LAB putter grip change

[jomatty]

I’m gaming the Link and considering changing the stock grip.  I’ve been testing the Edel round grip, and much to my surprise, have been really liking it.  The stock Lab grip is 94 grams and the Edel grip I want to use is 105.  They also make a smaller grip that is 85 degrees, which would make it easier as I could just add lead tape under the grip, but ideally I’d like to use the larger one.  
I fully realize that many of you would not bother to worry about the weight difference, but that’s not the way I want to go with this.  I know that LAB says the effect is not huge but mentally I want to know it is right, especially considering so much of the LAB sales pitch revolves around the balance and weighting.  
Anyways, the only way I can think of to make the grip lighter is to cut some of it off.  Probably the bottom part and then try to smooth it out and Mae it not too ugly, although I know it is gonna look a little weird.  I don’t mind this as much as most people do, as I like the look of lead tape and other things that bother many people.  Does anyone have any other ideas to get the grip weight the same?  Given the lab balancing I don’t want to add weight to the head.  Does anyone see any issues other than aesthetic to just cutting part of the grip off?  
i could send it back to LAB but I’m not going to spend $100 to get them to rebalance it and change a grip out.

any thoughts are appreciated

[getitdaily]

I cut the bottom off a superstroke wristlock to make it shorter and lighter. Superstroke has that core that runs all the way through so I was able to remove a section and then reattach the very bottom back onto the remaining grip. It worked out fine.

[PDFPXG]

You can email LAB and they will help answer your question. I think that the grip is about 10% heavier than the stock grip, is spread over about 12" and is not at the head of the club so blindfolded I don't think you will be able to tell the difference. Also unless you are a robot I think you will get use to the extra 9 grams, who knows you may ever putt better because of the slight weight increase. I would not cut the grip down as you would reducing the mass closer the center of the balance point which may in effect neutralize the benefit of less weight.

[Clark55810]

Not sure how much the grip costs, but I would put the grip on and see if I like how the putter rolls the ball. 

 

just my opinion.

[PDFPXG]

I 2nd @clark55810 the grip cost $20.00 put it on unmodified, play with a while and see how it feels. Trial and error is sometimes the best.

Edited March 23, 2023 by PDFPXG

[jomatty]

 I understand where you guys are coming from on this and if it was any other putter I would agree.  The technology they are selling is that having a perfectly balanced putter with no torque really matters.  I’m currently drinking the kool aid.  For that reason I want it perfectly balanced and don’t want to be wondering in the back of my head if it could be better.  I mean there isn’t that much torque on a regular putter so if I’m not going to balance it perfectly I would start asking myself why I’m bothering to use a LAB.  I do appreciate the feedback though

[jomatty]

On 3/23/2023 at 8:29 AM, getitdaily said:

I cut the bottom off a superstroke wristlock to make it shorter and lighter. Superstroke has that core that runs all the way through so I was able to remove a section and then reattach the very bottom back onto the remaining grip. It worked out fine.

Great idea.  Thanks

[golfman009]

I added lead tape to the bottom of my link and didn’t notice any difference at all.  Added a pretty substantial amount 

[mstuewe]

I haven’t messed with the link, but I reshafted a mezz max with a stability shaft on my own.  It didn’t impact the lie angle balance.  
 

I could be missing something, but I think you are confusing swingweight with the lie angle balance.  Adding 10 grams to the grip, as long as the grip is symmetrical, won’t impact the lie angle balance of the putter head.  
 

if you need evidence, you can always try the new grip and just see if the club balances on your finger in the toe up/heel down position.  My mezz balanced exactly the same with the stability shaft as it did with the steel.

Edited May 18, 2023 by mstuewe

[Pexeter]

I popped a Grip Master jumbo leather grip on my Link.1 and it is still 'lie' balanced..

[Misc1600]

I just emailed them last week going from the stock grip to the mid-size Grip Master that would be roughly 15 grams lighter. They responded that it would be a non material change 

[mjo23]

On 5/18/2023 at 7:51 AM, Misc1600 said:

I just emailed them last week going from the stock grip to the mid-size Grip Master that would be roughly 15 grams lighter. They responded that it would be a non material change 

Cool to know that they have customer service reps that actually know what they’re talking about. Many OEM’s have reps that make it seem like changing the stock grip will ruin the putter - and we’re talking standard, no fancy tech, putters

 

I was briefly testing a Link.1 at my local shop earlier and it happened to have a Lamkin Deep Etched installed. Felt great. Too many people hold themselves hostage to stock grips (don’t get me wrong tho, some stock grips are fantastic), just read the TriHot5k thread for evidence lol (to be fair I once held the same concern…due to terrible advice from customer service)

[wings02]

I changed the standard black rubber grip on my Link1 to my favorite, a basic Lamkin Deep etched putter grip. IMO, one of the most underrated putter grips around! The only thing I did was match the weight of the original grip (100 grams), by adding a SuperStroke counterbalance  weight to the butt end of the putter.  This was accomplished by starting with 75 gram SuperStroke counter balanced weight kit and cutting it down enough to get to a total weight of 100 grams, grip and weight. Two important modifications needed to get this to work was as follows 1) enlarge the hole at the end of the grip to accommodate the screw-in tip of the SuperStroke weight  2) because I have an Accra graphite shaft in my Link1, I had too remove the foam ring on the original weight that is used when inserting the weight into the steel shaft and apply electrical tape and heat shrink tubing onto the metal weight to allow it to snuggly fit into the diameter of the graphite shaft. Changing the grip should not affect the toe to heel balance of the putter with the exception that if you use a large asymmetrical grip, it may throw it off. 

[WiscoLefty]

LAB says if the grip is within 25g of the stock grip it will not effect the balancing. 

[rokshox71]

Has anyone used a super stroke counter core weight in an LA Golf shaft?  I understand the LAGP shafts have thinner openings than traditional and am looking at adding some weight to my grip.  

[TT2017]

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Edited December 18, 2023 by TT2017