US20070259732A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20070259732A1
Application number: US11/548,634
Authority: US
Inventors: David Billings; Hank Haney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-10-11
Filing date: 2006-10-11
Publication date: 2007-11-08

Abstract

An ergonomically designed golf club grip including a butt portion which is raised above the axis of the shaft of the club, on the side of the axis closest to the club head toe, to facilitate a proper hand position on the club. The grip is preferably held in the lifeline of the palm of the upper hand, which produces a straighter wrist position and a freer release of the club through the hitting area and follow through.

Description

PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/725,558, filed Oct. 11, 2005, from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/467,160, filed Aug. 24, 2006, and from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/792,181, filed Apr. 14, 2006, pending, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to golf clubs and, more particularly, to an ergonomically shaped golf club grip and its method of use.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, a significant amount of attention has been given by golf club grip manufacturers to golf club grip materials and manufacturing techniques intended to increase the traction and improve the tactile feel of those components used in golf clubs. However, the overall exterior geometry and shapes offered by these major grip manufacturers are usually very similar to if not almost entirely unchanged from previous designs and shapes used for many, many decades.

Golf club grips are generally either designed for full swing golf clubs, such as drivers, woods, irons and wedges, or they are designed for putters. This is due to regulation by the USGA and the Royal & Ancient of St. Andrews (R&A), the governing bodies of the game of golf, of the shapes permissible under their Rules for full swing clubs and for putters. Rules for putter grips allow various shapes, including features deviating from the Rules mandating that full swing clubs be generally round and concentric to the shaft. Therefore, putter grips are typically and historically more complex, and designed with the intent to allow both a comfortable grip and more consistent putter alignment than a round grip. Nonetheless, the major grip manufacturers have not offered many new shapes for putters or full swing clubs as they have developed their new materials, but rather continue to replicate or even duplicate older and traditional grip shapes.

Traditional shapes for putters include such styles as the pistol grip, the arched grip and the paddle grip and various derivations and combinations of those styles. These shapes yield putter grips that are familiar to experienced users, but offer no new advantages for the user in performing an improved and/or more consistent putting stroke.

Therefore, there is a need for a golf club grip with an ergonomically designed shape that naturally promotes a more natural stroke and release of the club, improving the accuracy, consistency, success and enjoyment of the golfer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates an exterior side view of a golf club in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, as it is held by the golfer;

FIG. 1B illustrates an exterior side view of a reverse arch golf club in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, showing the relative position of the club head, as it is held by the golfer;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exterior side elevation of a prior art golf club grip as held by a golfer;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exterior side elevation of a golf club in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional end view taken along the line4-4 of the golf club depicted inFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates an exterior side elevation of a golf club in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a sectional end view taken along the line6-6 of the golf club depicted inFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 illustrates an exterior side elevation of a golf club in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a sectional end view taken along the line8-8 of the golf club depicted inFIG. 7;

FIG. 9 illustrates an exterior side elevation of a golf club in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a sectional end view taken along the line10-10 of the golf club depicted inFIG. 9;

FIG. 11 illustrates an exterior side elevation of a golf club in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 illustrates a sectional end view taken along the line12-12 of the golf club depicted inFIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS. 1A and 1B of the drawings, thereference numeral100 generally designates a golf club embodying features of certain aspects of the present invention. Thegolf club100 has agrip101, depicted as held by a golfer in the lifeline of the palm of theupper hand110, in the playing position, with astraight wrist112. Thegrip101 can generally comprise a tapered mainbody grip portion114, a butt or topend cap portion116, and a tip orbottom end portion118. Thegolf club grip101 is shown mounted on agolf club shaft120 that forms a part ofgolf club100. As depicted inFIG. 1B, thegolf club100 also has aclub head102 having aheel103 and atoe104. The centerline of the shaft axis is shown as CL-S, while the centerline of the arched butt section is shown as CL-B.

FIG. 2 illustrates a typical priorart golf club200 having agrip201 as held by a golfer more in the fingers of thehand210 away from thepalm212. This illustrates the golfer's resultantbowed wrist214. If held in the lifeline of the hand, both the pistol or typical arched grip generally help keep the user's wrist straight, in a more direct line between the hand and forearm, because the lie angle of most putters is more upright than full swing clubs, as the golfer generally places the ball closer to his or her feet and putts from a more crouched position than full swing clubs. The flat wrist hand position is now known by the inventor and others experienced in the art of teaching and swing mechanics to allow the golfer to release the club more naturally through the contact and follow through, a natural action that is now favored by more of today's top teachers, instructors, coaches, top amateur and professional golfers.

