PUTTER HAND GRIP AND RELATED METHOD

Abstract

A golf device for providing an interface for users to hand grip and stroke a putter is disclosed. The device may include a single hand grip, a split hand grip, or interchangeable geometries configured to allow the user to hold the putter in an individualized manner best-suited for producing a reliable, reproducible putting stroke.

Claims

1. A putter hand grip comprising: an upper hand grip comprising an elongated body of substantially uniform diameter along the length, having an upper end and a lower end with a central opening at the lower end to be slidable over the upper end of a putter shaft; wherein the lower end of the putter hand grip comprises at least one three-dimensional gripping structure.

2. The putter hand grip of claim 1 wherein the three-dimensional gripping structure comprises a hemisphere.

3. The putter hand grip of claim 1 wherein the three-dimensional gripping structure comprises a rounded taper.

4. The putter hand grip of claim 1 wherein the three-dimensional gripping structure comprises a spherical cap.

5. The putter hand grip of claim 1 wherein the three-dimensional gripping structure comprises an ellipsoidal cap.

6. The putter hand grip of claim 1 further comprising: a lower hand grip disposed a distance from the upper hand grip, wherein the upper hand grip is a shape selected from the group consisting of a hemisphere, a spherical cap, a rounded taper, and an ellipsoidal cap, wherein the lower hand grip is a shape having an upper rounded taper and a lower rounded taper.

7. A putter hand grip comprising: an upper hand grip comprising an elongated body having a length, an upper end, and a lower end with a central opening at the lower end slidable over the upper end of a putter shaft; wherein the lower end of the putter hand grip comprises at least one three-dimensional gripping structure.

8. The putter hand grip of claim 7 wherein the elongated body comprises a reverse taper.

9. The putter hand grip of claim of claim 7 wherein an upper cross-section of the upper hand grip comprises a semi-circle and a rectangular prism.

10. The putter hand grip of claim 9 wherein a lower of portion of the rectangular prism comprises a rounded taper.

11. A method of swinging a putter comprising providing a golf putter comprising a shaft, a putter head, a upper hand grip, and a lower hand grip, wherein the upper hand grip is disposed around the shaft, wherein the lower hand grip is disposed around the shaft, wherein the lower hand is grip disposed a distance from the upper hand grip, wherein the upper hand grip is a shape selected from the group consisting of a hemisphere, a spherical cap, a rounded taper, and an ellipsoidal cap, wherein the lower hand grip is a shape having an upper rounded taper and a lower rounded taper; placing a first hand on the upper hand grip; placing a second hand on the lower hand grip; and swinging the putter towards a golf ball.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in conjunction with the appended drawings. Like designations denote like elements, and:

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of a putter incorporating a hand grip constructed in accordance with the single hand grip embodiment of the present device;

[0017] FIG. 2 is a front view of the top portion of a putter incorporating a putter hand grip constructed in accordance with the double hand grip embodiment of the present apparatus;

[0018] FIG.3 is an oblique view of the top portion of a putter incorporating a putter hand grip in which the hand grip is formed in a non-cylindrical fashion while maintaining the rounded taper at the lower portion of the hand grip;

[0019] FIG. 4 is an oblique view of the top portion of a putter incorporating a putter hand grip constructed in accordance with the modular embodiment of the present system, again maintaining the rounded shape at the lower portion of the hand grip;

[0020] FIG. 5 is a top-down perspective of the same modular embodiment of the present system.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a schematic showing some measurements and measurement ranges for components of the disclosed embodiments.

[0022] For the single grip variety, the grip may be at the top end of the shaft, as is the current standard installation process of a golf club. The distance between the lower portion of the putter grip and the putter head may be dependent upon the desired length of the golf shaft. Standard putters on the short end may be 30 inches or longer, and therefore, with a 9 inch putter grip, the distance between the putter grip and putter head may be a distance of 19 inches or longer. In some embodiments, the distance between the putter grip and the putter head may be 15 inches.

[0023] For the double grip variety, the distance between the top grip and lower grip may be be 0.5 inches on the short end up to the full length of the shaft (while very non-traditional, some people grip the putter very near the putter head. This is demonstrated with the dotted line drawing on the 2 grip variety). The distance between the lower grip and the putter head hosel may be greater than 0.5 inches.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as substantially described with reference to the drawings herein, could be implemented in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the system and method of the present invention, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but is merely representative of various embodiments of the invention. Unless explicitly stated, the use of “or” means and/or, that is, this the non-exclusive meaning of or.

