This picture illustrates the difference between a comfortable grip and an uncomfortable one. I don't know who makes the new synthetic grips for S&W, but they look cheap and feel awkward in the hand. Hogue, Pachmayr, and even the old Uncle Mike's grips are all much more comfortable.

I always wondered how S&W choose rubber grips. For a long time, it seemed that most L and N frame revolvers shipped with Hogue Monogrips. J and K frames shipped with Uncle Mike's. The one exception was the 625 Model of 1989, which always seemed to have Pachmayr Grippers.