Heading into The 73rd Masters, an event that is seeped in tradition, there is one nontraditional golf product being adopted by the best players in the world that will be sure to be noticed by millions of viewers watching around the world. The product is an over-sized jumbo putter grip called the SuperStroke, and over the last few years it has been making its way onto the putters of some of the most famous professional golfers and even into play at the renowned Augusta National.
Five players of the 96-player field in this year’s Masters have put a SuperStroke jumbo sized putter grip in play at one point in the past two years, including last year’s Masters Champion who used it in 6 events and The Presidents Cup. This may come as a surprise because the putter grip measures 1.67 inches in diameter, nearly twice the size of a conventional putter grip. KJ Choi discovered the grip watching an infomercial and has since won three PGA Tour events with a SuperStroke.
The players that have put the jumbo grip in official tournament play the last two years include a 3-time Masters winner, and players currently ranked #3, #15, #23, #32, and #43 in the world rankings. All in all, 37 players have put the jumbo grip in play on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour, Champions Tour and the European Tour at some point. Collectively, these are professional golfers who have won 7 majors, 59 PGA Tour events, 20 Nationwide Tour events, 40 European Tour events, 33 Champions, and 28 Japan Golf Tour events.
“These are not the type of golfers who would put a product into play unless they knew that it could unequivocally help their game,” said Jeff Dill, PGA Tour representative for Tiger Shark and SuperStroke. “These players have opened up the door for mass acceptance of the unconventional product by bringing major credibility to the technology story behind the grip.”
The large surface area of SuperStroke brings more of the grip into contact with the hands, inhibiting breakdown of the wrists. Choi was so taken with the product that he now expands the distribution of SuperStroke overseas into South Korea. He started the season on fire tying for 15th and 12th at the Mercedes-Benz Championship and Sony Open, respectively, where he finished 9th in putting and 13th in putts per round. He then captured a 3rd place finish at the Northern Trust Open at the Riviera Country Club, and has earned $622,308 on tour so far this year. He enters the Masters ranked 49th in the FedEx Cup standings.
“It helps me to have my arms closely fit to my body,” said Choi. “It takes the wrist action out so every putt feels more comfortable.”
Choi added that reduced hand pressure, a result of the SuperStroke’s large diameter, helps prevent pulled or pushed putts.
“More and more players are turning to the larger putter grips,” said Dill. “They have given a lot of credibility to the technology. Most players turn to it to help shut down their wrists. If they say it works, then it works.”
Dill has been working the PGA Tour and the LPGA Tours since 2000, and has only been on the SuperStroke beat for the past two years. He will be on the putting green 21 of the PGA Tour events this year and has a slew of new players currently testing both the Tiger Shark and SuperStroke grips.
“Thanks to KJ Choi winning so many times with the grip, other players came to accept and use the Super Stroke grip,” said Dill. “With Tiger Shark Golf purchasing Super Stroke this past winter I believe it sets up a perfect combination of two grip companies to become a successful and winning combination on all the Tours. We have both Tiger Shark and SuperStroke jumbo grips in play on the PGA, LPGA and Champions Tour. With the now added bonus of excellent putters by Tiger Shark, as well as designs by visionary Jim Flood, there is plenty of potential for Tiger Shark to have a very successful season in 2009.”
More About SuperStroke Grips
Scientific tests have shown that the SuperStroke requires up to 32% less grip tension which represents a significant improvement over conventional putter grips. The Super Stroke’s size encourages use of a “soft hands” technique and ensures a smooth and fluid putting stroke. The SuperStroke installs quickly and easily to any putter. It is USGA conforming, and legal for tournament play. The SuperStroke has one flat side, that can be used facing forward, backward, left, or right. SuperStroke works for any type of grip, from conventional, to cross-handed, to the claw.
More About Tiger Shark Golf
Tiger Shark Golf acquired SuperStroke grips in January of this year. This is not the first time Tiger Shark has concentrated their efforts on the grip business. Their Legendary Tiger Shark Jumbo putter grips were a top seller for the company and made Tiger Shark the industry leader in the design and production of oversize putter grips. Tiger Shark sold more than 1 million putter grips since they originally launched the jumbo grip. The acquisition of SuperStroke makes Tiger Shark the predominant jumbo putter grip company in golf, one of the few surging new markets in the golf business today. Although official data is available, Tiger Shark and SuperStroke are widely regarded as the #1 and #2 selling jumbo putter grips on the market.
“We are offering SuperStroke as an upgrade on our current and future Tiger Shark putters, including our new Jim Flood designed putters and our popular Green Speed and Great White putters,” said Tiger Shark President Dean Dingman. “We will continue selling the SuperStroke grips individually as well so consumers can attach them to their own putters. We have an amazing technology to offer and we want to help as many golfers as possible.”
For more information about Tiger Shark Golf or to order any of their products, visit them online at www.tigersharkgolf.com or call 800-667-0181.
Contact:
Jon Claffey
jonclaffey@yahoo.com