[0025] Putting is often considered the most important aspect of a golfer's skill set, as demonstrated by the adage “Drive for show, putt for dough.” While seemingly a simple task, rolling the ball into the hole from comparatively short distances with a short stroke, proficiency at putting is often elusive. Many training aids, as well as different designs of putters and putter grips have been attempted to help golfers be able to start the golf ball rolling on the intended line with the intended speed. A putter hand grip is the sole contact point between the golfer and the putter, and therefore, the means whereby a golfer can manipulate the golf club to provide force to the ball to ultimately get the ball in the hole. One problem with putter hand grips is that current designs require golfers to bend or twist their hands, wrists or arms away from neutral positions, making control of the putter more difficult. It is the object of this invention to provide an improved putter grip which allows the user to hold the grip with hands, wrists and arms in a more neutral position, akin to the position that arms naturally hang, which will in turn enhance the ability of the user to complete a putting stroke with enhanced control and feel of the putter head.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of a putter 100, which is conventional in construction except for incorporating a hand grip constructed in accordance with a single hand grip embodiment of the device. The putter 100, includes a head 120, a shaft 110, and the putter hand grip 130.

[0027] The head 120 may be any commercially available or customized putter head. The shaft 110 may also conventional, and may be tubular, and may be formed from graphite, steel, or other common materials. The hand grip 130 may cover the upper 1% to 70% of the shaft 110, but preferably the upper 10% to 35% of the shaft 110, and the shaft 110 may extend to the top of the putter head 120.

[0028] One embodiment of the hand grip includes a single hand grip 130 that is substantially cylindrical in shape, with a circumference of the cylinder that is larger than the shaft 110. In the preferred embodiments, the single hand grip 130 may be 9 inches but may range between 2 inches in length to 30 inches to length. The diameter of the hand grip may be constant; in some preferred embodiments the diameter of the hand grip may be constant for the upper portion of the hand grip 130 and then the diameter of the hand grip may be tapered at an inferior rounded taper 131 of the hand grip 130, such that the inferior rounded taper 131 of the hand grip 130 may be tapered and located at the lower end of the grip 130, wherein the inferior rounded taper 131 may be a shape having at least one rounded surface, a spherical cap, or an ellipsoidal cap. For purposes of this application, a spherical cap is an upper portion of a sphere that is formed when a plane divides a sphere into an upper portion of a sphere and a lower portion of the sphere. For purposes of this application, an ellipsoidal cap is the upper portion of an ellipsoid that is formed when a plane divides the ellipsoid into an upper portion of a sphere and a lower portion of the ellipsoid. The taper 131 ends in an opening portion 131b defining an aperture that allows a user to slide the hand grip to slide over the shaft; the top end 132 of the hand grip may have a small hole in the center to permit air to escape during hand grip installation.

[0029] The lower end of the putter hand grip may form at least one three-dimensional gripping structure, such as a hemisphere, rounded taper, spherical cap or ellipsoidal cap.

[0030] In the preferred methods of use, a user may engage the hand grip with one hand at the taper 131, with either the index and middle finger being separated by the shaft 110, or with the shaft being disposed between the middle and ring finger. When the user uses a lead arm, the dorsum of the user's lead arm hand may be in line with the face of the putter head; when the trail arm is utilized in this manner, then the palm of the hand may be aligned with the putter head. The contralateral hand be positioned in any number of other hand grip positions along the hand grip 130 above the inferior rounded taper 131 of the hand grip.

[0031] In another embodiment, the hand grip 130 may be substantially cylindrical having a substantially constant diameter throughout the upper length; although not shown in FIG. 1, the top end of the hand grip 132 may have a smaller diameter than the middle portion of the hand grip, and the inferior rounded taper 131 may also have a smaller diameter than the diameter of the central portion of the hand grip 130. The maximum cross-sectional length of the hand grip 130 may be at the lower end of the hand grip 130 that is adjacent to the inferior rounded taper 131. The taper may begin at a distance from the lower end of the grip substantially equal to half the cross sectional length of the largest cross sectional length. In a preferred embodiment the relationship between the cross-sectional diameter the diameter of the cross-section is a 1.75 inch diameter, and the taper begins at 0.875 inches from the lower end of the grip. In one embodiment the cross-sectional diameter at the location where the taper beings to taper is between a diameter of 0.25 inches and 4 inches, and in one embodiment, the taper may begin between 0.25 inches and 3 inches from the lower end of the grip. The upper end of the grip may have a cross sectional diameter of between 0.25 inches and 3 inches (preferably 1.25 inches), and may have a reverse taper, that is a taper that substantially gradually tapers from the larger diameter at the lower end to the upper end of the grip. In some preferred embodiments of the hand grip, the taper tapers along the whole length of the grip. In some embodiments the main body of the hand grip is cylindrical with a 4 inch diameter at the bottom and a diameter of 3 inches at the top; in some embodiments, the taper beings immediately at the bottom and gradually decreases until the other end where it converges with the top. The presence of a reverse taper may permit the upper portion of the hand grip to allow for additional hand gripping techniques by the user's hand.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective front view of the top part of a putter 100, with another embodiment where there is an upper hand grip 200 and a lower hand grip 210 adhered to the putter shaft 110. The upper hand grip 200 and the lower hand grip 210 are separated by a distance determined by the user's preference, and may range between 0.1 inches to 30 inches, but in preferred embodiments is between 0.25 inches and 1 inch. The upper hand grip 200 may be similar to the single putter hand grip 130 outlined in FIG. 1, but the length of the upper hand grip 200 may be shorter than the hand grip 130 in the single grip embodiment. In some embodiments, the upper hand grip is substantially cylindrical in shape, having an equal diameter the length of the hand grip until the rounded taper of the upper hand grip 220. The lower hand grip 230 similarly has an equal diameter the length of the hand grip, with a rounded taper at the lower portion 230 of the lower hand grip 210. The top portion 240 of the lower hand grip 230 may be rounded or may be flat. The center of the lower hand grip 230 may be hollow throughout the length of lower hand grip 230, with a central opening 240a at the upper end 240 of the lower hand grip 210 and a central opening 230a at the lower end 230 of the lower hand grip 210. The central opening 240a and the central opening 230a may allow the lower hand grip 210 to be installed on the shaft by a user by sliding lower hand grip 210 over the shaft during installation and affixing the lower hand grip 210 in a semi-permanent fashion for the duration of the life of the grip, such as by an adhesive. The central opening 240a and the central opening 230a may permit the shaft to communicate with the upper hand grip and the putter head.

