Equipment
Talking counterbalancing with Steve Boccieri and Tom Stickney
Could counterbalancing be the next technology major OEMs market? Steve Boccieri of Boccieri Golf thinks so. “The next frontier is counterbalancing,” he boldly declared.
Boccieri, the inventor of the Heavy Putter a decade ago, admittedly has a vested interest in the resurgence of counterbalancing taking over the market. His company recently released the Secret Grip: a (nearly) standard grip with a weight in the butt end. The Secret Grip, at 92 grams, is about 40 grams heavier than a traditional grip, such as the Golf Pride Tour Velvet, which is 50 grams. Thus far, the grip has been well-received both on Tour and by the general public.
Although the numbers have likely increased, Boccieri Golf’s website states:
“Over 3,000 golfers have tested the Secret Grip, with 97 percent preferring it to a conventional grip.
Golf Labs conducted an independent test of the Secret Grip and found 87 percent of golfers, using a 6-iron, increased their ball speed, the leading factor in distance.”
Boccieri indicated that counterbalancing has been popular for years, stating that Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus both counterweighted their clubs.
Boccieri reports that Secret Grips can be found in every major OEMs’ tour van right now and that players are requesting the grips. Already on Tour, the following players (among many others) are using the Secret Grip or counterbalancing their clubs: Sergio Garcia, J.B. Holmes, Retief Goosen, Bo Van Pelt, Rory Sabbatini, Ernie Els, and Ryan Moore.
The next step for Boccieri: offering the Secret Grip in more styles, such as the ribbed reminder version Thomas Bjorn has requested. Presently, the company is working with Lamkin to give golfers more Secret Grip options.
At the retail level, the Secret Grip has been well received. And at the Boccieri facility, the company offered golfers who purchased at least six Secret Grips the following deal: try the grips for 30 days. If you aren’t satisfied, we’ll regrip your clubs with the grips of your choosing for free. More than 90 percent of golfers stuck with the Secret Grips. Thus, according to Bocccieri, “the consumer is accepting the product.” Here’s a look at the Secret Grip specs and options.
Secret Grip Original: $12.99
- Injection molded tungsten cap
- Heavier rubber compound
- 92-gram total weight
- 1-inch longer than standard grip
- Built-up lower hand
- Sizes: Standard or Midsize
- Styles: Multi-direction pattern and cord
- Colors: Black, Red, White or Blue
Secret Grip Putter: $19.99
- Injection molded tungsten cap
- Heavier rubber compound
- Sizes: Classic, Midsize or Jumbo
- Colors: Black or Black/Green
- Weights: 100 grams, 155 grams or 165 grams
- Note: Black is only available in Midsize
So, what are the benefits of counterbalancing a club?
According to Boccieri, “When you raise the balance point you make the club more efficient.” Beyond that, Boccieri claims that counterbalancing a club (and using the Secret Grip in particular):
- Creates a better plane on the takeaway
- Allows the hands to set more quickly
- Allows for a smoother transition
- Helps a golfer “hold the angle” longer
- Contributes to a fuller extension
Using the Secret Putter Grip:
- Contributes to overall stroke stability
- Quiets the hands during the stroke
- Facilitates a pendulum stroke
Offering his own take, Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher Tom Stickney II indicated that counterbalancing a club makes the head feel lighter.
Stickney, who counterweights his wedges and putter, believes that the demise of backweighting over the past couple of decades is mostly a function of the fact that OEMs didn’t want to add to the cost of the golf club and decided instead to market other technologies.
In search for comparative advantages, he sees the return of counterbalancing as a real possibility. He believes further that the recent popularity of counterbalanced putters could lead to a spillover of the technology into other club types.
Stickney’s only cautions: Adding weight to the end of the club increases static weight and decreases swingweight. Further counterbalancing a club may make it was to release more quickly, particularly in the woods, which promotes a draw.
Tour Edge Golf has today introduced the all-new Exotics mini driver, engineered to deliver a powerful combination of speed, control, and versatility in the long game.
The Exotics Mini combines a titanium face with a stainless-steel body in design to balance ball speed with stability and control, creating a versatile option at the top end of the bag.
At the core of the design is Tour Edge’s proprietary Combo Brazing technology, a high-precision thermal bonding process that seamlessly fuses a titanium cup face to a stainless-steel body into a single, continuous structure. By eliminating energy loss found in traditional multi-piece constructions, Combo Brazing is designed to deliver faster face response, more efficient energy transfer, and a uniquely powerful yet controlled feel.
