Iomic Standard 65g Putter Grip

[Golonkam]

Hi -   Does anyone have experience with the Iomic Standard 65g Putter Grip?   After Patrick Reed won using this grip, I purchased this grip new from an online retailer that Iomic verified as a authentic dealer.  Upon installation of the grip to a Bettinardi putter, the grip end/opening was extremely loose to the shaft.  The retailer asked for me to take measurements of the shaft stating that the shaft itself was undersized.   All measurements indicated that this was a standard sized shaft and Bettinardi confirmed that the shaft of the putter was standard.  The grip itself is marketed as .58 core, however it does not fit the same as most .58 core putter grips I have installed in the past.  Both Iomic and the retailer stated that they have never experienced this issue when installing the grip.  At one point, I removed and reinstalled the grip following retailer recommendations of tapering grip tape from the butt to the bottom end with up to 6 layers of tape at the bottom end opening of the grip.  I've never have had to do this before as I typically install all of my grips with only 1 wrap of tape.  The retailer sent me a replacement grip, and although the replacement grip fit better, the open end of the grip still did not fit snug to the shaft.   Again, I thought that the shaft was the issue and reinstalled the replacement grip onto a Scotty Cameron shaft pull I had in storage; the same problem existed following install.  In comparison, while waiting for the replacement grip to arrive, I installed a Pure grip to a similar shaft.  The .58 core Pure grip fit snug to the shaft following Pure's "blow-on" installation method.   All of the Scotty Cameron Pistolini grips I have installed in the past fit sung to the shaft, the Iomic does not.   This is frustrating to me because I was looking for a grip similar to the Pistolini to put on my Bettinardi and the Iomic Standard 65g is very similar.  This is my first experience with an Iomic product, and in my opinion, Iomic is lacking quality control which is surprising of a "Made in Japan" product.  Comparing the original to the replacement grip, there is also a 3/8 inch difference in length between the two grips.  Manufacturing tolerances are too loose on this product.  Has anyone had a similar experience?  

[Phabs]

I’ve installed about 30 of the iomic absolute grips and I’ve never had an issue.  Looks like the grip on the right had been stretched out possibly from uninstalling?   Iomic sent a replacement grip at no charge which is more than most would do. 
 

What length do you play the putter at?  32? Or shorter?

[Golonkam]

15 minutes ago, Phabs said:

I’ve installed about 30 of the iomic absolute grips and I’ve never had an issue.  Looks like the grip on the right had been stretched out possibly from uninstalling?   Iomic sent a replacement grip at no charge which is more than most would do. 
 

What length do you play the putter at?  32? Or shorter?

Not sure if I can say it was stretched from uninstalling.  After initial install and fit check I pulled the grip off the shaft as easy as taking a glove off a hand; it was never snug to the shaft.   Iomic did not send the replacement; the retailer I purchased from did.  I do have to say that the retailer has worked with me in all accounts and has been very helpful and patient.  When I spoke to Iomic about the issue they denied that any type of issue could possibly exist and that they have never experienced an issue in installation.   I play my putter at 35. 

Edited February 22, 2021 by Golonkam

[Phabs]

9 minutes ago, Golonkam said:

Not sure if I can say it was stretched from uninstalling.  After initial install and fit check I pulled the grip off the shaft as easy as taking a glove off a hand; it was never snug to the shaft.   Iomic did not send the replacement; the retailer I purchased from did.  I do have to say that the retailer has worked with me in all accounts and has been very helpful and patient.  When I spoke to Iomic about the issue they denied that any type of issue could possibly exist and that they have never experienced an issue in installation.   I play my putter at 35. 

Bet the retailer received a grip back that had been uninstalled not by you then resold, thus the deformation.  Just my hunch 

[MaineMariner]

I just installed a 75 gram Iomic grip on a new Bettinardi putter this weekend. I used an air compressor to install it. I know that's a size up from what you have, but the noteworthy thing was that the Iomic was one of the hardest grips to blow on that I've dealt with. It was extremely snug to the shaft and took a lot of pushing with the air to get it on.

 

Your experience sounds very strange and I'd guess that your grip was defective. Or maybe was one that was returned and the retailer didn't catch had been used before reselling it.

 

That thing is also super hard to line up straight. It's a soft rubber without defined edges and I kept just barely knocking it out of alignment. Then I'd get half aligned right and the other half would be off. Drove me nuts. Really nice grip, but a PITA.

