I first came across Caliber Golf several years ago while attending a golf event for my Alma Mater, the Milwaukee School of Engineering. An event traditionally hosted and well-attended by the school’s men’s hockey team, I watched as many of the guys felt right in their natural element trying this product. As a fan of all things golf I had to give it a shot myself, and my reactions at the time were mixed. I found myself struggling with the putter’s feel, and with truly understanding the difference in feedback between the new-to-me putter and this uniquely styled grip.
Flash forward to the 2023 PGA Show and the official launch of Caliber Golf: There was a palpable buzz around the putting green as golf enthusiasts clamored to demo this new product for themselves. They had an exact model match to my current putter so I decided to give Caliber another try. This like-for-like comparison gave me the opportunity to really understand the difference the Caliber grip provides. After a few minutes on the indoor green I knew I’d need to play it on an actual golf course to experience how it can change my game.
Feel
If you’ve ever played hockey or simply held a hockey stick then that is the best comparison I can make for the “feel” of Caliber. The slim, square profile does take your hands some getting used to when transitioning from a “traditional” grip. The most noticeable change in my testing, though, was the feedback.
The combination of the carbon fiber material, length and long cavity all contribute to what I would consider unique feedback when striking a putt. The best way I can describe it would be a “sensitive, soft feel”. I felt an instant response to putts that were not in the sweet spot or struck poorly.
The suggestion on Caliber’s site is that [after installation] the overall profile should add about one inch to your current putter length. The combination of this added length and the replacement of much of the shaft leads to a putting stroke that feels like swinging the entire club. My tempo and rhythm with the Caliber grip feel much more like a pendulum as I seem to push putts through the target line.
The Caliber Grip provides you the opportunity to do a little “freestyling” when it comes to actually holding your club. For people who like to experiment with split-hands, claws, etc., there is flexibility to change up your style easily. Take a look at the video below to see just some of the suggested options when using Caliber:
Installation
If you want to give the Caliber Grip a try, be aware that the installation is an involved process. It requires that much of your existing putter shaft be cut and re-fitted. This procedure is completed at the Caliber Headquarters in Southeastern Wisconsin after you mail them your putter.
If you’re nervous about experimenting with your current gamer, Caliber now also offers complete putter options as a great way to use their product while getting a beautiful new club for the upcoming season.
The details of the installation process are outlined below:
What I see as a huge differentiator for Caliber is the fact that it can be made precisely square. What exactly do I mean by this? The square profile of the Caliber Grip allows for a perfectly aligned face. When I interviewed Chip Wright, one of the company’s co-founders, he explained how he’s custom-built a fitting station to align the face for a perfect setup every time.
In contrast to Caliber, a traditional installation relies on the fitter or installer “eyeballing” to ensure square alignment with the face. While this method has been used forever it’s never 100% perfect. Your current grip installation may even have your putter face setup slightly opened or closed.
I tend to struggle with square alignment mentally and visually, so the reassurance that everything is squared with my Caliber setup gives me a ton of confidence over every putt.
“Just Tap It In”
Every golfer is familiar with the iconic Happy Gilmore hockey putter, and Caliber’s Grip is the perfect gateway for players to try their own “Happy” putting experience. While I cannot guarantee you will be driving par fours come 2024, upgrading your putter to prep for next year will certainly help you “Tap It In”!
Are you ready to utilize your sharp-shooting hockey skills to help you hole more putts next season?
Use code “WISCO” for free shipping and personalization on your Caliber Grip purchases