The multi-material construction also allows mass to be positioned lower and deeper in the head in a bid to increase stability, while the thin titanium face is engineered to maintain ball speed across a wider impact area.
“While the initial goal was to enhance control and versatility in the long game, Combo Brazing ultimately drove measurable gains in ball speed and distance within the mini driver category. In robot testing, we’ve documented higher ball speeds, higher launch, reduced spin, and increased carry and total distance compared to leading models.” – Vice President of R&D Matt Neeley
In addition to distance performance, the Exotics mini emphasizes forgiveness through a heavier stainless-steel body that shifts mass toward the perimeter. This configuration increases MOI relative to traditional all-titanium mini drivers, helping preserve ball speed and directional stability on off-center strikes. Paired with Pyramid Face Technology from the Exotics metalwood line, the design is intended to support consistent speed across the face.
To further enhance MOI, a lightweight carbon fiber crown frees additional mass that is strategically repositioned low and deep in the head in design to improve stability and promote optimal launch with controlled spin.
“We designed the Mini to be about five millimeters shallower than other mini drivers on the market. That change improves playability off the deck. From a clean fairway lie, it can function as a strong 3-wood alternative while still providing control off the tee.” – Tour Edge CEO David Glod
An adjustable hosel system allows for loft and lie tuning to dial in trajectory and shot shape, while a fixed 13-gram rear weight helps stabilize the head through impact to improve dispersion consistency. The Exotics Mini Driver is available in 11.5 and 13.5-degree lofts in right-handed models.
Pricing & Availability
The Exotics Mini Driver is available for pre-order beginning today for $399.99 USD at touredge.com, and will be available for purchase at retail outlets worldwide on May 22, 2026.
In our forums, our members have been pitting a Srixon ZXi combo against a TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo. WRXer ‘edutch22’ is on the hunt for a new set of irons and kicks off the thread saying:
“Looking at picking up a new set of irons and think I’ve narrowed it down to Srixon ZXi combo or Taylormade P7CB/770 combo. I am currently a 5 cap and allbeit I feel irons are my weakness. My miss is a little to the toe side. I am decently steep at 4-5 down. Always thought I am high spin but recently on trackman my 7 was spinning at 5800 roughly.
My question or looking for thoughts on which one would benefit me more from a forgiveness standpoint? Or is there another iron is should be looking at entirely? I only get to play about once or twice a week, if I am not playing a 2-3 day event. Thanks in advance.”
And our members have been sharing their thoughts and suggestions in response.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- manima1: “You just can’t go wrong with Srixon ZXi7.”
- MattM97: “You have to hit them to know, the V-Sole on the Srixon can be make or break for many.”
- dmeeksDC: “P7CB is more forgiving for me than ZXi7 because my main miss is low middle and the P7CB still flies and spins great on that miss. These are both really nice irons but I like the P7CB more than the Zxi7 and the P770 (or P790) more than the Zxi5. The Srixons are larger so if that gives you confidence that is the way to go. I don’t feel like I get any benefit from the V-sole and the P7CBs live up to their high Maltby forgiveness rating so the TaylorMades have been great for me.”
Entire Thread: “Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @pianoman0123 has a 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo up for grabs.
From the listing: “2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade Combo. 4-8 irons are CB’s and the 9,PW are Blades. 5-PW have Project X 6.0 Shafts and the 4 Iron has a Steelfiber CW110 Stiff Shaft. Standard Length, Lie and Lofts. These are in very good condition the shafts just don’t work for me. Like new Lamkin Grips on the 5-PW and a stock Golf Pride on the 4 Iron. $525 OBO.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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steve parrott
Sep 12, 2014 at 1:03 pm
A much easier and cheaper way to counterbalance is to add a carriage bolt(about 10-15 cents each a any hardware store)to the grip end of the shaft. Then re-grip with your favorite grip. The bolts come in different lengths (longer is heavier) and the head of the bolt is nearly the same size as the outside diameter of the shaft. The rounded end of the bolt does not cause any issues with the re-grip. The new grip installed will hold the bolt in place so no wiggles or rattles. I’ve even experimented with adding lead tape wrapped around the bolt to increase the weight. Very simple, very cheap and very easy to install.
Jonzy
Sep 8, 2014 at 1:22 pm
I got a couple of these 2 years ago when they offered them free thru GG, Dick’s and Edwin Watts and put them on my wedges. I loved them and I feel that I got more accurate with them, but I’m not paying that price per grip. I’ve ended up buying the Tour Lock Pro weight that weighed about the same as the Boccieri one to see if I would get the same result and so far I’m happy with it. Plus, when I regrip, I can re-use the weight.
