How To Spot Fake Golf Pride New Decade Multicompounds

[jick]

Comparison Pics of genuine versus counterfeit

I was checking one of our local on-course shops and found they were selling Golf Pride New Decade Multicompounds.

At first glance, they looked like the real deal. But upon closer inspection, I noticed some flaws which leads me to believe they are counterfeit. I then Googled about counterfeits and yes this grip model has been copied a lot.

I decided to post some of these pics to help you guys spotting the genuine article from the imitation. I guess it really is important to purchase from an authorized dealer. The fakers have definitely upped the ante, as you can see in the first three photos - the originals and the fakes are virtually indistinguishable.

For two photos without comments, can you guys spot which ones are genuine and which are not?

The other photos have my comments.

I also brought out the green for reference because the green had the text in the grip cap reversed - same for all the other colors except the red one.

Later, I will post pictures about the weight difference of the grips if there are.

[w8liftr]

Thanks for the comparison photos. I usually buy them retail, but have considered buying from ebay.

[Pure745]

Oh my! I don't know why I am surprised.. I guess it was only a matter of time really.. Iomics will be next for sure.

Thank you for the post Jick.. good info.

[Ranman]

[quote name='Pure745' date='28 June 2010 - 11:28 PM' timestamp='1277782112' post='2543561']
Oh my! I don't know why I am surprised.. I guess it was only a matter of time really.. Iomics will be next for sure.

Thank you for the post Jick.. good info.
[/quote]
I had a customer bring me some Multicompounds to install. He purchased off Ebay for less than I can get and just thought he saved money. Rougher texture than the real ones. With the savings in the price of the grip, if you wear a glove better double up on them. I saved one I also cut off when I regripped someones clubs who had them.

[jorfely305]

I bought some off ebay but I made sure to only buy ones that still had the plastic around the butt end. That way I could take it to the golf shop and exchange them for colors I liked.

[masterli]

wow, nice post. i just switched to mc's. haven't bought from unauth dealers but nice to know they're out there w/ this info. nicely done.

[electroleum]

[quote name='Pure745' date='28 June 2010 - 09:28 PM' timestamp='1277782112' post='2543561']
Oh my! I don't know why I am surprised.. I guess it was only a matter of time really.. Iomics will be next for sure.

Thank you for the post Jick.. good info.
[/quote]
I'm with you on this one. It's surprising but it's not.

[texagjosh]

What a fantastic thread. Thank you.

[Johwak121]

Wow the fakes look like they could be pretty hard to spot if you dont know what to look for.

Would take a very keen eye to catch some of these subtle differences.

Thanks for the pics and keep up the good work

[jick]

The fakes weighed in at 50.5 to 52.

The real ones (at least the 20 or so I had in-hand) weighed consistently between 46 and 47.5 which is all within 1-gram of the published spec of 47 grams (since I had the .60 round)

So even in the weight there is a world of difference.

[stevehj]

So can one expect that only the real grips have the plastic around the butt end?



[quote name='jorfely305' date='28 June 2010 - 11:28 PM' timestamp='1277785711' post='2543686']
I bought some off ebay but I made sure to only buy ones that still had the plastic around the butt end. That way I could take it to the golf shop and exchange them for colors I liked.
[/quote]

[shimi08]

thanks for informing us...ive been looking to buy some on ebay too

[AZPhys13]

Does your local shop know they have fakes? Where did they get them?

[westopherr]

yea does the local shop know that they are selling fakes? has Golfpride put out anything in regards to this matter?

[Ranman]

[quote name='jorfely305' date='29 June 2010 - 12:28 AM' timestamp='1277785711' post='2543686']
I bought some off ebay but I made sure to only buy ones that still had the plastic around the butt end. That way I could take it to the golf shop and exchange them for colors I liked.
[/quote]
Why not just support the golf shop and not take a chance on buying fake ones. Just a thought.

[DPGCidol]

Hey,

I've bought some new grips from ebay and I'm still not sure if those are original. Can you help?

 

Thanks

I'v

[dtc0207]

Sorry dpgcidl those are fake

[DPGCidol]

Thank you, I've contacted Golf Pride via Twitter in the meantime and they confirmed that those are fake. I've paid 99€ for 13 grips.

[Yanki01]

yikes those are horrible.

[DPGCidol]

Yup, I already have my money back but the seller still offers a lot of fake Golf Pride and other grips. I've reported him to ebay. Hopefully they block him. I don't want to report him to the police because I don't have time for what comes up then...

I now found an apparently serious dealer with a good price (12€ for the MCC align in white)

[thevaporz]

What'd ya do with em?

[DPGCidol]

With the counterfeits? I sent them back to the seller but kept the grip tape hehe Or what do you mean?

[ffmedicmatt]

I bought some MCC align +4 on the bay. Just to see. Pictures seemed good but were fakes when I got them. Feel was awful. And yes they had plastic on the ends.

[DPGCidol]

Yesterday I got my original MCC Align and they look way more neat. They also do have a serial number in the inside. The smell is completely different. The originals smell like new tires. You can smell the rubber quality. The GP letter margins are sharp not like in the pictures I've posted and there is like no residue of rubber.

 

Edit: I think every time you see a apparently good deal (grip <11€) they are fake.

[rukahs]

Picked up 20 MCC plus 4 grips from a well known Chinese site. 20 grips for $40. Delivered within a week and all packaged as per genuine grips. Look, feel, sized exactly the same. Fakes? Sure. Exactly the same for a fraction of the price? Yep. No brainer.

[GoIrish17]

> @M4TT said:

> Picked up 20 MCC plus 4 grips from a well known Chinese site. 20 grips for $40. Delivered within a week and all packaged as per genuine grips. Look, feel, sized exactly the same. Fakes? Sure. Exactly the same for a fraction of the price? Yep. No brainer.

 

I hope the next time you drop $250 on a Scotty Cameron that it’s fake. Then you can just shrug your shoulders and say “eh, it putts a ball just like any other hunk of metal, plus I saved $150!”. Because you can’t have it both ways - excusing counterfeiters of grips because you consider it a good deal, and then cursing a counterfeiter when you aren’t knowingly supporting their criminal endeavor.

[DPGCidol]

> @M4TT said:

> Picked up 20 MCC plus 4 grips from a well known Chinese site. 20 grips for $40. Delivered within a week and all packaged as per genuine grips. Look, feel, sized exactly the same. Fakes? Sure. Exactly the same for a fraction of the price? Yep. No brainer.

 

Hi, can you please post some photos of the counterfeits?

After my experience I checked one of my older 3 woods that I don't use anymore. I regripped it a couple years ago with a GP MCC from ebay. It's obviously also fake.

The grip looks very worn, although it was hardly used... compared with an older, original model, no comparison. I think your grips will not even last one season... Being stingy while playing golf... I don't know but that sounds a little weird to me!?

[ttgolf]

> @Ranman said:

> jorfely305 wrote on 29 June 2010 - 12:28 AM:

>

>

>

> I bought some off ebay but I made sure to only buy ones that still had the plastic around the butt end. That way I could take it to the golf shop and exchange them for colors I liked.

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Why not just support the golf shop and not take a chance on buying fake ones. Just a thought.

 

I had a customer bring some fake MCC grips in just a couple weeks ago that had the plastic around the butt end of the grip.

[DPGCidol]

Having the plastic around the butt end of the grip is no indicator for not being counterfeit. Mine also had.