Introduction
Golf Pride® has successfully built its premium brand based on quality and innovation. Unfortunately, that success has attracted a growing number of counterfeiters who offer fake Golf Pride products primarily through websites and internet auctions. As major distributors of Golf Pride Grips within South East Asia, we are working hard to stop these counterfeiters.
Counterfeit products provide golfers an inferior performance and durability compared to authentic Golf Pride grips. Golf Pride’s R&D experts have found that counterfeit products have extreme weight variations and utilize low quality compounds that produce inconsistent performance, increased torque, and reduced durability.
Key Differences Between Authentic and Fake Grips
There are several notable key differences between authentic and fake Golf Pride grips. We will discuss these differences below for our customers to use as a reference guide in identifying counterfeit grips within the market.
1. Price
As one should expect, price is the most notable difference between the authentic and fake Golf Pride grips. Over recent years, a large number of sellers have appeared on major e-commerce platforms to sell fake grips that are being imported from overseas. These grips vary in price from as low as RM5/piece to bundle deals of RM100~ for 10 pieces. In essence, if the price of the grips seem too good to be true, it is probably a counterfeit product.
2. Poor Craftsmanship
For the purpose of this comparison, we will be looking at the differences between the MCC Align, MultiCompound and MCC PLUS4 models. Starting off with the MCC PLUS4, we immediately noticed the difference in terms of stiffness between the counterfeit and genuine grips. The counterfeit MCC PLUS4 was significantly stiffer than its genuine counterpart making it difficult to fit into most shafts and uncomfortable to hold in the hand.
As for the MCC ALIGN, we immediately noticed a difference in the overall feel and texture of the grips. The counterfeit MCC ALIGN did not have as much grip as the genuine version, especially in wet conditions such as sweat and rain. Among other differences we noticed in the both grips were the spacing and lettering of the logos, as well as the ridges on the rubber.
Lastly, we cut open the Multi-Compound Grips to observe the differences on the inside of the grips. We immediately noticed a difference in the material of the rubber used as well as the texture. The fake Multi-Compound grips had a bumpy, rough texture which made it difficult to fit. Furthermore, the material of the fake grip was made of a low-quality rubber which leads us to believe that it lacks durability.
3. Color of Grip
The color of the grips can vary depending on the model selected. Although the MCC PLUS4 models were almost identical in color and shade, we did notice a difference for the MultiCompound grip in which the fake grip was a noticeably darker shade of red.
4. Low Durability
Despite not being able to compare the durability of the fake grips, it has been reported several times from various sources that the rubber on the fake grips tend to wear out much faster over time. This is to be expected due to the lower quality materials used in manufacturing these grips. Additionally, the fake grips may not be as resilient in harsh weather conditions such as high heat and rain.
Conclusion
Based on our studies on the fake and authentic grips, it's fair to say there is a vast difference in quality and feel of the grips. We highly recommend golfers around the world to purchase their Golf Pride Grips from authorized retailers and distributors only. As proud retailers of Golf Pride Grips, we are pleased to announce the arrival of the new 'MCC Teams' Grips coming soon to Vin Golf. Stay tuned for more news and updates!
