Of all their goals, Lamkin's attempt at reducing
the tension needed to maintain control
throughout contact in the REL 3GEN grips was
perhaps the most important. And with good
reason.
For this New Englander who trialed the latest
model in the long line of Lamkin grips in early
April with plenty of cold rain in the forecast,
the added tackiness and vibration dampening
were welcomed features.
While Lamkin's most recent offering to the golf
grip market has a host of impressive design
features, the simple thought to reduce the
energy and effort needed for the person
swinging the club is far and away a successful
strive towards putting forth a superior product.
Goal, achieved for the oldest golf grip
manufacturer in the United States.
BREAKING THE TENSION
The REL 3GEN grips from Lamkin have been
designed to remain slightly larger around the
upper half than the lower half. This feature is
meant to help players reduce the tension
needed throughout contact, thus, making the
act of swinging much, much easier.
Whether it's the start of your season or you're
playing at a mid-season level, the opportunity
to ease up on your hands can do wonders to
your game. While you focus less on what your
hands are doing, the grips ultimately work
towards positioning your hands correctly. All
you have to do is swing.
To put it simply, the grips were extremely
comfortable to hit. The vibration dampening
was a terrific bonus on a cold and windy day.
While I didn't see any major advantages in
terms of distance or accuracy, the pure feeling
that comes with the REL 3GEN grip sure adds a
bit more pleasure to the golf swing.
NOT SLIPPERY WHEN WET
The REL 3GEN grips are also made with a
water-resistant material, allowing for the
tackiness and softness to remain in even the
worst of conditions.
The tension-reducing perks that come with the
new REL 3GEN grips will certainly help golfers
playing in cold or wet weather conditions.
Anyone that has played in wet or frigid
weather will not disagree that a bit of grip
assistance in these conditions is a major help.
But the grips shouldn't be considered
specialized for bad-weather golfers.
Mid-summer rounds where humidity takes over
as the primary environmental factor messing
with your game instantly become a bit easier
when the sweat produced by your hands is
null and void.
I was fortunate enough to dodge the wet New
England spring weather when hitting the
Lamkin REL 3GEN grips, so I would consider
my thoughts on the grips' weather-resistant
feature incomplete. That said, there was no
slippage due to sweaty or weak hands early in
the season.
TECHNOLOGICALLY SOUND
What sets many of Lamkin's grips apart from
its competitors is the company's use of the
latest and greatest, state-of-the-art
technology.
The REL 3GEN grips feature Lamkin's 3GEN
technology, which includes the features we've
already talked about: additional tackiness and
vibration dampening.
The added minimal surface design pattern of
the REL combines for one of the most
advanced grips on the market. The thought
behind minimizing the surface pattern goes a
long way to maximizing the surface area
available for your hands.
The ultimate goal for Lamkin's new REL 3GEN
grips is to reduce the fatigue endured by
golfers and to get each golfer's hands in the
proper position. The creature comforts
certainly help promote these goals, which
should make golfers of all skill levels happy.
WEAR AND TEAR
An additional bonus of Lamkin's 3GEN material
is that it stands up well to heavy use and
weathering. The grips' resistance to water
doesn't just come into play during your swing.
Their ability to wick away moisture also goes a
long way in preserving the quality of the grips.