Weighted golf grip

Abstract

A grip assembly comprising a grip body that extends between an upper butt end and a distal end. The grip body has a topside and a pair of sides that extend from the topside to a rear underside. The grip body defines a bore extending between the upper butt end and the distal end. The rear underside of the grip body defines a surface and a channel in the surface. An outer wrap permanently encases around an entire circumference of the grip body along a portion of a length of the grip body.

Claims

1. A grip assembly comprising: a grip body extending between an upper butt end and a distal end, and the grip body has a topside and a pair of sides extending from the topside to a rear underside; the grip body defining a bore extending between the upper butt end and the distal end; the rear underside of the grip body defining a surface and a channel in the surface; wherein an outer wrap permanently encases around an entire circumference of the grip body along a portion of a length of the grip body; and a rod disposed in the channel, wherein the rod is integrally formed with the grip body.

2. A grip assembly comprising: a grip body extending between an upper butt end and a distal end, and the grip body has a topside and a pair of sides extending from the topside to a rear underside; the grip body defining a bore extending between the upper butt end and the distal end; the rear underside of the grip body defining a surface and a channel in the surface; wherein an outer wrap permanently encases around an entire circumference of the grip body along a portion of a length of the grip body, wherein the grip body and outer wrap define a first volume of material having a first weight.

3. The grip assembly of claim 2, wherein the channel is spaced approximately 15 mm or more from a center of the bore.

4. The grip assembly of claim 3, wherein the rod is permanently attached to the grip body.

5. The grip assembly of claim 3, further comprising an end cap portion connected to the upper butt end of the grip body.

6. The grip assembly of claim 3, wherein the grip body and the outer wrap define a first volume of material having a first weight.

7. The grip assembly of claim 6, wherein the rod defines a second volume of material having a second weight.

8. The grip assembly of claim 7, wherein the first volume of material and the second volume of material comprises a total volume and a total weight of the grip, and the first volume of material is approximately 90% of the total volume and the second volume of material is approximately 10% of the total volume.

9. The grip assembly of claim 7, wherein the second weight is greater than the first weight.

10. The grip assembly of claim 7, wherein the second weight is between approximately 50 and 170 grams.

11. The grip assembly of claim 7, wherein the second weight is greater than 65 grams.

12. The grip assembly of claim 2, wherein the first weight is approximately 60 grams.

13. The grip assembly of claim 12, wherein approximately 45 grams of the first weight defines a weight of the grip body.

14. The grip assembly of claim 12, approximately 15 grams of the first weight defines a weight of the outer wrap.

15. A grip assembly comprising: a grip body extending between an upper butt end and a distal end, and the grip body has a topside and a pair of sides extending from the topside to a rear underside; the grip body defining a bore extending between the upper butt end and the distal end; the rear underside of the grip body defining a surface and a channel in the surface; wherein an outer wrap permanently encases around an entire circumference of the grip body along a portion of a length of the grip body; a rod disposed in the channel, wherein the grip body and the outer wrap define a first volume of material having a first weight, wherein the rod defines a second volume of material having a second weight, wherein the grip body is of a material 50 to 85 times lighter per cubic inch than the rod.

16. A grip assembly comprising: a grip body extending between an upper butt end and a distal end, and the grip body has a topside and a pair of sides extending from the topside to a rear underside; the grip body defining a bore extending between the upper butt end and the distal end; the rear underside of the grip body defining a surface and a channel in the surface; wherein an outer wrap permanently encases around an entire circumference of the grip body along a portion of a length of the grip body; a rod disposed in the channel, wherein the grip body and the outer wrap define a first volume of material having a first weight, wherein the rod defines a second volume of material having a second weight, wherein at least 70% of the total weight of the grip assembly is below the center of the bore.

17. A grip assembly comprising: a grip body extending between an upper butt end and a distal end, and the grip body has a topside and a pair of sides extending from the topside to a rear underside; the grip body defining a bore extending between the upper butt end and the distal end; the rear underside of the grip body defining a surface and a channel in the surface; an outer wrap permanently encasing an entire circumference of the grip body along a portion of a length of the grip body, and the grip body and the outer wrap defining a first volume of material having a first weight; a rod disposed in the channel and defining a second volume of material having a second weight; and the first volume and the second volume comprising the total volume of the grip, and the first volume being at least 90% of the total volume, and the second weight is greater than the first weight.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates an assembled golf grip of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the golf grip of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view of the golf grip of FIG. 1 with an outer wrap removed.