Mark
Sep 6, 2014 at 10:50 am
I just installed The Secret putting grips on a two old Ping Anser and B-60 putters as an experiment. and LOVE them. I’ve become pretty “yippie” as I’ve aged (57) and the counter-balancing has taken my hands significantly out of my stroke. I used a long putter for years, but have regained confidence with the added weights.
If you suffer from the yips, I’d absolutely give it a try…..not sure on the irons though
Eric
Sep 6, 2014 at 10:33 am
So, does counterbalancing promote a draw or a fade??? I am hearing differing opinions on this. Tom, you state at the end of your article that it promotes a draw, but some of the responses are saying the exact opposite……what is the correct answer?
Tom Stickney
Sep 6, 2014 at 3:27 pm
It promotes a draw for most people that I’ve seen professionally.
Try one
Sep 7, 2014 at 2:27 am
Which is not a good way to show that a person like Nicklaus, a perennial cutter of the ball is promoting it. Confusing, to say the very least. The science needs to be explained further.
S
Sep 6, 2014 at 8:32 am
Balance Certified is another company who makes counter balance weights for all clubs. They are a bit more expensive but you only have to buy them once which makes the cost negligible.
Try one
Sep 6, 2014 at 2:58 am
It’s not for everyone, just like anything else.
If you’re a hooker of the ball and want to correct it, the counterbalance will work for you nicely.
But with too much counterbalance, for a lot of people, it also robs them of the traditional swingweighted feeling of the clubhead at the end of the stick, so most people will struggle to fire the club through enough and lose all kinds of speed and control.
It’s not for everyone. Try one grip on a mid iron that you normally don’t hit very often and see what happens before you do the whole set.
Eric
Sep 6, 2014 at 10:27 am
I am a bit confused about your statement regarding someone being a hooker of the ball, that counterbalancing will help with that……Stickney specifically states that counterbalancing promotes a draw……..who is correct? Your statement is a direct contradiction of his….
Tom Stickney
Sep 6, 2014 at 3:28 pm
It depends where the wt is located. Deeper in the grip promotes a fade. Higher a draw
Try one
Sep 7, 2014 at 2:25 am
Eric,
I was specifically talking about the Boccieri grip, NOT the other counter-balance weight kits that allow you to move weight down into the shaft more. The Boccieri grip has a fixed 17 gram weight at the very end of the grip (therefore the shaft), in addition to the heavy rubber grip weight total.
The other aspect of the counter-balance that is not mentioned is the fact that it also makes the shaft play much much stiffer. That probably won’t help people that need a softer, more whippier transition as the counterweight will take that away.
Jason
Sep 5, 2014 at 9:44 pm
Why shouldn’t I just by the tour lock stuff counterweight system? When these grips are ready to be changed, do I throw the grip and weight away? If I bought the tour lock system , I could make the weight investment once, and choose any grip I want.
Jeffcb
Sep 5, 2014 at 9:06 pm
I tried them and what I noticed is that they slow my hands down. I like to hit a draw but with the weights it was harder for me personally to release correctly. Nicklaus hit a fade, Hogan struggled with a hook, both good reasons why back weighting might be beneficial to slow one’s hands. Just wasn’t for me.
Kevin
Sep 5, 2014 at 5:49 pm
Tom,
How does the counter weights effect your wedges in trajectory and distance ? Also if one was installed on a driver how may this effect the ball flight ? I tend to create a 3400/3500 spin rate with a driver
Tom Stickney
Sep 5, 2014 at 7:02 pm
It feels more stable to me personally but that’s only my opinion. I’ve noticed no changes in yardage.
Snowman
Sep 5, 2014 at 5:47 pm
I rigged a very heavy ~80 gram counter weight into my putter and like it very much. Interested in trying in some other clubs (not 80 grams), but grips are already too expensive in my opinion and I am a dedicated player that regroups at least twice a year. $12 is way high!.. + call it vanity or whatever, I do not want to play a grip that has “Secret Grip” plastered on it. I’ll buy some weights and do it myself.
Side note: great grip for the price: Lamkin X10, very similar to GP Tour velvet and significantly less expensive.
Snowman
Sep 5, 2014 at 5:49 pm
I also regrip twice a year……
Tom Stickney
Sep 5, 2014 at 7:03 pm
Try tourlock.com
steve
Sep 5, 2014 at 5:37 pm
Why use the Secret Grip, like said in the article this is nothing new. Why not just add weight to the butt end and use the grip you want
pilot25
Sep 5, 2014 at 5:20 pm
$12 per grip!! No thanks unless they last 2 seasons.
