When it came to the grip we were really struggling as over the last 15 years all clubs have been fitted with standard rubber grips, with the only real innovation being the move to multi compound product. Luckily we came across the Grip Master at the Orlando show earlier this year, when we saw some Ostrich skin product which very much caught our eye. After the show we made contact with the guys at Grip Master and set up a meeting at their offices in Melbourne. While the grips caught our eye in Orlando when we got to see their full range of products and realised their abilities to do things that no one else could we suddenly realised that we were onto something very special. We signed up a multi year deal with the guys in June and we now see Grip Master, as a key part of our business.
Can you give us a little background about the company?
For 3 generations the McConchie family have been involved in the leather industry, some 35 years ago, they started to design and manufacture handbags and belts. The business they started 35 years ago, has flourished and is a now an industry leader in the Southern Hemisphere. Today it is fair to say that the McConchie brothers, are experts in the tanning, production, manufacturing and nuances of leather - grading, tanning, production and manufacturing of leather. In the early 90's they opened a sales office in Chicago to promote and sell their Australian fashion accessories lines in that market. In those years they became known and noticed by an American company and in the mid 90's were approached to see if they could modify one of their leather straps to be suitable to re grip and rejuvenate the old style Hickory sticks. As it happened they were able to fill a small void created when the most famous US maker of Genuine Leather grips, Nueman, closed their doors after the advent and onslaught of Rubber grips. After much experimentation with leather treatments and formulas for the leather straps, Ian and Bruce soon realized that unless they could up with some innovations to make leather grips a viable option, they were never going to succeed in the golf industry. In 1998 Ian developed and patented a unique underlisting, which enabled The Grip Master to perfect an assembly system, to create and make the first fully assembled, pre-tensioned one piece slip on Genuine Leather Golf Grip in the world!
The grip quickly was accepted on all of the tours, their success is extensive and continues today. Determined to take The Grip Master to the next level, Ian and Bruce in early 2008 made the decision to focus all of their attention on The Grip Master and to move away from their other leather manufacturing business. The result, one of the biggest innovations ever in the putter grip. Using knowledge, honed over 35 years, they have developed a range of grips called the "Touch Series" the innovation is that they have developed a process to use leathers that have never been used before. Such as the North American White Tail Deer, Kangaroo the playable exotic Sea Snake these leathers offer, feel, touch and response that have never been offered on a grip before.
This all sounds great but the grips range in price from £20 to £40 - do you think players will pay these high prices?
Absolutely, when you try the product you will want every club in your bag fitted with them. Firstly they last three times as long as anything else in the market place - at our recent media launch at the Open Championship John Daly, who is the official spokesman for the brand said he had been using the same grips for 9 months! Grip Master expect the average competitive club player to be able to use the same grips for 3 years. Secondly the feel is second to none, you have the feel of cabretta leather on both your hands without the need to wear a glove. Thirdly the performance in wet or humid conditions is sensational, you can put the grip into play in the worst rain you could imagine and you can still hold the club.
We believe the performance of the product will be the thing that will be the main factor behind the success of the product, for golfers that are playing for a living or are serious competitors the extra edge that the product will give them in the wet will more than make up for the extra cost. How often do golfers spend £400 on the latest driver that may give them an extra few yards? If they feel that they will be able to hold the club in any conditions I think you will find the price barrier will no longer be an issue.
Is the product being used on Tour?
Most definitely, it is the number 1 leather grip on all major tours and while John Daly is the official spokesman numerous other players including the winner of the US Open in 2001 and 2004 are using the product. Over the coming months we plan to make an active push on the European tour and then the guys from Australia will continue this on when they move out to tournaments in their region.
When will the product be available in the UK and mainland Europe?
We have stock right now, however the official launch to the trade will be at the Golf Europe Fair end of September. The official distributor for Germany is Green Grass Golf (Hall 4: C20/D39) however we welcome enquires for all territories.
What has the early response been like to the product?
In one word phenomenal, the market is just right for something like this. Unlike shafts or a clubhead where an average players struggles to see and feel the benefits of the product, with the Grip Master a 28 handicapper will visibly and physically experience the improved performance that these grips can offer. We have already shipped product into a number of accounts throughout the UK, Ireland as well as good sized orders going into Germany, Denmark and Finland. Quite simply it is just a case of our sales team getting out and seeing as many customers as possible, most guys are willing to give it a try and without exception they all want it on their own clubs!
MD Golf
Tel: (++44) 02894-460333
Website: www.mdgolf.co.uk