(5) FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

(6) FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the grip assembled on a putter type golf club.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

(7) The drawings FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate a first embodiment of a putter type golf grip 100 in accordance with the present invention. As seen in the exploded view of FIG. 2, the golf grip is formed with a light weight, grip body 102, end cap 104 and an outer, over layer wrap 106. The grip 100 includes an upper section or top side 108 and sides 110 extend from the upper section 108 to a rear underside 112 that forms a rearward part of the grip 110. The grip body 102 includes an elongated bore 114 that serves as a shaft encasing, grip opening when the grip 100 is mounted on the shaft of a golf club. The elongated bore 114 is open at a distal end 116 of the grip 100 opposite the end cap 104 to receive the golf club shaft when the grip 100 is connected to a golf club shaft. The grip body 102 is formed of with a channel 118 at the rear underside 112 of the grip body 102.

(8) The outer wrap 106 that forms the outermost layer of the grip 100 may include various gripping patterns and/or distinguishing material such as logos and trademarks. It will be appreciated that the outer layer wrap 106 may be eliminated, for example as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, whereby the outer layers of the grip body 102 form the outermost areas of the grip 100.

(9) Typically, the grip body 102 is a unitary member including the end cap 104 and the outer wrap 106 that is attached after the grip body 102 is formed by adhesive or a similar connecting means. The outer wrap 106 has a preferable weight of 15 grams.

(10) In a preferred embodiment, the grip body 102 is made of a low density, light material such as light weight foam material or synthetic polymer compound such as EVA foam. A typical, normal sized grip body will weigh approximately 40 grams.

(11) A weight member 120, such as a metal rod made of a material having a significantly heavier density, such as lead, steel or other heavy material, is sized to fit into the opening formed by the channel 118 formed into the rear underside 112 of the grip.

(12) The weight member 120 will weigh between 50 and 120 grams; preferably at least 65 grams. Thus, the weight member 120 represents at least one half and preferably slightly more than the total weight of the remaining parts of the grip 100 while being only approximately 10% of the total volume of the grip 100. It follows a great portion of the entire weight of the grip 100 is concentrated at the rear bottom location of the grip 100 such that the underside section 112 tends to gravitate downwardly due to the force of gravity when the grip 100 is permitted to freely assume a rest position without manipulation by a golfer's hands.

(13) As shown in FIG. 3, the weight member 120, in the form of a heavy rod, extends from just under the closed upper butt end 114 at least 80% of the entire distance between the end cap 104 and the lower distal end 116 of the grip 100.

(14) Typically, the grip 100 is made in a tapered configuration, becoming smaller toward the distal end 116. At an upper end of the grip adjacent the end cap 104, the grip 100 has a thickness of approximately 1.25 inches between the front 108 and the lower rear 112. As the grip 100 tapers toward the distal end 116 the thickness approaches 1.00 inch. In the preferred embodiment described above, the weight member 120 is located approximately 0.5 inches from a golf club shaft when the grip 100 is assembled on a golf club. This distance defines a moment arm that in combination with the weight member 120 creates a MOI value that is significant to overcome any natural tendency of the golf club to turn or twist as it is moved during a putting stroke.

(15) It will be appreciated that the size and material of the weight member 120 will vary the MOI of the golf grip 100. For example, if the thickness of grip is greater, a lesser weight is necessary to achieve the same MOI. It follows that using a same weight member 120 will create a greater MOI when located at an outer location of a larger or thicker grip. Increasing the weight of the weight member 120 either by making it larger or using more dense material also increases the MOI of the grip.

(16) Referring to FIG. 5, a golf grip 100 in accordance with the present invention is shown assembled on a putter having a shaft s and a putter head p including a striking face that engages a golf ball during the execution of a putting stroke.

(17) As shown in FIG. 5, a line drawn directly through the center of the elongated bore 114 is parallel to the striking face of the putter head p when the grip 100 is properly aligned and installed on the putter shaft s. The increased MOI of the grip 100 aids the golfer to maintain the putter striking face at a square position perpendicular to an intended target direction.

(18) Various modifications may be made to the above described invention in keeping with the following claims.