The Golf Pride MCC Plus 4 is consistently one of the best-selling grips in golf. But what does MCC Plus 4 actually mean, and what difference does it make to your shots? This is a grip designed with a specific philosophy in mind: to encourage lighter grip pressure and promote more power. We'll break down the technology behind the MCC Plus 4, explain exactly what the Plus 4 design does for your swing, and define the type of player who can benefit most from it.
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What Exactly Is the Golf Pride MCC Plus 4?
At its heart, the MCC Plus 4 is a hybrid grip. This means it combines two different materials into one design to deliver specific performance benefits for each hand. Think of it as getting the best of both worlds in a single grip. If you want to learn more about the fundamentals of holding the club, check out our guide on how to grip a golf club.
Here’s the breakdown:
The upper hand section is made from Golf Pride’s exclusive Brushed Cotton Cord (BCC). This is a firm, textured material designed to provide maximum surface toughness and incredible all-weather performance. If you play in the heat, humidity, or get caught in the rain, this corded section wicks moisture away and gives a non-slip feel for a secure hold on the club. This is where you connect to the club for stability.
The lower hand section is a much softer, high-performance rubber compound. This is the “feel” part of the grip. It offers enhanced responsiveness and touch, which is what you need for finesse around the greens and controlling the clubface through impact.
When you put them together, you have a grip that provides firmness and control where you generate leverage (your top hand) and soft feedback where you control touch (your bottom hand). The name itself tells the story: MCC stands for "Multi-Compound Cord," acknowledging these two different zones of material.
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The Core Feature: Understanding the "Plus 4" Technology
"Plus 4" is the real game-changer here, and it’s based on a common practice among tour pros and avid golfers. For decades, players would ask club builders to add extra layers of tape under the lower half of their grips. The standard request? Four extra wraps of tape.
So, Golf Pride decided to build that bigger lower section directly into the grip design. The "Plus 4" signifies that the lower part of the grip is equivalent in size to a standard grip that has four extra wraps of tape. This creates a reduced-taper profile, meaning the grip doesn’t get as thin towards the bottom as a traditional grip does.
But why would a golfer want a thicker lower hand section? It all comes down to grip pressure.
Benefit 1: Lighter Grip Pressure
From a coaching perspective, excessive grip pressure is one of the most significant power and consistency killers in golf. When golfers squeeze the club too tight, especially with their lower (trail) hand, they introduce tension that travels up their forearms into their shoulders, and wrecks the entire sequence of the golf swing.
A thinner grip often encourages the fingers of the lower hand to dig in and squeeze. The larger diameter of the Plus 4 comfortably fills the hand, promoting a more relaxed, "palm-based" hold. This lighter pressure allows for a fluid, tension-free swing, letting you generate speed naturally instead of trying to "muscle" the ball.
Benefit 2: Promoting More Power
This follows directly from lighter grip pressure. An overactive lower hand tries to ‘hit’ at the ball, disrupting the natural rotation of your body and the release of the clubhead. Think of your hands as the connection, but your body torso as the real engine of the swing.
By quieting the lower hand, the MCC Plus 4 encourages you to use your big muscles - your back, shoulders, and hips - to power the swing. It makes it easier to let the hands be passive and just hold on for the ride. This results in a better sequence, a wider swing arc, and ultimately, more clubhead speed. Discover more ways to increase power in your golf swing without swinging any harder. It smooths out the whole process, letting the power come from the right source.
Who Should Use the MCC Plus 4 Grip?
While this grip can technically work for anyone, it’s particularly well-suited for a few distinct types of players. See if you recognize yourself in any of these descriptions.
The Golfer Trying to Reduce Tension
If you constantly feel like you're "strangling" the golf club, this grip is designed for you. If your forearms are tight at the address or your knuckles are white, you’re holding on too tight. The Plus 4’s larger lower profile makes it easier to achieve a secure hold without excessive pressure, acting as a built-in reminder to relax your hands and swing freely.
