Two of the biggest players in the grip market will now be as close as an interlocking grip. Superstroke, the leader in putter grips for the better part of the last decade, announced Monday that it has purchased Lamkin Grips, the venerable family-owned rubber grip manufacturer that started nearly 100 years ago when it essentially initiated the leather grip business.

The announcement elevates SuperStroke, a company known for its groundbreaking oversized synthetic putter grips first introduced in 2009 that led to an array of styles and designs. Originally a mammoth rubber and metal design that gained notoriety after its use by K.J. Choi, the SuperStroke grip platform switched to a polyurethane and EVA foam construction that today encompasses more than 50 varieties, led by its new Zenergy line. According to the company, which is headquartered near Detroit, SuperStroke grips have been used to win more than half a billion dollars in PGA Tour events.

SuperStroke, which also has developed a much smaller full-swing grip business over the years, now gains the strength of Lamkin’s historic position as the No. 2 grip company in all of golf, behind perennial industry leader Golf Pride. Lamkin’s history began with leather grips in 1925 and included being famously attached to Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus and their leather grips in the 1960s. But the company transitioned to the rubber grip market and in the last few decades has produced some notable material innovations in the rubber grip space with materials like Genesis and Ace, and including industry favorites like the Crossline, UT and Sonar full-swing grips and SinkFit and Deep Etched putter grips. Originally based in Chicago, Lamkin moved to San Diego

“We have always had the utmost respect for how the Lamkin family has put the needs and benefits of the golfer first in their grip designs,” said Dean Dingman, SuperStroke CEO. “If there is a grip company that is most aligned with SuperStroke’s commitment to uncompromised research, design, and development to put the most useful performance tools in the hands of golfers, Lamkin has been that brand. It is an honor to bring Lamkin’s wealth of product innovation into the SuperStroke family.”

Monday’s announcement did not specify whether the Lamkin business will remain its own entity after the purchase. No details on the purchase were disclosed, although longtime Lamkin owner CEO Bob Lamkin will continue to serve as a board member and will remain involved in the company.

“SuperStroke has become one of the most proven, well-operated, and pioneering brands in golf grips and we could not be more confident that the Lamkin legacy, brand, and technology is in the best of hands to continue to innovate and lead under the guidance of Dean Dingman and his remarkably capable team,” Lamkin said.

This article was originally published on golfdigest.com