PGTAA – Equipment Review
JumboMax Grips: Why Bigger May Finally Be Better
Full-Swing Grip Lineup Overview
Something meaningful is happening in the world of golf grips — and it’s not marketing hype. It’s biomechanics, physics, and measurable performance.
At the Professional Golf Teachers Association of America (PGTAA), we evaluate equipment based on one simple standard:
Does it help golfers strike the ball more consistently under pressure?
Oversized grips — once considered a niche experiment — are rapidly moving into the mainstream, and JumboMax sits squarely at the center of that shift.
The Oversized Grip Evolution
For decades, golfers were taught that thinner grips produced more feel.
Modern data — along with tour usage — tells a different story.
Larger grip diameters can:
- Reduce excessive hand tension
• Stabilize the clubface through impact
• Improve strike consistency
• Promote smoother tempo and release
These are not theoretical benefits. They are performance patterns we repeatedly observe during fittings and instruction sessions. I personally are enamored with the Tour Series grips simply because my clubhead is steady and stabilized, and my tempo is so much better.
Tour Validation
When elite players change equipment after decades of ingrained repetition, it matters.
Major champions and world-class ball-strikers such as Jason Day, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia, and Retief Goosen have all explored or adopted larger-diameter grip profiles in recent years. Their experience reinforces what PGTAA instructors see daily: when the grip better fits the hands, the swing often becomes quieter, more repeatable, and easier to control under pressure.
Garcia has favored counterbalanced grip configurations that help keep the club stable and in front of him through impact. Day has leaned toward lightweight oversized constructions that reduce grip pressure while maintaining feel. These are performance decisions — not cosmetic ones.
Models Tested by the PGTAA
JMX Zen Lite
A premium rubber construction with a refined texture and lighter weight profile, the Zen Lite offers an ideal transition for golfers moving up from midsize grips.
Typical retail: $15–$17 per grip
Tour Series
Featuring counterbalanced engineering and a twist-resistant core, this model promotes tempo stability and quieter hand action — a combination many players immediately notice.
Typical retail: $13–$18 per grip
JMX UltraLite
Designed to reduce static weight without sacrificing diameter, the UltraLite allows golfers to enjoy the stability benefits of oversized grips while maintaining swing speed.
Typical retail: $15–$16 per grip
What the PGTAA Testing Shows
Across fittings and instructor feedback sessions, three consistent results emerge:
- Grip Pressure Drops Immediately
Players instinctively hold the club more lightly, which promotes smoother tempo and improved sequencing.
- Face Rotation Stabilizes
Oversized grips reduce excessive hand manipulation, resulting in more predictable clubface delivery.
- Strike Quality Improves
Many golfers show tighter dispersion patterns and more centered contact — often without any swing change.
In short, the interface between golfer and club improves.
JumboMax Putter Grips: Stability Meets Elegance
Putter Grip Lineup
Oversized grips are transforming the full swing — but their impact may be even more profound on the putting green.
The JumboMax putter grip range combines modern aesthetics with performance-driven design. These grips have a refined, elegant appearance that pairs well with today’s milled and tour-inspired putters while delivering measurable stability gains.
From a PGTAA evaluation standpoint, three performance benefits consistently stand out:
Enhanced Face Stability
The larger profile minimizes excessive hand action, helping golfers return the face square — the single most critical variable in putting.
Improved Stroke Balance and Tempo
Balanced internal geometry encourages a smoother, pendulum-like motion. Many players report improved rhythm and distance control almost immediately.
Reduced Grip Pressure
The oversized diameter allows golfers to hold the putter more lightly, improving feel on both short putts and long lag putts.
JumboMax offers multiple putter grip shapes and sizes to match stroke styles, including flat-profile alignment designs, rounded comfort models, counterbalanced options, and arm-lock compatible versions.
My personal favorite is the JMX 13 putter. I love the stability, wight (92 grams) and width that allows different hand positions (claw, left hand) .
Typical retail pricing: $19–$35 per grip
Who Should Consider JumboMax
Oversized grips are especially beneficial for:
- Players who struggle with grip tension
• Golfers battling inconsistent face control
• Those seeking more repeatable strikes
• Seniors wanting reduced hand strain
• Instructors fitting students for stability
In short — most golfers.
Final Verdict
JumboMax grips are not a novelty.
They represent a legitimate equipment evolution grounded in biomechanics, tour usage, and real-world teaching feedback.
From a PGTAA perspective, grip sizing remains one of the most under-diagnosed variables in amateur golf. Many players chase swing fixes when the solution is literally in their hands.
Oversized grips are no longer an experiment.
They are becoming part of the modern fitting conversation — from academies to tour vans.
Golfers can wait for oversized grips to become the industry norm…
Or they can discover what properly fitted grip size can do for their game today.
Barry Lotz, J.D., Ph.D. is the director of the Professional Golf Teachers Association of America. Visit www.facebook.com/PGTAA to see all the latest mental strategies, travel, and equipment reviews. Currently, he also works with between 10 to 12 PGA TOUR players on the mental side of golf.
He is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America and serves both as a consultant and mediator to the golf industry. He is also the author of numerous books, including “333 Best Web Sites for Golfers” and his previous book, “How to Build Business Relationships through Golf,” which is still on the Top Ten Golf Business Book’s bestseller list. His current books, “The Right Mind for Golf,” is now in its 12th reprint and is available on Amazon and at the Torrey Pines Golf Course. Just recently released are his new books, “The Right Mind for Putting” , “The Back Nine- Embracing Golf and Life as a Senior”,’ and “The Right Approach to Golf”, are all available at https://www.pgtaa.com/product-category/books-and-apparell/