Weighted Golf Grip

Abstract

A golf grip having a weighted rear, longitudinal underside section providing a high Moment of Inertia to increase resistance to twisting and turning when the grip is connected to a golf club during the execution of a golf shot.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to golf grips and in particular to a weighted golf grip that has a high resistance to twisting and torque thereby increasing the stability of the golf grip.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known to add weight to the grip portion of a golf club for various purposes such as balancing the overall club weight or the swing weight of a golf club. Typically, weight is added to the upper or butt portion of the grip for these purposes.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,690,407 and 4,988,102 to Reisner are directed to golf grips having a weight attached to the upper butt end of the grip to control swing weight and counter balance the weight of the club head and shaft.

Application number 2015/0045136 to Boccieri is one of a typical number of grips using a grip weight to balance shaft and head weight of a putter type golf club.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,209 to Benzel uses weight at the upper end of a grip for swing weight adjustment.

Application Number 2008/0009363 to Solodovnick shows a variety of longitudinal weight members in a golf grip.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,635,310 to Keough discloses the use of a plurality of weight members in a longitudinal channel formed in a grip for balancing the face of a putter.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,511,386 to Cacicedo discloses a golf grip with stiffening rods imbedded therein.

In addition it is well known to add peripheral or perimeter weight to many golf clubs including putters to increase the Moment Of Inertia, hereinafter MOI, to reduce the tendency of a golf club to twist and turn during the execution of a golf shot particularly when a golf ball is struck away from the precise center of percussion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention represents a grip structure that increases the MOI of a golf club it is attached to by providing a significant weighted portion of the grip further away from the shaft or center of torque of the grip thereby further reducing the twisting and turning of the club as a golf ball is struck. In accordance with the present invention, a conventional type golf grip is made substantially heavier at the rear, longitudinal underside of the grip that typically faces downward when the grip is held in a normal position. In particular, the rear, longitudinal underside of the putter grip is made with heavier material than the lighter opposite, front topside of the grip. Alternately the grip is provided with weighting material imbedded into or attached to the rear, longitudinal underside of the grip.

In a preferable embodiment, the grip is made with a heavy, dense rubber or polymer material at the rear, longitudinal underside section of the grip and a lighter weight foam material for the remaining upper topside portion of the grip. The additional weight of the rear, longitudinal underside of the grip is preferably spaced away from and is located on only one side of the shaft away from where the center of torque is normally located. When the grip is properly positioned on the shaft of a putter, the rear, longitudinal underside section of the grip is positioned downward when the putter is properly aligned and, in turn, the top of the grip faces upward. This allows the face of the putter to assume a square position relative to an intended target line and assists in keeping the face in that position as a result of the increased MOI of the grip unless manipulated by the golfer holding the club.

In use, a golfer takes the putter grip loosely in the hands and allows the grip and the attached putter to fall to a natural position due to gravity. The grip is structured so that when a golf club or golf putter is used in a normal position, the weight at the rear, longitudinal underside section of the grip is the part that will be the lowest toward the ground and the upper topside portion of the grip is positioned upward. Because conventionally gripped putters align the face of the putter perpendicular to the front flat portion of the grip, the putter face will be positioned facing the intended target line when the putter is allowed to assume a true gravity position. The higher MOI, or resistance to torque and turning of the grip, makes it easier to maintain the aligned position and aids in keeping the putter from rotating during the execution of a putting stroke.

Whereas the benefits of the grip structure of this invention are likely to make only subtle improvements in maintaining the golf club in a stable position, it will be appreciated that extremely minor face position changes usually make a major difference in the final resting point of a golf ball struck at distances of 20 or 30 feet and even longer lengths. In addition, because the putting stroke is relatively soft and creates much less impact force against a golf ball as compared to a full swing golf shot, the smallest positive nuance during the putting stroke can make a significant difference in the ability of the golfer to make a smooth and confident putting stroke ultimately resulting in the golfer making more putts. It follows, a feeling of stability that is created with the higher MOI of the grip is extremely beneficial to the golfer and creates a more stable and balanced feel in the golfer's hands that is so important to the proper execution of a putting stroke.

