber grips. Rubber grips wear down quickly and need to be replaced typically every year (depending on how often you play, of course). Leather grips wear IN, not out. They get better with time.
- Great in bad conditions. If you play in the rain or high moisture areas, leather grips truly can’t be beat. The wetter the conditions, the better leather grips work at keeping your hands securely on the club.
- Gloves are typically not necessary. Because of their tackiness and overall comfort, most find that they don’t even need their glove anymore. Whenever they feel a little slick, you just take a damp towel to the grip and they get their tack back nearly instantly. By not having to buy gloves, you’ll save money in the long run!
Alright, let’s get into the best leather grips! There are really only two brands that focus on making high quality, hand-sewn, authentic leather golf grips: BestGrips and Grip Master. One is just slightly more expensive than the other. Both have loyal fan bases. You can’t really go wrong with either of them, as long as you are upgrading from rubber grips!
Best Overall: Grip Master Roo – Kangaroo Leather Golf Grips ($24 each)
If you want the best leather grip on the market, I’d highly recommend the Grip Master Roo (or Kangaroo) Leather golf grips. They are made right from the skin of the kangaroo and morphed into a shape of a grip – just kidding. They are super soft, comfortable, tacky grips that will last for many years to come.
All Grip Master grips, like the Roo, are made and assembled by hand to the highest standards. Be sure that you don’t ever use detergents or soaps on the grips to clean them – just wipe down with a clean damp cloth/towel!
If you purchase and install yourself, take your time if you are not seasoned in installing grips. I’d highly recommend that you get a club builder (or at least someone that has re-gripped tons of clubs, especially with leather grips) to do the job. If you want to do it yourself, there are lots of videos out there.
Please note that they may be a little slippery when you first get them. I recommend cleaning them with a damp towel and then drying them with a dry towel when you get them. You’ll instantly feel the tackiness! And keep in mind that they get better with time. Gripmaster grips wear in, while others wear out.
- Sizes: Standard and Midsize (oversized)
- Core Size: 0.600″
- Weight: 46-54g
- Colors: Black and Natural (Red/Brown)
- Price: $24 per grip
Best Value: BestGrips Microperf Leather Grip ($20 each)
If you want to save a little bit of money compared to the Grip Master grips, consider the BestGrips MicroPerf leather golf grips. Authentic leather. Handmade. Local small business in the US. Great prices. Hard to find a reason not to at least give them a try. And that’s exactly why I chose them for MY grips.
I love the feel in my hands. Super tacky from the second that I opened the box (water didn’t need to be applied first like I’ve heard about with Grip Master).
The MicroPerf grips are treated with what they call ProTack, which gets EVEN tackier when wet. There is a subtle stitch on the bottom of the grip, because… well, it’s authentic leather that is hand-sewn. SO yeah, there is going to be a stitch. I like the stitch on my grips, as I rest my right hand pointer finger on it.
This is the only brand of leather grips that I could find that comes in undersize (smaller grips for smaller hands). So if you have small hands, BestGrips Microperf is a no brainer.
- Sizes: Undersize, Standard, and Midsize
- Core Size: 0.580″
- Weight: 54-58g
- Colors: Black and Natural (Red/Brown)
- Price: $20 per grip
While we are talking about grips, you may be interested in some of my other grip-related articles:
