REVIEW: Cork Tree Putter Grips
Cork Tree Putter Grips offer golfers a unique, alternative grip option for players looking to breathe new life into the most important club in their bag. We recently had the chance to test out these grips and got a firsthand look at their feel, durability and performance. Let's take a closer look.
Specifications
The Cork Tree Putter Grips are made from -- you guessed it -- cork! The company's patented mix of cork and polyurethane create a truly unique putter grip available in four different gauges: the Bandit, Gimmie, Slim Jim and Stumpy. The cork used for every grip comes from the company's own cork forest in Portugal; the main exporter of high-grade cork you typically see in cork wine stoppers. Each grip design was developed for the Tour golfer in mind, leading to many players on the European, Asian, Japan, and OneAsia circuits benefiting from its tech.
We were able to review the Bandit grip -- a lightweight, hypoallergenic grip that measures 33mm in diameter at its top and 41mm at its base. This provides the player a thicker grip feel for the lower hand, which the company suggests will help with putter control and feel.
Feel (4/5)
Many will agree the most important element of a putter is its feel. A proper grip is the only connection a player has to the club, and the Cork Tree Putter Grip excels in this area.
The grip feels soft and leathery to the touch, which is a pleasant surprise considering the flexibility one might expect from objects of a similar material. Our tester legitimately could not tell the difference between the Cork Tree grip and other genuine leather grips of a similar quality. This is not a bad thing.
It's very seldom that we offer a full five-star rating on feel, but the Cork Tree Putter Grip is as close as perfection can get. While we did not have the chance to test the grip in wet conditions, Cork Tree suggests the grip will perform admirably regardless of weather.
Performance (3/5)
There's not much to say about how a putter grip can perform in general. You'll never make a full golf swing with a putter, so the quality of its grip should be best defined by feel and personal preference.
However, the Cork Tree grip was not distracting or uncomfortable to the touch while stroking a putt. The Bandit's unique dual-thickness design was a little difficult to get accustomed to at first, but in time our reviewer was able to get a hang of things just fine.
Sadly, there was nothing extraordinary about the grip that would prompt us to rate it higher.
Overall (3.5/5)
If you're looking for a unique, fun addition to your golf equipment or to give an old putter a new look, the Cork Tree Putter Grip is a fine novelty consideration. Don't expect to find anything mindblowing with its "corky" appearance, but you can certainly expect a comfortable, soft feel for a club that should have nothing but.
The Cork Tree Putter Grips retail for $29.95 and can be ordered from www.corkputtergrips.com.
