GB2412328A

GB2412328A - Putter grip having wide portion

Info

Publication number: GB2412328A
Application number: GB0406820A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Howard Gazeley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-03-26
Filing date: 2004-03-26
Publication date: 2005-09-28
Also published as: EP1727601A2; GB0406820D0; JP3139274U; JP3139308U; WO2005092450A2; US20070219015A1; WO2005092450A3

Abstract

A grip for a golf club, e.g. a putter, includes a wide portion which is sufficiently wide to allow the club to be gripped by a golfer with both hands at the same height, and both thumbs side by side on the front face of the grip. The width of the wide portion may be greater than the depth, and the grip may have a tapered lower portion 10. The grip may comprise an elongate body member 2 and an upper end cap 4. The body member may have a uniform cross section at an upper end 8, and the end cap 4 may include locating formations, e.g. lugs 22, which engage with corresponding bores 18 in the body member 2. The length of the grip may be adjusted by cutting the grip in the upper, uniform cross-section end 8.

Description

24 1 2328

GOLF CLUB GRIP

The present invention relates to a grip for a golf club and in particular, but not exclusively, for a putter. The invention also relates to a golf club that includes the grip.

Most modern putters are fitted with a gulp that is made frown a rubber or latex material and is typically approximately l 0" (260nm) long and tapers frown a width of 0." (20mm) and a depth of l " (25nmm) at its upper end to a width of 0.6" ( l 5mm) and a depth of 0.6"(l Smn1) at its lower end. The grip is hollow, allowing it to be fitted over the steel shaft of a golf club.

l 0 The putter is normally held with one hand slightly above the other and the thumbs on top of the grip, with the fingers underneath. The hands may be Patti ally overlapping. With an orthodox "nip, a ight-handed player will place the left hand towards the upper end of the "nip, and right hand below. Alternatively, a reverse grip may be adopted with the positions of the hands reversed. in either case, because the hands are at different heights, the player's shoulders will not be level when addressing the ball. This can make it''nore difficult to strike the ball in the intended direction.

Another disadvantage of most existing putter gyps is that the length of the grip cannot be adjusted, except by removing a portion from the lower end of the grip. As the grip is tapered, this can leave an unsightly step at the point where the shaft enters the grip.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a gulp for a golf club that has an increased width as compared to a conventional golf club grip. This allows the hands to be placed level with one another, with the two thumbs side-by-side on top of the "nip. This allows the player to address the ball with the shoulders level, which may result in an improved putting stroke.

Advantageously, the maxnnum width of the grip is m the range of 3()-60mn1, and preferably 40-5 Amp. For example, the grip may have a maximum wi dth of approximately 42nm. Advantageously, the grip includes a wide portion having a length in the range l 50- 300mm, preferably l 80-250n1m. For example, the wide portion relay have a length of approximately 1 95mm.

The grip nay also include a tapered portion at its lower end. The overall length of the grip may be in the range 200-400mm, preferably 250-300nm. For example, the grip nay have an overall length of approximately 270nin.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the grrip includes an elongate body member and a separate end cap for attachment to the upper end of the body member. This allows the length of the gulp to be adjusted by cutting a portion frown the upper end of the body member and then attaching the end cap. This provides a more satisfactory method of adjusting the length than smp]y remoN/ing a portion from the dower end of a grip.

Advantageously, the body member has a portion of unifonn cross-section at its upper end.

The end cap may include locating fonnations for engagement with the body nenber. For example, the end cap may include lugs that engage elongate bores provided in the body neinber.

An enbodinent of the invention will] be now be described, by way of example, Nvith reference to the accompanying drawings, In which: Figure I is an isometric view of a golf club grip; Figure 2 is an end view of the 1oNver end of the grip; Figure 3 is a side view of the gnp; Figure 4 is an end view of the upper end of the grip; Figure 5 is a fi ont view of the "nip; Figure 6 is a front view ofthe main body member ofthe grip, showing its internal structure; Figure 7 is a side view of the body member, showing its internal structure; Figure is an end view of the upper end of the body member; and Figure 9 is an isometric Vienna of the end cap.

