So-called “reminder” gloves are nothing new.
In fact, they date back to the 1930s when golfers and club players would add a piece of wire, string or even a coat hanger under their leather gloves. The idea was to “remind” golfers of proper hand placement.
If you think this is stupid or something true the golfer must i know where to put his hands, Ben Hogan did it to help heal his dreaded hook. The concept fell out of favor in the decades that followed, but in 2017, Golf Pride brought the idea back into the mainstream with its ALIGN controls.
ALIGN has since gained a significant and loyal following. Last year, Golf Pride added the ALIGN MAX to the ALIGN family, with a 25 percent larger crest. Today, Golf Pride is doing what any smart company that has a product with a significant and loyal following would do.
It’s expanding the line.
If you like wire gloves or large clasps, today is your lucky day.
Golf Pride ALIGN MAX ZGRIP and Jumbo MCC Plus4
We talk a lot here about how smart companies know what business they’re in. If you think about it, though, it really is connections business. Yes, the glove is connected to the club, but it is also connected to the golfer. And Golf Pride pays attention to both of these links.
“We hear feedback from players that they like the concept of ALIGN MAX and want to try it in a different style or size,” says Golf Pride President James Ledford. “Engineers in our Global Innovation Center began a rigorous design and testing process to execute that vision.”
So today, Golf Pride is adding the ALIGN MAX to its popular ZGRIP line of wire grips. ZGRIP is already available with the original ALIGN technology, but Golf Pride is adding an ALIGN MAX model for players who need a stronger memory.
ZGRIP is the strongest grip in the Golf Pride line. Its heavy-duty construction is designed for maximum moisture control and plenty of responsiveness. Take a shot and you’ll understand.
In addition, Golf Pride is adding a large size to the existing standard and medium MCC Plus4 ALIGN MAX gloves. The MCC Plus4 combines the popular Golf Pride construction with dual materials. It features a tough cotton cord upper section for moisture control and a softer rubber bottom for feel and response. The Plus4 element simulates four additional wraps of tape on the underside to reduce hand tension and lower grip pressure.
So … is the line extension?
Yeah, that’s pretty much it. ZGRIP was already available with the standard ALIGN feature. Now getting the biggest ALIGN MAX ridge. The MCC Plus4 was already available on the ALIGN MAX, but it’s getting a larger grip option.
This is what smart companies do when they have a product that people like.
When Golf Pride started making slip-on rubber grips in 1949, it included a subtle molded spine on some models. Built-in “memory” became popular with top players and professionals. However, over the years, memory checks fell out of favor for some interesting reasons.
The first is obvious. If the memory stick is even a few degrees wrong during installation, the whole concept goes down. The second is not so clear. By the 1980s, clubbing was becoming more common and the perceived need for memorabilia faded.
Golf Pride’s original ALIGN technology, introduced in 2017, brought the concept back. The visible outer ridge made installation easier and more durable. It’s still available, while the new ALIGN MAX features the most pronounced ridge height allowed under the Rules of Golf.
Is a “reminder” checkup right for you?
More than 150 players across the major professional circuits use some form of a recall check. Are they right for you? This, as you might expect, is an old “hang”. In general, two types of players benefit from memory checks. First, if you try to re-grip the club a few times before swinging to get the right “feel” and tend to miss left and right with similar swings, you can benefit from a tactile reference point for your hands.
Second, if you struggle with a consistent putt/pull or a poor fade/slice, the reminder can help you at least get the clubface in a consistent position.
In addition, medium and high handicappers who build their own bases often benefit from memory checks as they can remove an important swing variable. And if you’re a golfer who doesn’t “work” the ball—better known as a regular golfer—a reminder grip can help you consistently keep the face square on your delivery.
Price, availability and free installing
The Golf Pride ZGRIP with ALIGN MAX is available starting today in standard and medium sizes. The MCC Plus4 with ALIGN MAX, already available in standard and medium sizes, is now also available in jumbo.
Also, and perhaps most importantly, now through March 28, select retailers will install every new Golf Pride grip – including the new ALIGN MAX models – for free when you buy eight or more. Participating retailers include Golf Galaxy, PGA TOUR Superstore, DICK’S House of Sport, Carl’s Golfland and all Worldwide Golf stores.
The new ALIGN Max models will retail for $15.99 each. For more information, visit www.golfpride.com.
