Winn G8, bad; GP New Decade MultiCompound, good

[chemboy2]

In recent months I've been searching for my ultimate grip. Always played GP Tour Velvets but I figured there was other grips out there that might be worth a go. I thought I wanted a little more grip so I tried the corded model. Good grip with the glove hand but a little rough on the non-glove hand. I tried the GP Dual Durometer as well but found it lacking a bit in the feel dept. Then I stumbled across the Winn G8.

I had heard many things about Winn grips having longevity problems and that they down right sucked in the rain. The new G8s supposedly fixed these issues and came in an extra firm model so I figured what the hell. I threw them on a couple of clubs at the tale end of summer to give them a try. I was quite impressed with their tackiness and I felt that I held the club lighter with them. I was content with these grips but my non-glove hand like them a lot mroe than my glove hand. I thought they felt a little slick at times (foreshadowing).

A couple of weeks ago I stumbled across the GP New Decade Multicompound I had seen them before but, for whatever reason, never thought to try them I was demo'ing a club and noticed how well the corded top half gripped the glove while the tackier softer compound on the lower half allowed my fingers to to relax. I wasn't instantly smitten by this grip. The TVs on my irons NEEDED replaced and I decided right then and there this would be the grip. Two nights later I regripped my irons.

Fast forward to this morning. I decided to play a back 9 before work today; 48*F with a windchill of 38*F. (I realize this doesn't even qualify for "chilly" in a lot of other places but to a born and raised Cali boy this is COLD) Needless to say there wasn't a lot of "feel" in play this morning. Anyway, I have held off regripping the clubs that had the G8s on them and so this was the perfect opportunity to test the grips side by side.

First up was the New Decade Multi. Even in the cold weather the lower portion remained tacky and the corded top half held my glove hand tight. They felt every bit as good as any other time I've played them. Even though my hands were cold, I swung the club with confidence.

Next up was my G8 gripped hybrid. As soon as I pulled the club out of the bag I knew I was in trouble; the grip was smooth, too smooth. I struggled to hold on to the club in the practice swing and barely hung on when I went at it. A couple of holes later the yardage called for that same club; this time I wasn't able to hold on! I avoided that yardage the rest of the morning. As soon as I get home tonight I will be replacing the Winn's with a New Decade.

The New Decades play really well in "normal" weather but I was just blown away by how well they played in this morning's weather. The New Decades cost a few extra bucks but they are worth every penny.

[Pullmeister]

I totally agree with the Winn G8 review. They're really tacky when its warm out but suck when it gets cold. My last round of the year the temp was near 0 celsius . The G8 grips felt rock hard and slippery, tour velvet grips were still all right and a Winn AVS grip was quite good.

I loved the old style .Winn grips on my driver but they only last a month at best.

[warbirdlover]

Always liked the GP Tour Velvet Cord until I tried the Decade. No need to look farther.

[chemboy2]

Originally Posted by warbirdlover

Always liked the GP Tour Velvet Cord until I tried the Decade. No need to look farther.

So you know what I'm talking about! Absolutely kick-ass grip!

Btw, I was checking out the Ping S58/59 irons in the pro shop this morning. Those are some pretty good looking irons with a fairly thin top line.

[warbirdlover]

Someone told me the Decade doesn't hold up but mine is doing fine.

Yeah, I wish I would have got those or the i5's. But since I can't drop that kind of $$ every year I'm probably stuck with these for a few years. I had my funky looking VAS 792 irons for ten years.... Yikes.

[chemboy2]

Originally Posted by warbirdlover

But since I can't drop that kind of $$ every year I'm probably stuck with these for a few years.

Well, if you spent less dough on drivers you'd have more for irons.

[Johnny Par]

Nice review chemboy.
Initially, I had decades on my irons but my right hand literally getting chewed up. (most likely caused by me gripping the club too tightly as I was a beginner). Currently have Winn G8's on my clubs and love them but just might have to give the decades another go as my grip has eased up a bit.

It's either the Decades or the new DD2's.

[chemboy2]

I saw the DD2s on the GP website the other day, yet to see one live and up close yet. It looks like they took the TV grip and played with the rubber make-up.

What I thought was strange was that their coming out with a New Decade putter grip. Hmm, I don't know about that one...

[Eracer]

Good review. I currently use the GP Tour Velvets, and they're great - until they get a little wet. Of course that NEVER happens here in Florida...

I've tried the Winns, and won't ever use them again. I use the Lamkin Dual-Density Crossline, but only in my fairway clubs, and my hybrids. I tried them in my irons, and they were a bit too firm (I felt some harshness I didn't like that went away with the Tour Velvets.) The Lamkins were very tacky in cold, wet conditions (two weeks of golf in Scotland), and if I was using Sensicores in my irons, I probable would stick with the Lamkins. I may still try them again.

But next time I re-grip, I'll try the Decades. Again - good review.

[Scotty01292]

Ya... TV's are sh!te when they are wet... Not average. Not OK. Sh!te! It was chucking it down on the course today. So wet that when I was on the 13th tee, I could hardly even see down the 13th fairway. It was real wet... For the first few holes my TV's were fine. But then they started getting wet... On the 10th tee, I played a 5 iron, which slipped out my hand and finished in a gorse bush 50 yards off the front of the tee... Embarassing but absolutely hilarious!!! From now on, i'll keep a dry towel inside my bag, instead of on the outside...

[Dawg64]

Have never had a problem with wet conditions on the TV's even playing for 20 years without a glove.... Maybe they were at the end of their lifespan!

[Scotty01292]

Originally Posted by Dawg64

Have never had a problem with wet conditions on the TV's even playing for 20 years without a glove.... Maybe they were at the end of their lifespan!

Wouldn't have said so... I had them regripped in about June or July this year, but when I think about it, maybe... Could have been the glove, but my hands were slipping even when I took my glove off...

[warbirdlover]

Well, if you spent less dough on drivers you'd have more for irons.

chemboy2

I can't switch irons that easy. It takes me a month or two to get used to new irons but drivers either work for you or they don't. You know it right away. I'm not ho'ing drivers now. I've got my driver. I might still play with "backup" drivers though

[JEFF4i]

I absolutely love the New Decance MultiCompound, favorite grip I've ever used.

[ualtim]

Good Review!

I used to play the Winn Excel XF copper grips and loved them. By far the best feeling grips I have ever played with. Unfortunately, you might as well put a "slippery when wet" symbol on the grip as they will depart you hands if you allow them to become wet. I was able to get a season out of the grips, but they really started to show the wear and tear and probably should have been replaced halfway through the season. The tackiness was good enough to play with, but the area under my left thumb was wearing out on all of my clubs.

Living in Florida, rain is part of your daily life from June until October. Keeping the Winns dry became too much of a chore so I decided to switch. Enter the GP Decade multi compund. Great grip even when wet! I have not had a club slip on me since I switched over. Like previous posts have said, the corded half holds great in your gloved hand while the softer material feels and holds great in your naked hand. No complaints so far, and they seem to last forever. I have had no problems with wear on the softer compound as of yet, and other than some dirty areas on the red section it hard to distinguish them from a new grip.

The only downside to the GP Decade is the price. I have been experimenting with a similar grip that is $3.00 less per grip. It is the Avon Pro DX2 grip. So far, it is holding up and behaving like the GP decade grips and I have had it on my 52* wedge since September. Very similar feel to the Decade almost to the point that you do not even realize that it is a different grip in your hands. Since I already have enough Decades in the drawer for a complete iron set, I probably will not be switching over to the Avon anytime soon, but as soon as the opportunity arrises I will probably give them a go the next time I need to regrip my irons.