 

 

Edited February 22, 2021 by MaineMariner

[Golonkam]

7 minutes ago, MaineMariner said:

I just installed a 75 gram Iomic grip on a new Bettinardi putter this weekend. I used an air compressor to install it. I know that's a size up from what you have, but the noteworthy thing was that the Iomic was one of the hardest grips to blow on that I've dealt with. It was extremely snug to the shaft and took a lot of pushing with the air to get it on.

 

Your experience sounds very strange and I'd guess that your grip was defective. Or maybe was one that was returned and the retailer didn't catch had been used.

Thanks for the info.  This is interesting, when you did the blow on install did you use grip tape, regular masking tape, or a bare shaft?  I used 1 wrap of masking tape to blow on my Pure grip.  The difficulty could be due to the rubber compound of the grip causing too much friction. Even when I do a blow on install I still use a tiny bit of grip solvent to help the grip slide into place.  

[MaineMariner]

23 minutes ago, Golonkam said:

Thanks for the info.  This is interesting, when you did the blow on install did you use grip tape, regular masking tape, or a bare shaft?  I used 1 wrap of masking tape to blow on my Pure grip.  The difficulty could be due to the rubber compound of the grip causing too much friction. Even when I do a blow on install I still use a tiny bit of grip solvent to help the grip slide into place.  

 

Just one layer of masking tape. I sometimes dip the end of the grip in a little water to get it started, but I didn't this time. A little solvent probably would have helped.

[BobbyBuckets1986]

I've experienced this with the 65g standard Iomic grip. Not as big of a gap as you had but it's still not completely filling in around the shaft, I know my putter is standard length and has never been altered. It's a 2009 Scotty Cameron Studio Select, should be .580 shaft size. The grip doesn't twist though so I know it's secure at the top and middle but it's still a bit unsettling. I've had it on a 2020 special select and it was a tighter fit but there was STILL a little gap at the bottom, I've never had one sit completely flush against the shaft. 

 

Have others had it sit completely flush? 
 

edit: the shaft that it’s slightly loose on must have a huge taper because a brand new lamkin deep etch is slightly too big at the bottom, the other putter I have fits the iomic 65g flush. Iomic grips are good to go and the OP must have just had a bad QC issue with a returned grip. 

Edited February 5, 2022 by Clambake1986

[Ngjg21]

47 minutes ago, Clambake1986 said:

I've experienced this with the 65g standard Iomic grip. Not as big of a gap as you had but it's still not completely filling in around the shaft, I know my putter is standard length and has never been altered. It's a 2009 Scotty Cameron Studio Select, should be .580 shaft size. The grip doesn't twist though so I know it's secure at the top and middle but it's still a bit unsettling. I've had it on a 2020 special select and it was a tighter fit but there was STILL a little gap at the bottom, I've never had one sit completely flush against the shaft. 

 

Have others had it sit completely flush? 

I have—it depends on the shaft taper, of course. But I’ve found on putters that aren’t cut down—if they’re at least 34” in length— it fits very snugly.

Edited January 28, 2022 by Ngjg21

[oneaugusta]

Strange, never had an issue and I've installed many Iomic putter grips

[gticlay]

Just read though this as I'm considering some Iomic putter grips and like to use air to install.  Their website says you cannot blow Iomic grips on and they can become damaged.  So I'm wondering if you blew the Iomic one also and perhaps stretched it out with too much air?  I imagine that would be easy to do.  If it's true that they can be damaged like that, I think I'll look elsewhere for my next putter grips.

[Golonkam]

1 hour ago, gticlay said:

Just read though this as I'm considering some Iomic putter grips and like to use air to install.  Their website says you cannot blow Iomic grips on and they can become damaged.  So I'm wondering if you blew the Iomic one also and perhaps stretched it out with too much air?  I imagine that would be easy to do.  If it's true that they can be damaged like that, I think I'll look elsewhere for my next putter grips.

This grip was never blown on.   

[gticlay]

1 minute ago, Golonkam said:

This grip was never blown on.   

Sounds like they are having some quality issues for sure then.  If you don't mind, can you compare the "grip" between the Iomic and the Pure?  I bought a few Pure grips to try for full swing clubs and hated them, but can see how their rubber would be nice for a putter grip.  TIA

[Golonkam]

Hey all,  great to see replies to the original post.  Long story short, a year after the original post, played the grip through most of the past season.  Really liked the feel of the grip, but ended up replacing it with SuperStroke 1.0PT.   The lighter grip weight gave the putter a slightly heavier feel.  The putter itself is 35" so it is not cut down.  Also, over the course of the past year I did buy the exact same standard 65g grip direct from Iomic and experienced the same issue after install; the gap following that installation was not as pronounced. 