The Golfer Playing in All Weather Conditions
This is a no-brainer. The cord in the upper section is outstanding in wet or humid conditions. If you live somewhere with hot summers, have sweaty hands, or aren’t afraid of a little rain, the MCC Plus 4 provides unmatched grip security when conditions get slick. You can swing with confidence, knowing the club isn’t going to twist or slip in your hands. For tips on maintaining your grips, learn how to clean golf grips.
Players with Larger Hands or Arthritis
For golfers with larger hands, a standard tapered grip can feel tiny, forcing them to apply extra pressure to feel in control. The MCC Plus 4 Midsize or even the Standard version provides a much more comfortable and substantial feel. Similarly, golfers suffering from arthritis often find that the larger, softer lower section reduces the strain on their finger joints, making the game more enjoyable.
The Player Looking To Promote a More Neutral Hand Action
Here’s a deeper coaching insight. A heavily tapered grip can sometimes encourage an overactive trail hand action, leading it to 'flip' over too quickly and cause hooks. Conversely, the uniform profile of the Plus 4 can promote what feels like a more "unified" release, where both hands work together instead of fighting each other. For some players who struggle with a hook caused by a grabby lower hand, this grip can help calm that motion down and produce a straighter, more controlled ball flight.
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The dual-material design really shows its value across all the clubs in your bag.
With the Driver and Woods: When you're swinging for maximum power, the firm cord in the upper hand is phenomenal. It gives you a connected, stable feeling at the top of your swing and lets you rotate hard without any fear of the club moving around.
With the "score" irons: On approach shots, you feel the best of both worlds. The upper hand is still providing that stability needed for a full swing, but the softer lower portion gives you just enough feedback to feel an off-center hit and flight the ball with more control.
With the wedges: Around the green on little chips and pitches is a fantastic feeling. Having a larger, less tapered feel encourages players to remove any hand or wrist 'pop' action from a small chip or putt-style wedge. It reduces the chance of digging the leading edge of a wedge by encouraging a 'using the bounce' type shot which will only help with your consistency.
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The primary difference is the taper. The standard Golf Pride MCC grip has a traditional profile, it’s thick at the top and gets progressively thinner toward the bottom. The MCC Plus 4 has a significantly reduced taper. A player who grips down the club might feel like the lower portion is more like a cylinder. This is the whole point - to build up that lower hand area and mimic those four extra tape wraps.
Choose the Standard MCC if you prefer a traditional feel and more lower-hand feedback. Choose the MCC Plus 4 if you want to quiet your lower hand and reduce grip pressure.
Sizing for Your Game: Standard vs. Midsize
Both the Standard and Midsize MCC Plus 4 grips feature the same "Plus 4" technology. The main difference is the overall diameter. As a general rule: Can grip size affect your golf swing?
Standard: Fits most golfers who wear Men's Medium, Medium-Large, or glove fit
Midsize: A great choice for players wearing Men's Large or Extra-Large gloves, or for anyone who simply prefers a larger feel for added comfort or tension reduction.
When in doubt, it’s always best to get a feel in-hand at a local golf store with a couple of sizes to see what feels most natural in your hands.
Final Thoughts
The Golf Pride MCC Plus 4 isn't just a gimmick, it's a grip engineered to solve one of golf's most common swing faults - excessive grip tension. By combining a stability-focused cord in the upper hand and a soft, built-up rubber section in the lower hand, it promotes a lighter, more relaxed hold that allows for a smoother, easier, more powerful golf swing.
Once your equipment is dialed in to give you confidence, the next piece of the puzzle is having the confidence to pull the right club and hit the smart shot. To help with the on-course decisions when you're feeling stuck, we've designed Caddie AI. Our app acts as your personal golf expert, providing instant strategies for every hole or analyzing a tricky lie right from a photo. It takes the guesswork out of course management, so you can stand over every shot with the assurance that you're making the smartest play.
Spencer has been playing golf since he was a kid and has spent a lifetime chasing improvement. With over a decade of experience building successful tech products, he combined his love for golf and startups to create Caddie AI - the world's best AI golf app. Giving everyone an expert level coach in your pocket, available 24/7. Caddie's mission is simple: make world-class golf advice accessible to everyone, anytime.
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