However, the vast majority of golfers tend to grasp these pistol or arched grips more in the fingers of the left hand, instead of the lifeline, as this is where they are taught to, and are used to holding the club for all their full swing clubs. Holding the arched or pistol putter grip in the fingers causes the golfer to arch or bow his or her wrist to compensate for the change in hand position on the more upright lie of the putter shaft. During the putting stroke, an arched or bowed wrist inhibits the free, natural flow of the hand and wrist during the putting stroke, especially during the critical approach to and through the contact area and during the follow through. This inhibited wrist position and related stroking motion can results in a “push,” where the wrist is inhibited from completely releasing, causing the blade to remain open and directing the ball at contact to the right of the intended target line or, for the right handed golfer with the bowed left wrist, can “pull” the putt by over-compensating for the lack of release of the hands and the putter, which over-rotates the left wrist and thus pulls the putter to the left, causing the ball to travel left of the intended target line.

While many golf teaching professionals, instructors and the like have tried to teach the advantageous lifeline hand grip position, the arch or pistol shaped grips work against this teaching as the lower pistol portion falls naturally more towards or in the fingers for most golfers. Since these golfers are used to holding their full swing clubs in this manner, they usually or automatically revert to this way of holding the putter.

FIG. 3 illustrates an elevation view of thegrip101, viewed with thetoe104 of theclub head102 above the centerline CL-S. As can be seen, thebutt end107 of theclub grip101 is wider above the centerline CL-S (that is, closer to thetoe104 of the club head102) than it is below the centerline CL-S (i.e., closer to theheel103 of the club head102). Also, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, thegolf club grip101 of thegolf club100 has an upperarched portion105 and the enlarged upper, or elevated,portion107 ofbutt portion106 of thegrip101. Theclub100 has a smallerlower portion108 ofbutt portion106 of thegrip101, on the side of centerline CL-S that is closest to theheel103 of theclub head102. Thegolf club grip101 of thegolf club100 further can have a lowerarched side109 that is arched in the same direction as upperarched portion105, but with a somewhat lesser arch (i.e., as somewhat greater arch radius).

FIG. 4, which illustrates a sectional view4-4 of an embodiment wherein the upper, or elevated,portion107 ofbutt portion106 of thegrip101 on the top of the grip designed for a putter is generally flat and has a generallyrounded side108 on the opposite side. As can be seen, the portion of thebutt end116 has an enlarged upper, or elevated,portion107 ofbutt portion106 of thegrip101.

FIG. 5 illustrates an elevation view of another embodiment including agrip101′, viewed with thetoe104′ of theclub head102′ above the centerline CL-S. As can be seen, thebutt end106′ of the club grip is wider above the centerline CL-S (i.e., closer to thetoe104′ of theclub head102′) than it is below the centerline CL-S (i.e., closer to theheel103′ of theclub head102′). Also, in accordance with one embodiment, thegolf club grip101′ of thegolf club100′ has an upperarched portion105′ and the enlarged upper, or elevated,portion107′ ofbutt portion106′ of thegrip101′. Thegrip101′ has a smallerlower portion108′ ofbutt portion106′ of thegrip101′, on the side of centerline CL-S that is closest to theheel103′ of theclub head102′. In this embodiment, however, thelower side109′ is generally straight, rather than arched.

FIG. 6, which illustrates a sectional view6-6 of an embodiment wherein the upper, or elevated,portion107′ ofbutt portion106′ of thegrip101′ on the top of the grip designed for a putter is generally flat and has a generallyrounded side108′ on the opposite side. As can be seen, the portion of thebutt end106′ includes an enlarged upper, or elevated,portion107′ ofbutt portion106′ of thegrip101′.

The

upper portion

107 and107′ of the club grips101 and101′, respectively, need not be flat, is illustrated inFIGS. 3-5. In yet another embodiment, depicted inFIGS. 7 and 8, thegrip101″ is generally oval in cross section. Thegolf club grip101″ of thegolf club100″ still has an upperarched portion105″ and the enlarged upper, or elevated,portion107″ ofbutt portion106″ of thegrip101″. Theclub100″ has a smallerlower portion108″ ofbutt portion106″ of thegrip101″, on the side of centerline CL-S that is closest to theheel103″ of theclub head102″. In this embodiment, however, thelower side109″ is generally straight, rather than arched.