The grip is made of a suitable e]aston1eic or resilient nateial such as rubber, latex or a p]asticsmatena] and nc]udes an c]ongate body member2 that fits overthe shaft ofthe golf club (not shown) and an end cap 4, hick] is subsequently attached to the upper end 6 ofthe body member 2, for exainp]e by gluing. In the example, the grip has an overall,engrth of 282mm, the body member 2 having a length of 270nn and the end cap 4 having a thickness of 12min.

The body member 2 includes an upper portion g of unifoi1ll cross-section, which extends from the upper end 6 of the body member for a length of l 95mm, and a lower portion l O which tapers to a diameter of approximately l 5mm at its lower end l 1. The cross-section of the upper portion g Is approximately rectangular, having a Width of 42mm and a depth of 28inm. The fi ont face] 2 Is flat and the rear face l 4 is slightly convex, the four corners being rounded.

A cylindrical bore l 6 having a diameter of l 4.5nm extends through the body member 2 to receive the shaft of the golf club. In addition, two parallel sma]]er secondary bores l 8, each having a diameter of Mum, extend fi om the upper end of the body member 2 to a depth of l 30mm, the secondary bores being provided on either side of the main bore l 6.

The end cap 4 is of similar cross-sectional shape to the upper end of the body member 2 and includes Oil its lower face 20 two cylindrical bores 22, which are positioned for l 5 engagement in the secondary bores l 8 of the body member 2.

The length of the gulp can be adjusted by cutting off a portion of the gulp fi-om the upper end of the body nenber 2 and then attaching the end cap to the cut end and gluing it in place. Because the secondary bores l 8 extend for a considerable depth into the body member 2, the end cap 4 can be correctly positioned by engaging the locating lugs 22 in the secondary bores l 8, even if quite a large portion of the grip is removed.

In use, the grip is held with the hands level and the two thumbs side-byside on the front face 12 of the "nip, with the fingers curled underneath around the rear face l 4. This allows the golfer to adopt a stance with the shoulders completely level, which helps to produce a smooth and accurate stroke.

Various modifications of the grip are of course possible. For examy]e, the grip may have a width of between 3()mm and 6(hnm, but is preferably between 40mm and 50mm, and it may have an overall length In the range 200400mm, preferably 250-300mn. The upper portion ofthe gyp, which has a uniform cross-section, may be between 1 50nq1 and 300mm in length, and is preferably between l 80mm and 2 5(h1lm.

Claims

. I. . c e C C CLAIMS

1. A grip for a golf club, the grip including a wide portion that has a sufficient width to allow the club to be gripped by a golfer with both hands at the same height and both thumbs side-by-side on the front face of the grip.

2. A grip according to claim I, in which the wide portion ofthe grip has a width at the widest point thereof in the range 30-60mm.

3. A grip according to claim 2, in which the wide portion ofthc grip has a width at the widest point thereof in the range 40-SOmm.

4. A grip according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the wide portion has a length in the range 150-300mm.

S. A grip according to claim 4, in which the wide portion has a length in the range 180-250mm.

6. A grip according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the wide portion has a width greater than its depth.

7. A grip according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the grip has a tapered portion at its lower end.

8. A grip according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the overall length of the grip is in the range 200-400mm.

9. A grip according to claim 8, in which the overall length of the grip is in the range 250-300mm.

10. A grip according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the grip includes an elongate body member and a separate end cap for attachment to the upper end of the body member.

11. A grip for a golf club, wherein the grip includes an elongate body member and a separate end cap for attachment to the upper end of the body member.

12. A grip according to claim 10 or claim 11, in which the body member has a portion of uniform cross-section at its upper end.

. c. . .

13. A grip according to any one of claims 10 to 12, in which the end cap includes locating formations for engagement with the body member.

14. A grip according to claim 13, in which the end cap includes lugs for engagement with elongate bores in the body member.

15. A grip for a golf club, the grip being substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A golf club including a grip according to any one of the preceding claims.

17. A golf club according to claim 16, wherein the golf club is a putter.