Among the objects of the invention is the provision of a golf grip having a weighted rear, longitudinal underside section to increase the MOI of the golf club to which the grip is attached.

Another object is the provision of a golf grip that increases resistance to torque and twisting when a golf ball is struck by a golf club to which the golf grip is attached.

Yet another object is the provision of a golf grip that promotes a square face of the putter through the entire stroke path.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent with reference to the following drawings and accompanying written specification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a golf grip in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an upper end view of the grip.

FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the golf grip taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a lower end view of the grip.

FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 shows a sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 shows a sectional view taken along the lines 7-7 of FIG. 2

FIG. 8 shows a longitudinal view of a second embodiment of a golf grip of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of the golf grip taken along the lines 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows a longitudinal view of a third embodiment of a golf grip of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows a sectional view of the golf grip taken along the lines 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 shows a longitudinal view of a fourth embodiment of a golf grip of the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows a sectional view of the golf grip taken along the lines 13-13 of FIG. 12.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The drawings FIGS. 1 to 7 illustrates a first embodiment of a putter type golf grip 100 having a dual density design formed of a light weight, front topside area 102 that serves as a shaft encasing grip section and faces the golf ball when gripped by a golfer in a normal position. The grip 100 includes side sections 103 and a rear, longitudinal underside section 104. Typically, the grip 100 is molded as a unitary member or the grip can be made with separate sections that are secured together by adhesive or a similar connecting means with the sections enclosed in an outer skin 105. The golf grip 100 is formed with a closed upper butt end 106 and an opening 108 on the opposite lower end of the grip 100 to accommodate the insertion of a golf shaft into an interior bore 110 for connection thereto using adhesive or double sided tape.

In a preferred embodiment, the front topside section is made of a light material such as light weight foam material or synthetic polymer compound. The rear, longitudinal underside section 104 of the grip 100 is made with a heavier material such that the underside section 104 gravitates 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.

The heavier rear, longitudinal underside section 104 is made of heavy polymer, metal or other heavy material. As shown in the sectional view of FIG. 3, the heavier rear, longitudinal underside section 104 extends from just under the closed upper butt end 106 essentially the entire distance toward and just above the lower opening 108. It will be appreciated that the heavier weighted rear, longitudinal underside section 104 may extend shorter distances between the butt end 106 and the opening 108 while functioning similarly to a longer rear, longitudinal underside section 104 depending upon the materials used.

As seen in the sectional views of FIGS. 6 and 7, the weighted rear, longitudinal underside section 104 is formed in a generally C-shaped configuration with an outer edge area having a first diameter with essentially the same parabolic shape as the outer most edge of the grip 100. The inner edge area of the C-shaped, weighted rear, longitudinal underside section 104 is formed with a second lesser diameter facing and generally conforming to the interior bore 110 of the grip 100. The weighted rear, longitudinal underside section 104 of the grip 100 is located in an area of the grip 100 that is offset furthest from the center of torque of the grip 100 where the shaft is located in the internal bore 110 with the grip 100 attached to a golf shaft. The radial distance between the center of torque and the weighted rear, longitudinal underside section 104 provides increased MOI, preventing unwanted torque of the shaft.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a second embodiment of a golf grip 200 of the present invention. In this embodiment, a separate elongated weight member 202 is attached to a rear area of a longitudinal underside section 204 of the grip 200. The weight member 202 can be shaped to conform to and fit within a slot or other cutout portion of the 200. Alternately the weight member may be adhesively attached to the rear, longitudinal underside section 204 of the grip 200.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a third embodiment of a golf grip 300 of the present invention. In this embodiment, a weighted rod 302 is imbedded in the rear, longitudinal underside section of the grip 300. The weighted rod 302 may be inserted in a suitable cavity formed in the grip 300 or the grip 300 may be molded around the weighted rod 302.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show a fourth embodiment of a grip with a series of individual weights 402 attached or molded directly into the rear, longitudinal underside section 404 of the grip 400. The individual weights 402 are aligned and closely spaced but are not touching each other thereby maintaining a measure of flexibility in the grip 400 prior to the attachment to the shaft of a golf putter.

