There is a lot of cool gear in the golf equipment world that doesn’t always fit neatly into Most Wanted Tests or Buyer’s Guides. You still want to know how it performs. In our We Tried It series, we put gear to the test and let you know if it works as advertised.
WHAT WE TRIED
Lamkin UTx Golf Grip – A one-of-a-kind, full-cord grip with a tacky feel.
YOUR LAMKIN UTX TESTER
Phillip Bishop. Most of the time, I have a grip on Most Wanted Testing. However, today, I have a dance with Lamkin’s Tri-Layer Technology.
LAMKIN PAST and PRESENT
Since 1925, Lamkin has been a leader in golf grip manufacturing. Elver Lamkin began the process in his garage. Eventually, the company touted a 60-year relationship with Arnold Palmer. Today, Lamkin has a budding relationship with Tony Finau. His recent success gave Lamkin the opportunity to showcase one of its top sellers, the Lamkin UTx.
LAMKIN UTX FEATURES
The UTx features Lamkin’s Tri-Layer Technology.
- The outer layer is firmer and is derived from ACE (a super-tacky and vibration-dampening material). Lamkin introduced ACE in 2014 when the first generation of UTx came out. ACE technology allows for additional torsion control with the current Lamkin UTx.
- The second layer is a full-cord fabric weave. This provides more grip traction and also assists with moisture wicking.
- Finally, the most inner layer contains softer ACE technology. Due to the cord nature of the grip, this layer’s goal is to enhance comfort and feel.
- One of the key outcomes of Tri-Layer Technology is that it helps Lamkin UTx to be an all-weather grip.
STYLE OR LACK THEREOF
I discovered Lamkin UTx in 2014 and immediately installed them. For years, I had played with “old reliable”—Tour Velvets. One outing with UTx changed my mind. I loved the the firmness of the cord weave but it also offered subtle tackiness, which is extremely appealing to me. So, I gamed them … in blue. I’ve played Lamkin grips ever since.
Fast forward to 2022. This current UTx model comes strictly in grey. While I like the grey, I wish there were more color options (black, blue and red were options back in the day).
Have supply chain issues and lack of material caused this? I don’t know but I’d wager it has a role. Or, perhaps, internal surveys concluded grey is the desired color. Either way, additional color options would be stellar.
PERFORMANCE MATTERS
Since I have previous experience with Lamkin UTx, the biggest question for me was: “How will these compare to the previous UTx grips?” After all, I’ll play in just about any weather. Furthermore, I play without a glove and, yes, I took our data to heart.
Here in Virginia, our summer weather is brutal—hot and humid along with occasional afternoon rain showers. On the bright side, these are excellent conditions to test out the “all-weather” nature of the Lamkin UTx. I don’t sweat too much (unlike Harry) but the summer heat definitely adds moisture to the equation when I decide to play without a glove. So I was excited to put the UTx to the test.
FEEL
Lamkin UTx has cord weaved into the grip. Cord grips tend to have a firm, rough feel which does not suit a lot of golfers. However, the Tri-Layer Technology provides a true tacky feel. The cord weave combined with ACE technology enhances the overall feel—soft to the touch but firm enough to give feedback and good grip to the palms and fingers. For me, these grips offer a tremendous hybrid of tack and cord.
VIBRATION DAMPENING
The first layer in the UTx is designed and implemented to dampen vibration. Without hitting thousands of shots, I believe there is noticeable vibration dampening with these grips. Do I have data to back that up? No. However, having hit enough shots with them, especially with my driver and three wedges, I didn’t notice much vibration.
WEATHER PLAYABILITY
Remember how I confessed not playing with a glove? Well, I put UTx to the test and opted to hit all my shots without a glove. For me, the texture of the grip is appealing. In warm, sweaty conditions, I felt in control of the grip with the cord weaving adding enough texture to feel secure.
LAMKIN UTX – TAKEAWAY
This grip isn’t for everyone. I doubt golfers with arthritis or those who sweat profusely will not find this grip appealing. Furthermore, due to the cord nature, it is highly possible the grip will lessen the durability of your golf glove.
However, in my book, Lamkin UTx is worth the try. The combination of cord and tackiness allows it to be used without a glove. In damp conditions, it offers enough texture and grip to feel secure, with or without a glove.
If you haven’t experienced this grip, check it out. In my opinion, it should appeal any golfer who loves cord grips that are tacky. Lamkin UTx combines the best of both worlds.
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Mel
7 months agoI prefer golf pride midsize full cord wrap grips. I wish this grip would be made in a wrap style. I’ve always just preferred the feel of those wrap lines for comfort, placement and extra traction. The golf pride grips are like impossible to find anymore and mine are definitely end of life when I’m taping the bottom to stop the splitting but 15+ years is good lifespan.
Steve (the real one, pithy and insufferable)
7 months agoThanks for the heads up about arthritis and sweating profusely. That’s me in a nutshell. I’ll pass on these but I enjoy all the reviews here.
I miss, I miss, I make
7 months agoI have used Cross-Line cords forever. How do they compare?
Rich Walker
7 months agoCan you talk about material. Just realized my hand issues were caused by latex in Golf Prides compound (not eczema like 3 doctors have said haha). Switched to Winn’s TPE wraps and solved the issue. What are these made of and do they have latex in the compound?
TLH67
7 months agoI find the Z-cord firmer than the UTX, I like both grips, Lamkin grips are a little cheaper.
JStone
7 months agoI’ve been using the UTx for many years. Have looked at others but that cord feel combined with a soft tacky feel just can’t be beat. And I couldn’t agree more on the colors, loved the distressed red and blue, now I have to settle for boring grey. LAMKIN BRING BACK THE COLORS.!!!
