SuperStroke Flatso Putter Grips
Back in 2007 while struggling with my putting I decided to take drastic measures and install a huge, weird-looking new putter grip called SuperStroke. It felt about as fat as a baseball bat, had a reverse taper design and it attached to the shaft of my putter using set screws, a couple of tap screws and some epoxy to make it a “permanent” install and allowable under USGA rules. Using this funny looking grip all summer, I went on to win 7 of 10 tournaments on the fledgling Golf Channel Amateur Tour in Orlando, earning Player of the Year honors in the Championship Flight.
The SuperStroke brand has come a long way since the early days of the screw-on grip that destroyed your putter shaft. They have a complete line of putter grips for all kinds of putters in many different sizes. All of their grips are now installed using the more conventional method of grip tape and solvent, and they are widely used on the professional tours all over the world. The television exposure SuperStroke gets with players like Jason Dufner and Jordan Speith has helped the company grow fast.
I have about 6 or 7 putters fitted with SuperStroke grips, and often when I get a new putter the first thing I do is rip off the stock grip and replace it with a SuperStroke Ultra Slim – my model of choice. But there is a new sheriff in town. It’s called the Flatso. Some people prefer a grip that has a more pronounced flat part on top, and it seems SuperStroke heard these people and created the Flatso line.
The SuperStroke Flatso grips feature a unique pentagonal shape with a distinct flat top. They have three different models, including the Flatso 1.7, Flatso Mid 1.4 and the Flatso Ultra 1.1. The numbers indicate the grip width in inches. The grips weight 100, 60 & 85 grams, respectively. All three models share the same soft, tacky feel and solid construction of all SuperStroke grips, and they are sure to be a big hit for players that like a less rounded shape and prefer the feel of an enlarged flat section on top. I think the Flatso Mid 1.4 will be the best option for most golfers, as it seems to be just the right size for most hands and is also the lightest.
The SuperStroke Flatso grips are sold individually at many golf retailers and cost around $25. Some OEMs have also started offering their putters with various SuperStroke grips pre-installed. I know Odyssey Golf has done well with SuperStroke grips on the Versa models. My current “gamer” is an Odyssey Versa Black #9 with a SuperStroke Ultraslim 1.0, but the Flatso 1.1 may soon be going on it!
John, i’m interested in purchasing a Ping TR adjustable putter. Do you thing installing a superstroke 2.0 will throw off the ballence of a putter like this that comes with a stock grip? Thanks.
Check the weight of the grip you want compared to what the ping has on it. In general the grip can affect the swingweight of a club by as much as 2 or 3 points. The lighter the grip, the more you tilt the balance point towards the head. Overall changing the grip shouldn’t change the feel of the putter that much, but it is something to be aware of.