In another embodiment, illustrated inFIGS. 9 and 10, theupper portion107′″ of thegrip101′″ is generally round in cross section. Thegolf club grip101′″ of thegolf club100′″ still has an upperarched portion105′″ and the enlarged upper, or elevated,portion107′″ ofbutt portion106′″ of thegrip101′″. Theclub100″ has a smallerlower portion108′″ ofbutt portion106′″ of thegrip101′″, on the side of centerline CL-S that is closest to theheel103′″ of theclub head102′″. Thelower side109′″ can be arched.

In another embodiment, illustrated inFIGS. 11 and 12, thelower portion108″″ of thegrip101″″ is generally flat. Thegolf club grip101″″ of thegolf club100″″ still has an upperarched portion105″″ and the enlarged upper, or elevated,portion107″″ ofbutt portion106″″ of thegrip101″″. Theclub100″″ has a smallerlower portion108″″ ofbutt portion106″″ of thegrip101″″, on the side of centerline CL-S that is closest to theheel103″″ of theclub head102″″. In yet another embodiment the grip is wrapped in a leather or synthetic material. In yet another preferred embodiment the grip is milled.

There can also be different versions of the golf club that vary to a degree in certain characteristics, such as identifying marks, logos, proper hand placement guides, size, weight or center of gravity. However, in other respects, the club will still have a raised butt area above the centerline CL-S, which can be achieved by a reverse arch or a reverse pistol shape.

Combinations of any or all of the afore-mentioned patterns may be applied to various parts of the grip as desired. Standard grip patterns can be duplicated, for example: a wrap pattern mimicking the shape of a leather-wrapped grip, including ridges wrapped diagonally and holes or indentations replicating perforations, and the like. Holes can also be formed in the grip pattern to reduce weight. Such holes can also be filled with materials such as rubber, plastic, epoxy, cork, leather, synthetics and the like for increased traction, or the hollow grip can have holes placed into a co-mold to then cast or inject rubber, plastic, Delrin or other injectable, castable or moldable materials into and through the openings for an integrated two or multi-material grip.

Particular attention should be used to design and manufacture grips that conform to the Rules of Golf as determined by the United States Golf Association and the Royal and Ancient of St. Andrews, golf's two main governing bodies which dictate those rules and make decisions on new equipment's conformity.

The invention also provides a method of hitting a golf ball with a golf club built in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, such that the golfer holds the inventive grip in the lifeline of the palm of the upper hand, and swings at the ball. The foregoing grip and swing using the club in accordance with the present invention produces a straighter wrist position and a freer release of the club through the hitting area and follow through.

It is understood that the present invention can take many forms and embodiments. Accordingly, several variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the present invention by reference to certain of its preferred embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments disclosed are illustrative rather than limiting in nature and that a wide range of variations, modifications, changes, and substitutions are contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and, in some instances, some features of the present invention may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Many such variations and modifications may be considered obvious and desirable by those skilled in the art based upon a review of the foregoing description of preferred embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A golf club, comprising:

a club head having a toe and a heel,

a shaft,

a grip comprising a body portion, a butt portion and a tip portion wherein the butt portion is wider above the centerline of the shaft of the golf club, on the side of the axis of the shaft closest to the toe of the club head, than below the centerline.

2. The golf club grip ofclaim 1, wherein the butt portion is raised on an inclined arch.

3. The golf club grip ofclaim 2, wherein the middle portion of the grip is lower from the shaft than the butt or tip portion.

4. The golf club grip ofclaim 2, wherein the grip features one or more flat paddle sections orientated lengthwise.

5. The golf club grip ofclaim 2, wherein a flat paddle section is on the top of the grip.

6. The golf club grip ofclaim 1, wherein the butt portion of the grip is raised as with an upside-down pistol shape.

7. The golf club grip ofclaim 1, made of rubber or synthetic material.

8. The golf club grip ofclaim 1, composed of a relatively rigid material.

9. The golf club grip ofclaim 1, made of rubber wrapped in leather or other material.

10. The golf club grip ofclaim 1, wherein the body portion and the tip portion are machined from a single piece of stock.

11. The golf club grip ofclaim 1, wherein the body portion and the tip portion are cast as a unit to a near-net shape.

12. The golf club grip ofclaim 1, wherein the body portion includes a textured surface.

13. The golf club grip ofclaim 12, wherein the textured surface includes troughs, grooves or dimples.

14. The golf club grip ofclaim 1, wherein the body portion and the tip portion are milled.

15. The golf club grip ofclaim 1, wherein the body portion and the tip portion are hydro-formed.

16. The golf club grip ofclaim 1, wherein the tip portion includes an alignment mark.

17. The golf club grip ofclaim 1, wherein the butt portion includes an alignment mark.