Kevin Polischuk
7 months agoGripmasters Roo Swingers IMO are the stickiest grips in golf. Glove. No glove. Doesn’t matter. Plus they get stickier with age. The club won’t twist or slip in your hand. They are on the pricey side, but worth every penny.
Phillip Bishop
7 months agoThank you for the insight, Kevin! I’ll have to look into these grips and check them out.
Eric Granata
7 months agoI agree about leather grips. especially if you play without a glove like i do. I haven’t tried the Gripmasters but use Best Grips and love them!! That being said I have used UTx before I started using leather and agree with what you wrote!
TonyG
7 months agoAgree they are great grips. However, I am a Lamkin Sonar Wrap guy. Good price, great no-glove grip.
Everardo
7 months agoI started using Lamkin grips back when I had my own fitting shop, their grips have always been great, and well-liked by customers. Lamkin use to be pretty good about innovation, like the Torsion Control and these UTx grips. Plus they were ahead for a while in offering multiple colors and sizes, too bad that’s slowed down though.
I personally still use the UTx on a driver and some wedges, the traction and durability hold up great in the dry heat of Phoenix. Hopefully Lamkin will being some colors back though, ever since GP started all the color options of the MCC’s they seem to have taken over that category.
Guy
7 months agoI played the utx for 3 years and they have a great feel to them. The blue/red distressed ones are my favorite but discontinued a couple years ago or more. Have you tried the new crossline 360 genesis full cord? Looking to try that out next time I regrip. Looks to be a softer version of the utx from what I have seen.
Joe McManuis
7 months agoI have the 360 Gesesis Full Cord on my driver and 21 and 17 degree fairway woods. The cord is rougher than I expected once installed-the cord would be similar to the Crossline ful cord which no longer appears on Lamkin.s site, thus, the Genesis 360 would appear to be its replacement. On Lamkin’s site the Genesis 360 is indicated to be a more agressive texture than the UTx.
Andrew the Great!
7 months agoDon’t fall for the tendency of golf commentators to treat golf scoring in absolutes rather than in relation to par.
10 straight rounds of 68 or better…but what was par for the 3 courses that happened on? 3M Open was par-71; the Rocket Mortgage was (the only) par-72; the St. Jude was par-70. So a 68 is just a minus-2 at St. Jude, for example.
Has anyone else had 10 straight rounds with scores in relation to par the same as or better than Tony’s 10? THAT is the stat that matters. No one has said. Because journalism is dead.
Just sayin’, golf is a relation-to-par sport unlike all other sports, where gross or absolute score is what matters.
Greg
7 months agoNeat. So, about the grips…?
WYBob
7 months agoI have used the Lamkin UTx off and on for most of the last 7 years. It is a grip I always come back to, as I really appreciate the feel, traction, and performance of the grip. I have lived in the deep South where moisture control is paramount in the summertime due to the heat and humidity. The UTx always performed extremely well there. I now live in the Rocky Mountain West where it is drier but still prefer the feel of the UTx I have experimented with other grips and other brands but always return to the UTx. I agree with you, the only thing I wish Lamkin offered was a few additional color choices. That said, I guess grey is the new black!
Phillip Bishop
7 months agoThank you for your feedback! Grey is definitely the new black.
Alex
7 months agoIf you do have arthritis, or sore achy hands and fingers at the end of a round, which grip do you recommend?
Ed Nelson
7 months agoI use Winn DriTac WRAP Midsize grips with 2 extra wraps under my right (bottom) hand. They have a medium soft-ish feel , good shock absorption, and good moisture resistance. Wrap style offers a handy guide for choking up or down, and is good for clubs with adjustable shafts–no matter the adjustment, the grip looks like that’s where it belongs.
Dan
7 months agoFollowing this!! ☝️
Chaplin
7 months agoJumbo grips are supposedly very good for people with arthritis. I would try the Golf Pride CPX jumbo since they’re a soft style of grip.
Phillip Bishop
7 months agoWinn Excell Wrap is a popular choice in my experience or Winn DriTac Wrap, which Ed mentions. Extremely soft feel, plus it has a bit more build up due to the design. Durability is my biggest complaint with Winn. Again, just personal experience.
Patrick Dennis
7 months agoWould be curious as to how you think these stack up against the Golf Pride Z-Cord grips… I’m seeing Z-cords more and more on Tour. I love the Z-Cords because they are cords that don’t tear up your hands and have some tack. These sound similar. My only issue with Z-Cords is that they become hard and less tacky after only a season or two on the clubs.
Robert Fripp
7 months agoI have both grips currently – UTx grips on wedges, driver, and hybrid and Z grip cords on irons (went w the Z grips on the irons first to try them out, then shortly after found the UTx in blue on ebay (as I also didn’t care for the grey as much. Finau plays green ones btw) and wanted to put those on the other clubs.
Love both grips – the Z grips are definitely rougher and feel a bit harder vs the UTx. However – both offer a great grip – the UTx is not as harsh, but has a little more stickiness to it.
I have only had these grips on for less than 2 months so I can’t comment on wear/feel over time.
neil
7 months agomy problem with Lamkins is that 99% are too large for me
I used to like the full cord on 600
Phillip Bishop
7 months agoHi Pat! I’ve used Golf Pride Z-Cord in the past too. Your con is exactly my con with them as well. Great for a time period, but are firm after some use, especially if you play often. Lamkin UTx is softer overall in my opinion. That’s the beauty though – we all have a different perspective or liking when it comes to grips.