Golf Grip.

[John Llewellyn]

Anyone know who discovered the first rubber golf grip and when?

 

[the_coach]

thomas l. Fawick ... around 1949/50

 

[John Llewellyn]

If you look on the attached link you will see a report from 1896 mentioning a rubber grip.
http://golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=421

 

[the_coach]

didn't exactly fly into production from 1896 then 😊 - inserted inside the shaft & presumably rolled over - & never seen again

not exactly the same compound rubber & design as the patented rubber grip with the more conventional fitting

 

[Foxholer]

Check the 3rd paragraph of this article.

https://www.golfshake.com/news/view/6949/Get_a_grip_Leather_v_Rubber.html

 

[the_coach]

Golf Pride[SUP]®[/SUP] was founded in 1949 by the resourceful Thomas L. Fawick, an industrialist and inventor from Cleveland, Ohio, who also happened to be a golf enthusiast. Fawick, inventor of the pneumatic clutch and brake, came upon the notion — quite by coincidence — that rubber might be a superior alternative to leather for golf grips, by providing a more secure and durable gripping surface. Eager to get his new concept moving, Fawick immediately entered into a manufacturing agreement with the Akron, Ohio—based Westgate Rubber Company, which was owned by two men of uncommon talent and foresight, Bill Junker and Jim Karns. Early on the trade name “Golf Pride” was chosen, inspired by the name of a popular motor oil of the time, “Gulf Pride.”

In the early years popularity of Golf Pride grips grew steadily. Not only did the new rubber grip provide improved feel and durability, but also offered other helpful benefits. It was lighter in weight than traditional leather grips, absorbed shock more effectively, and provided a more positive, high-traction gripping surface.
The big breakthrough came in 1953, with the introduction of the first “slip-on” grip. And while the technology seems simple today, it was a major development at the time. The impact of the slip-on grip on Golf Pride was significant and lasting, but it was no less profound on golf club manufacturers. Convenience of the new slip-on grip immediately changed the lead-time and economics in manufacturing golf clubs. It also made grip replacement a staple service in golf shops, as a quick and inexpensive way for golfers to update their equipment.

By the mid-1950’s, a number of golf club manufacturers had switched to the slip-on grip, seeking the advantages of its convenience and economy, but Golf Pride was already a rising force in the world of golf. Golf Pride received a tremendous boost in 1958, when Tommy Bolt – who had been signed as a professional endorser along with Wally Ulrich and Chick Harbert – posted an impressive four-stroke Victory in the U.S. Open — the first win in a “major” by a player using the new slip-on grip.
By the 1960’s, the slip-on rubber grip had proven itself at every level of usage, on the club assembly floor, in the club repair shop, at tour and other competitive golf events, and among golfers in general.