Equipment

Review: GRIP Golf Hybrid

By Sean ⋅ December 12, 2007 ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

Not too long ago, I got my hands on a G.R.I.P. (Golf Research in Play) #4 Hybrid. You may have read my review of the G.R.I.P. 460cc Driver offering last week. G.R.I.P. offers a full range of golf equipment from the driver down to your wedges and putter. The equipment is priced to move, sometimes coming in at 20-50% of major brand equipment costs ($69 for the hybrid, $129 for a driver). In the wake of more counterfeit golf equipment news, if you are looking to save some money on your golf equipment….an inexpensive, new club from G.R.I.P. may be a better option for you than dealing with getting a fake club on eBay.

Background

As always we will start out with some technical information about the G.R.I.P. Hybrid:

The Craftsmanship - The Hyper Steel Advantage
G.R.I.P. researched the materials commonly used in hybrid and utility golf clubs - titanium, stainless steel, maraging steel, magnesium, as well as several other metals - during our hybrid development process. G.R.I.P. also tested subjects of varying handicaps and swing types, and found that similar results were achieved regardless of the club material. However, the vast majority liked the sound, feel and the way the ball “jumped” off the hybrid club face when “Hyper Steel” was used. Hyper Steel is heat-treated, cast steel, making it stronger than the steel found in most golf clubs. It produces a unique solid “ting” sound on contact as the ball explodes off the club face. The G.R.I.P. Hyper Steel Hybrids also feature the perfect amount of offset to give you additional forgiveness and accuracy.

G.R.I.P. Weight-Balancing System for Hybrid Customization
Every swing is unique. Some golfers draw, others fade, some slice, while others may hook. Then there are the ones that hit the ball dead straight! Here lies the greatest challenge behind designing hybrid golf clubs that will please the majority of golfers. Addressing this challenge head-on, G.R.I.P. developed a balancing system for our Hyper Steel Hybrids, utilizing weighted screws in the heel and toe of the clubs.

The clubs come pre-assembled with a heavy, six-gram brass screw in the heel and a lighter, three-gram aluminum screw in the toe for fade control and slice reduction. This weight combination equates to right-to-left ball flight for right-handed golfers and a smooth left-to-right ball flight for lefties. Finally, for those golfers who have a habit of hooking shots, a quick switch of the brass and aluminum screws will enable you to hit the ball straighter than you ever imagined!

Superior Shafts and Grip
For our Hyper Steel Hybrids, we used the G.R.I.P. Uni-flex High Modulus Graphite Shafts, specifically designed for these clubs. These unique hybrid shafts feature a mid-to-low kick point to help you get the ball airborne more easily. Each shaft has a minimal torque, which reduces any shaft turning or twisting, and provides exceptional ball flight and pinpoint accuracy. In addition, each shaft is wrapped in an ultra-soft, all-weather polyurethane, two-piece grip.

Bold Fit and Finish
The G.R.I.P. design team developed the Hyper Steel Hybrids to be your favorite clubs. Coming in four different lofts, including 2H, 3H, 4H and 5H models, the clubs are as easy to look at as they are to hit, with their penetrating, bold blue finish. Matching head covers come standard to reduce excess wear and tear.

Look and Feel

The G.R.I.P. hybrid features a brilliant blue finish, which looks pretty sharp and certainly will be easy to spot. The sole of the club reminds me a lot of the TaylorMade Rescue Dual hybrid. At address, however, the lines are simple and smooth. Aside from the alignment aid, there is little to distract you from the task at hand. The backside of the club head looks interesting as well, again quite reminiscent of the Rescue Dual. No weight kit or tool is provided with the hybrid to adjust whatever bias the club is setup to deliver.

Feel was a little harsh. Not quite as solid feeling as the Nickent 4DX hybrids or the Adams A3 Boxer on center of the face hits. However, you will instantly know if you have hit the ball closer to the toe or heel. That is a huge plus in my book. I just never had that wow feeling on a solid strike.

I noticed this with the driver as well, but the paint at the crown is a little sloppy. You can see this in the picture above. No, those are not sky marks. This club was never hit. The line of the paint is simply not razor sharp. However, for $69, can one really complain? This is one of the few things I disliked about this club. And well, cosmetics really have absolutely nothing to do with how the club will perform.

Performance

The club I received was fitted with a regular flex stock shaft. So keeping this under control, for me, was a little difficult. I am accustomed to playing with a heavier stiff flex shaft. The flex of the shaft, coupled with the seemingly low weight of the shaft, lead to a very high launch, high spin shot. For the most part, this is probably what you are looking for in a hybrid. It definitely flew much higher than the Nickent 4DX hybrids I have been playing, however those clubs are fitted with V2 shafts that offer a much flatter trajectory.

Again, with the sole, it looks a lot like and plays a lot like the Rescue Dual sole. I really liked the club out of the rough. I hit a few nice shots out of some thick, wet rough with this club that launched high real quick, and landed nice and soft on the green from about 210 yards out (it’s getting cold here in New Jersey). It also performed well out of fairway bunkers, a couple tight lies, a low punch from under some trees…pretty typical of a hybrid. You have got to love the versatility. Though, I am not sure I would try this one for those little bump/run chips around the green. I just wasn’t getting the feel I like on those type of shots. I rarely, if ever, play them anyway.

This club also seemed to be very forgiving. I never had a problem getting the club up in the air, and distance on slight mishits always seemed to be pretty decent. Speaking of distance, wow, when I went after it and got that regular flex shaft timed correctly…this club was nearly as long as my 20* Nickent hybrid.

Conclusion

If you are on a budget, and haven’t already bagged a hybrid…you really should have a closer look at GRIP’s offering in this market. Sure, there were a few things I did not love about the club, but certainly no deal breakers. For less than half the price of a lot of hybrids out there, it is quite a steal. Shafted up with the right piece of graphite for my swing, and this club could definitely find some more playing time with me. As it stands, the regular flex graphite was too inconsistent for my swing (~105-110 driver swing speed). They do offer a 30 day money back guarantee, so it certainly does not hurt to take one out for a test drive.

You can purchase the G.R.I.P. Hybrid directly from G.R.I.P. (Golf Research in Play) for only $69.95. I have seen some free shipping deals as well. Perhaps this would make a great Christmas gift for a golfer in your life?

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