[0033] Another embodiment is disclosed in FIG. 3, which shows a perspective oblique view of a putter hand grip 130, which has the asymmetrical top portion of a putter 100, with one length having a semi-circle cross section 300 and an opposing length having a rectangular shape 310. At the taper of the hand grip is again a rounded taper ending at the opening where the hand grip slides over the shaft 110. While the rounded taper of the lower part of the hand grip 131 may not be a perfect hemisphere due to the asymmetry shape of the body of the hand grip, the rounded taper provides a similar means of hand gripping the putter as described previously. When installing the hand grip, the user has the ability to align the hand grip with the putter face in whatever orientation the user finds to be most advantageous.

[0034] FIG. 4 is a perspective oblique view of another embodiment in which the putter 100 has a base hand grip 400 that allows for modular customization of the putter hand grip 130 shape. The base hand grip 400 attaches to the shaft, with an opening at the lower end of the hand grip to allow the shaft 110 to enter the hand grip. Once the base hand grip 400 is adhered, the support wings 430 may provide the interface whereupon the modular hand grip halves 410, 420 are attached to the base hand grip 400. There are multiple attachment methods. One attachment method is via constructing the support wings 430 with ferromagnetic materials and the modular hand grip halves 410 420 with thin magnets along the length of the middle edge. Another attachment method for attaching modular pieces or modular wings to a putter shaft, may be via a tongue and groove mechanism, whereby the support wings 430 interface with the modular hand grip halves 410, 420. FIG. 4 depicts a rectangular modular hand grip half 410 and a semi-circular modular hand grip half 420, but any variety of shapes may be utilized as each individual modular hand grip half, including, but not limited to triangular, elliptical, oval, square, hexagonal, etc. The lower end of each modular hand grip half may have a rounded taper as demonstrated in FIG. 4, or a flat edge. Additionally, the base hand grip 430 in some embodiments have four support wings, enabling the modular hand grip pieces to be in quarters as opposed to halves.

[0035] FIG. 5 depicts an oblique/top down view of the modular embodiment of the putter hand grip 130 demonstrated with the base hand grip 400 and the modular hand grip halves 410 420 slightly separated. The base hand grip 400 is attached via the large opening at the lower portion of the base hand grip. The hole in the top of the base hand grip 500 allows for air to escape as the base hand grip is installed. The support wings 430 may be connected to the modular hand grip halves by either a tongue and groove mechanism or magnetic force via the modular hand grip interface 510. FIG. 5 depicts a rectangular modular hand grip half 410 and a semi-circular modular hand grip half 420, but the modular embodiment of the putter hand grip may be any combination of shapes as described above. Additionally, while FIG. 5 depicts only two support wings, other embodiments may include four support wings, which would interface with modular quarter hand grip pieces, as opposed to modular half hand grip pieces. The reversible attachment between the base hand grip and the modular hand grip pieces could be via a tongue and groove mechanism or magnetic force.

[0036] In the preceding description, various aspects of a method and apparatus of a putter hand grip have been disclosed. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, examples, and configurations were set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding. However, it is apparent to one skilled in the art that the described method and apparatus may be practiced without the specific details. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the present invention in its broader aspects. While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications that fall within the true scope of the present invention.