Fake grips?

[Double Gee]

Only the 2nd time I've regripped my own clubs. 

Bought 6 grips off ebay from a seller with excellent reviews. Bought Golf Pride Cp2 wrap grips. All looks OK. 

 

Did the first couple of installs using WHITE SPIRIT and tbh, I was very sloppy and Liberal with the Spirit. 

Is I'm straightening the grip, using a tea towel, I've noticed some of the blue paint and white paint of "golf pride' has gone onto the tea towel 

 

I've no idea if this is normal for a genuine grip, or have I inadvertently bought some cheeky copies? 

[Ger21]

Yes, paint doesn't like solvents. You want to keep the solvents on the inside of the grip, and wipe up spills on the outside quickly.

[Rapidcat]

Very timely topic - I just bought 3 Golf Pride Cp2 wrap grips from ebay, installed and played them today. I play CP2 wraps on all my clubs bar my specialty wedges and of course putter, so I know them well having installed maybe 30 of them over the last 2 years.

 

I'm in Australia, these grips sell between A$15 - A$20 each here (yes, grips are expensive in Australia) and these 3 cost me $27 in total so I suspected they may be fake, but you never know. Ebay is a cesspit of grip fakes but I have bought plenty which have been authentic, too.

 

Mine have a strong chemical odor - usually the sign of fakes. They had what looks like the blue and clear shrink plastic wrapping on the butt and without cutting open a grip to determine, the CP2 butt frame structure appears to be there - hmm, ok, maybe genuine, then.

 

Installed them and like the OP, my solvent easily took some of the ink off the grip surface, I don't recall that having happened with previous grip installs.

 

The grip surface texture is a little more raised than other CP2's I've had. Funny enough, I think I prefer the this feel to the others I've had. The sponginess of these grips feels about the same. They played just fine.

 

I wouldn't knowingly opt for fakes, apart from the likely poorer quality, supporting pirate stuff isn't my thing. Not sure if these are fakes but maybe - probably?

[BDowning]

Fake grips smell different then authentic grips. They absolutely real like paint, compared to the more synthetic smell of authentic ones. 

 

Easiest way to tell. 

 

There's a seller on ebay with great reviews that sells Golf Pride grips for around $2 less than they retail for. They just don't last as long or hold up as well.

 

Easiest way to spot fake grips is the price. Margins are so small on grips where if you see a "steal" on ebay, they're probably not authentic.

[TallGuy90]

I would say 90% of golfpride grips on eBay are fake

[semarlor]

25 minutes ago, TallGuy90 said:

I would say 90% of golfpride grips on eBay are fake

I don't even mess with grips on ebay anymore....it just isn't worth the risk. 

[Hack Daddy]

44 minutes ago, semarlor said:

I don't even mess with grips on ebay anymore....it just isn't worth the risk. 

 

Yep, I went down that road 1 time with some +4's. It was comical.

[shippy18]

I recently purchased 9 Golf Pride multi compounds style grips from eBay.  I was sceptical about price, but old grips were original (crumbling) and the intention was to sell the irons (30 year old blades).  The thickness around the opening of the grip isn’t even, however I fitted them and they actually feel ok.  I certainly can’t feel that they are off in anyway. 
 

I have since decided to game them.  Do I wish I had got legit grips?  Yes, and probably should have gone standard Lamkin Crosslines instead. 

[NoCalHack]

There are many threads on the topic. But absolutely do NOT buy grips on eBay. There is very little markup on a legit grip. If it retails for $10.50 at Dicks or Golf Galaxy no legit retailer can afford to sell them for less that $8-9 at the very least. So is the $1-2 in savings worth it?  Not to me because there are so many fakes out there. 
 

the surest sign it’s fake is if it’s cheap.   Like MCC grips for $4 each. No way. And the sellers somehow have decent feedback. Probably because buyers think they are getting a steal and don’t realize they are getting ripped off. And the sellers have US locations listed. But usually the grips will arrive from China. 
 

the fakes are garbage. Might as well buy a Taylor made head off the street in China foe $50. It’s comparable in quality to the grips. I’ve been taken myself and learned my lesson. If it looks too good to be true it is. 

 

 

[Double Gee]

Thanks to all. 

Having had Covid the smelling check is not an option, as the nose hasn't returned to normal yet. 

 

All things considered I'm confident these are copies especially based on price. 

Having said that, I played with them yesterday and they played well. 

Normally I'd get my pro to change them but as his stocks are so very low I thought I'd give it a go again. 

[Ger21]

12 hours ago, NoCalHack said:

But absolutely do NOT buy grips on eBay.

 

 

I buy most of my grips on Ebay.
Not to save a buck, but because Ebay will often have the grips I want that I can't find anywhere else.
Mainly Japanese grips, like Japan only Iomics, and No. 1 grips.

 

I might be saving a few bucks, but I've never gotten any fake grips. But I'm typically paying $12-$14 per grip.

[NoCalHack]

3 hours ago, Ger21 said:

 

 

I buy most of my grips on Ebay.
Not to save a buck, but because Ebay will often have the grips I want that I can't find anywhere else.
Mainly Japanese grips, like Japan only Iomics, and No. 1 grips.

 

I might be saving a few bucks, but I've never gotten any fake grips. But I'm typically paying $12-$14 per grip.

 

Your decision. If you are able to get stuff you can’t get otherwise and you are happy with them then that’s what matters. 
 

I will point out that it took be a while to realize I was getting a fake. It wasn’t obvious right away. Only after the grip wore for a bit did I realize. And I was buying stuff that was ridiculously cheap. I will stand my that point though. If the grip is marked down over 50% from retail I would bet anything it’s fake. 

[Ger21]

13 minutes ago, NoCalHack said:

If the grip is marked down over 50% from retail I would bet anything it’s fake. 

I agree with that 100%.