If you really want your bar tape to feel more like grips, slice open an old inner tube (the long way) and wrap your bars with that first, then cover it with some Lizard Skins bar tape.
http://lizardskins.com/products/view...&page_number=1
For real. There's an older raodie who frequently gets his bike tuned up at the shop where I'm a tech who swears by it and it seems super comfy.