Not necessarily less grip, just smoother so you hand can move on the handle and not be "locked" as it is when you have a really good "friction" material to hang onto. I don't really understand why "they" say that but that is what I have read. I guess maybe your hand will let the handle pivot more without relaxing your grip than it would if the handle were "grippy".

I must say I don't know that I agree with them on this but never having used a machete for any extended period of time, I don't really have any extensive background from which to speak.