It will be appreciated using a heavier rear, underside section of the grip is not limited to the precise grip shape disclosed in the above illustrations. The concept underlying the present invention can apply equally to round grips, contoured grips, oversized grips and grips with a flat alignment surface, among others.

In addition, the size and shape of the weighted section is not limited. For example, a continuous strip of heavy metal may be provided at the underside of the grip extending almost the entire length of the grip. Also, smaller weight members may be used, or a series of various sized weights may be imbedded at the underside of the grip and perform in the same way to position the rear underside of the grip in a lowermost position due to the force of gravity thereby increasing the MOI of the grip.

Claims

1. A golf grip for attachment to a golf shaft including a gripping area for a golfer's hands comprising: a front topside, a shaft encasing section, sides and a rear, longitudinal underside section, an upper butt end and a lower end with a shaft opening accessing an interior bore in said grip; said front topside of said golf grip formed of a first lighter weight material; and, said rear, longitudinal underside section extending between said upper butt end and said lower end being formed with a second material heavier than said first lighter weight material whereby said grip will have an increased MOI to resist twisting and torque.

2. The golf grip of claim 1 wherein said first material and said second material have different densities.

3. The golf grip of claim 2 wherein said rear, longitudinal underside section has a density with greater weight.

4. The golf grip of claim 1 wherein said rear, longitudinal underside section is formed with a c-shaped cross sectional configuration.

5. The golf grip of claim 1 wherein said rear, longitudinal underside section extends the majority of the distance between said upper butt end to said lower end.

6. The golf grip of claim 1 wherein said front, topside shaft engaging section and said rear, longitudinal underside section are separate members connected together to form a unitary golf grip.

7. The golf grip of claim 1 wherein said rear, longitudinal underside section is formed with multiple, aligned weights.

8. The golf grip of claim 1 wherein said rear, longitudinal underside section includes a separate, unified elongated weight member.

9. The golf grip of claim 8 wherein said weight member is embedded in a rear underside of said grip.

10. The golf grip of claim 8 wherein said weight member is attached to a rear underside of said grip.

11. A golf grip for connection to a golf shaft having a plurality of sections including a lightweight, upper frontside section and a lower rear, longitudinal section characterized by said lower rear section being formed with substantially heavier weighted material than said upper, frontside section.

12. A golf grip for attachment to a golf shaft including a gripping area for a golfer's hands comprising; a golf shaft encasing section forming a front, topside section of the grip: said grip including sides, a rear, longitudinal underside section, an upper butt end and a lower end; an interior bore to accommodate connection to said golf shaft; a shaft opening accessing said interior bore; said front, topside shaft encasing section of said golf grip formed of a first lighter weight material; and, a separate longitudinal weight member attached to said rear, longitudinal underside section; said longitudinal weight member being formed with a second material heavier than said first lighter weight material of said topside, shaft encasing section, whereby said grip will have an increased MOI to resist twisting and torque.

13. The golf grip of claim 12 whereby said weight member is attached to an outer area of said rear, longitudinal underside section.

14. The golf grip of claim 12 further defined by said weight member being imbedded within said grip at said rear, longitudinal underside section of said grip.

15. The golf grip of claim 14 wherein said weight member is an elongated rod embedded between said upper butt end and said lower end of said grip.

16. The golf grip of claim 12 wherein said weight member is further defined by a series of individual weights closely spaced in a longitudinal direction between said upper butt and said lower end of said grip.

17. The golf grip of claim 12 wherein said weight member extends essentially the entire distance between said upper butt end and said lower end.