[Golonkam]

10 minutes ago, gticlay said:

Sounds like they are having some quality issues for sure then.  If you don't mind, can you compare the "grip" between the Iomic and the Pure?  I bought a few Pure grips to try for full swing clubs and hated them, but can see how their rubber would be nice for a putter grip.  TIA

The Iomic grip felt similar to the grip on current Scotty Cameron putters.  The Pure grip is much smaller in diameter and would maybe be comparable to a Ping Blackout (PP58?) if not smaller.  The Pure grip is also a softer and tackier rubber compound.  

[pccasstpro]

I have had Iomic grips on pretty much all of my putters, with the one off experiment of a Superstroke 1.0 . I have not had an issue with the Iomics , but did have an issue with the SS 1.0 . I know in reading some of the other threads that if you blow them on using compressed air that may be an issue. Most likely it is a shaft taper issue . I would add a small bit of tape at the mouth of the grip if it is bothering you.

 

[semarlor]

I just put a 55g Iomic on an Oil Can Newport 2 with the original stepped shaft and had zero gap issues last night. Those shafts have a pretty small butt diameter, especially down a few steps so I expected it to be a little loose at the bottom but it wasn't the case. Putter plays at 35" and the grip was ordered direct from Iomic USA. 

Edited February 1, 2022 by semarlor

[tjhanch]

Installed a standard 65g iomic grip, bought from their website, today on a scotty.  Zero issues as described above.  

[Evolved]

I have almost exclusively played Iomic grips for about 10 years, installed numerous putter grips on scotty's and betti's. Never had this issue.

[PureDivots]

I play a 33.5" putter with a long neck so my shaft is even shorter than standard, making it smaller. I've had issues with other grips, but my new go to the 65g Iomic is no issue. Sounds like you got unlucky with QC or someone sent you a bad grip. I always order directly from Iomic. 

[chinaski]

I have never had an issue with quality from iOmic. They make some of the best grips available.

 

They are very durable grips with typical use. but I do know from experience they do not like being blown on. I have had the open end of the grip fray. I have also seen them stretch out. I have a CT Tour shaft on my main putter, a Toulon Las Vegas(This shaft is noticeably bigger diameter under the grip than most other shafts). A while back I swapped out the 75g for a 65g and the 75g was never the same. Went back on the CT Tour with no issue, but I would have had to build up with tape to make work on a typical stepped TT shaft. I wouldn't fault iOmic for that. I'm sure it would change the feel if they were made differently and I definitely don't want them to do that.

Edited February 2, 2022 by chinaski

[2Down]

I've also had this happen  

A thin shaft to be sure but there is a small gap at the end where the grip is just not as narrow as the shaft.  never thought is was an issue and still don't.  

The grip is as solid as they come, unfortunate that my stroke kinda sucked.  

 

and now for something completely different, I now have a P2 installed and am making a putt or three more often than I once did.  

[MaineMariner]

@Golonkam, I just wanted to report that I don't think you're crazy. I had a red Iomic Absolute X grip on one of my putters that had a KBS CT Tour shaft. It was blown on with one layer of masking tape and it fit perfectly snug and fine. It was probably on that putter for a month or so. I decided to take off the grip and put it on an Odyssey White Hot OG putter with their stock steel shaft.

 

I blew the grip off the KBS shaft and onto the Odyssey, again with one layer of masking tape. It went on very easily and I noticed that the mouth of the grip was not even touching the shaft. The whole bottom hand was quite loose, and basically my experience mirrored yours completely. 

 

I have to assume that the act of blowing off the grip (with I don't know, 50 PSI?) stretched out the rubber. Or maybe the Odyssey shaft is a thinner diameter than the KBS, but I can't imagine it would be so substantial as to make that much of a difference. I ended up using a Golf Pride Pro Only on the Odyssey. It's a bummer, because I love that Absolute X grip.

[shankz]

The bottom was also loose fitting on a new Lamkin deep etched grip that I acquired from a local golf shop. I just pulled back the grip and added a few layers of grip tape for a better fit. Maybe quality control isn’t as good these days or something. 

[Humble]

I’ve ordered atleast a dozen from a good seller online. Never had an issue. I’ve heard Iomic has an issue with counterfeits, make sure you are getting them from a reputable seller.

[Is Golf Fun or Work]

5 minutes ago, Humble said:

I’ve ordered atleast a dozen from a good seller online. Never had an issue. I’ve heard Iomic has an issue with counterfeits, make sure you are getting them from a reputable seller.

I dunno about Iomic putter grips, but fake Iomic iron grips have been around for years.....if price is too good to believe, there's a likely reason.