Chuck
Sep 5, 2014 at 4:48 pm
I’m very interested in counterweighting and especially in counterbalanced shafts.
I appreciate all that Boccieri is doing. As well as other manufacturers and club builders.
Great to hear the news (new news to me) that Boccieri is working with Lamkin.
My grip of choice is a .580 Lamkin Crossline; rib version. THAT is why I would never use one of the current Boccieri products; they ARE ALL ROUND GRIPS!
I have always been mystified why there are so few rib-model grips on the market. Dear OEM’s: among all of your exotic designs, colors, et cetera, just start all of your choices, please, with a rib-versus-round option.
PM
Sep 5, 2014 at 2:21 pm
I use the grips now for more than 6 months and I love them. I strike the balls better than before and my putting has improved amazingly. I really can recommend them to everybody.
You don’t have to live in the US as Boccieri ships them all over the world. Sorry to see so many negative comments from people who not even have tried them. It says more about them than the grips.
nikkyd
Sep 5, 2014 at 2:21 pm
I just make my own slugs out of melted down bullets i find in gravel pits. Cheaper,custom and more adjustable (fun too) Pretty boys buy 20$ grips. Good for them! They keep the companies in business!
adam
Sep 5, 2014 at 3:47 pm
Restate that please: “pretty dumb boys” pay $20/grip. Look for deals and you’ll find them. I paid $57 CAD shipped for 5-pw.
Jeff
Sep 5, 2014 at 2:05 pm
Line 1 Resurgent counterbalancing or resurgence of counterbalancing. Not resurgence counterbalance.
Shawn
Sep 5, 2014 at 1:56 pm
$13 for a grip just sounds high. $169 just to regrip is a little steep to me.
PaloAltoPlaya
Sep 5, 2014 at 1:27 pm
I’ve tried this grip at my club on a Miura MB001 9 iron- the pro asked me to take a couple swings with it. He didn’t let on anything about the grip I just figured he wanted me to try his new blades. I hit a couple of balls with it and said, no offense but my Mizunos blades feel a hell of a lot better than these Miuras. I then hit the 7 iron with stock Pure grip…yeah that’s more like it.
You guys getting paid to write favorable articles?!? Uneffinbelievable!
Tom Stickney
Sep 5, 2014 at 7:04 pm
I get paid zero! They didn’t work for me in my irons thus the reason why I use them only in my wedges.
steve
Sep 5, 2014 at 7:50 pm
You use different grips in your wedges? I kinda like using the same grip through out.
Chuck
Sep 5, 2014 at 8:59 pm
I use rib grips in Driver-PW and round grips in my 52-Gap wedge and my 59-Sand/lob wedge.
Lamkin Crossline ribs/rounds. They match perfectly.
I do this because I prefer rib grips, but I tilt “open” my 52 occasionally, and my 59 often.
Ed
Sep 5, 2014 at 1:26 pm
This isn’t anything new.. Sergio has been doing this for a while (I know I’ve seen pics on this site even)
I counter balanced my putter years ago to quiet the hands at takeaway.. same principle here in all clubs I suppose..
It’s a great idea to bring mainstream but it’s nothing new. Tour pros have known about this for w while..
Chuck
Sep 5, 2014 at 4:43 pm
I think we all know that, Ed, and that this article specifically acknowledged the practice dating back to “Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus.”
I frankly don’t get your point.
steve
Sep 5, 2014 at 7:48 pm
Frankly he means you dont need to buy the secret grip to get the job done.
Scooter McGavin
Sep 5, 2014 at 1:11 pm
I don’t understand the opening sentence/question. Every major OEM already markets counterbalancing. They all have counterbalanced putters. Ping’s TFC wood shafts are “high balance point”, which is the same general idea as counterbalancing – moving the cg closer to the hands. Only discussing Boccieri the way it’s done here just makes it a Boccieri commercial. Did Boccieri pay for this ad?
Kevin
Sep 5, 2014 at 1:02 pm
Unfortunately not available in the UK as usual. Tried last year and couldn’t get anyone to post one over.
dot dot
Sep 5, 2014 at 12:49 pm
Bocceri website states “97% preferred the secret grip over a conventional grip” Ya, I’m thinking that’s just a wee bit overstated. If they are going to lie at least make it believable.
MC
Sep 5, 2014 at 1:06 pm
Agreed. I’ve done Secret grips for more than a few customers and 100% have gone away from them.