While I build mostly with carbon fiber grips that I make myself, I have had a couple of clients ask me about Wynn grips and I thought I'd ask you guys a couple of questions:

1) my son works in a golf shop and while he agrees that the Wynn grip are at the high-end of the spectrum, he also has a set of regular golfers that come in each year to have their clubs re-gripped as the Wynn grips breakdown with normal use during the year. What has been your experience with Wynn grips that are provided for custom rod builders? Are they made out of the same material? Have you had any returns because they are wearing out over the course of a normal fishing season?

2) Do all the Wynn grips that are available to custom rod builders including the mudhole MHX grips have the Wynn logo or any Wynn identification on them? I would consider trying them but everything I see has the Wynn logo which, and in my opinion, takes away from the custom aspects of the rod.

Thanks,

Charles

I use Winn grips on my golf clubs, and replace them about every 3 or 4 years, however the wear on the grips is not from using them, but from stuffing them in and out of golf bags. Golf grips in golf bags get quite a bit of friction rubbing against each other or the tubes in some bags.

I have only built 4 builds with the Winn grips and all have been this year. I have concerns also about long term wear. Phil is right about golf clubs take more abuse than a rod. I found Winn grips at the Rod Room without the Wiinn logo that look very good. The listing has that these are for an SK2 reel seat setup, but with the material these are made from allows it to be turned to most factory reel seat options. This site has a few grips from Winn that I have not seen at other sites. Time will tell on these grips. Hope this helps.

I've also seen regular golf club grips wear from golfing use but don't believe the type of torque generated from a golf club swing will be anywhere near that of casting a fishing rod or even fighting a fish. I've built one rod so far with the grips this spring and have not heard back from the customer. I have a couple of more sets that I plan on using on future builds.

Winn Grips are the real deal. Most of the new Lews Rods are equipped with them. Thy wear very well, and the wetter they get the more grip you have.

Ray,
You can't possibly be serious with this statement.

You said "that you don't believe the type of torque generated from a golf club swing will be anywhere near that of casting a fishing rod or even fighting a fish."

When, I look at professional golfers who work out every day and are in excellent physical shape - hit the ball 350 yards - it appears to me that every fiber of their body is into the swing of the club.

Now compared to a musky fisherman that makes a thousand casts a day - the total number of golfing swings is many times less than that of a golfer; but the absolute of a golfer hitting a ball for an extreme distance is certainly as much or more than any person using a fishing pole.

However, it really makes no difference.

The grips on golf clubs are great.

The grips on fishing rods are great.

Choose your material and move on.

Be safe

Winn fishing grips are relatively new; the Winn dry fishing grips started showing up in 2014. So it is difficult to say how long they will last. I have been putting them on rod for a few years now with zero complaints. Most of these on rods that are heavily used. In fact they have become my most popular grip. The older style grips displayed the Winn advertisement prominently. The new style Winn grips display the maker's name in a very subtle way and you have to look for it. The Fuji Winn grips do not display the Winn name at all. Fuji has a Winn grip for the VSS reel seat which I like a lot in the size 17, the size 16 is too small. The Fuji SK grips are also too small, their other grips are very good.Have not tried the new Forecast Winn grips, so can't comment on them.
Norm

Roger, LOL, senility is setting in, I meant the exact opposite, you are correct, that's what I get for not proof reading my own musings.

Ray Zarychta
Glastonbury, CT

Used them on my fly rod two years ago, and look great. Haven't had any requests for them since. Doing lots of carbon fiber now

I have rods with cork, carbon fiber, and Winn grip handles and I use them so the people I am making a rod for can hold, look at, and fondle to decide the type of handle they want. Most choose the Winn grips, a smaller number carbon fiber and very few cork. All of the people I build for are avid fishermen with many fishing tournaments..They take their fishing seriously.and love the Winn grips. I tend to prefer the carbon fiber grips, but the Winn grips are a close second.
Norm

Thank you all for your comments. Appreciate all of your help .

I was wondering the same thing. I repair clubs and play a lot. I play Winn grips and replace them every year, and replace all of my friends and customers every year too. It's a Winn-Win situation for me. But it wouldn't be if they wore out on rods. If they are the same material, I'd have second thoughts. The club grips are soft and we expect them to wear out, but they are the best grip for many because they are so soft. kinda like performance tires, soft, good traction, but wears fast.