Mid-length golf putter

Abstract

A dip-molded grip for a mid-length golf putter is preferably made of plastisol, has a circular cross-section, and a length of about 19 inches. The grip is made by dipping a mold rod into two types of plastisol and baking the plastisol layers. The result is a grip that fits any individual and provides an ideal surface.

1 . A grip for a golf putter, the grip comprising: 
 a dip-molded tube having a circular cross section, a length greater than about 11 inches, and an inside diameter that accommodates a golf putter shaft.    
     
     
         2 . The grip of  claim 1  wherein the grip has a length of about 19 inches.  
     
     
         3 . The grip of  claim 1  wherein the dip molded grip further comprises: 
 a first layer having a first durometer hardness rating; and  
 a second layer having a second durometer hardness rating that is less than the first durometer hardness rating of the first layer.  
 
     
     
         4 . The grip of  claim 3  wherein the first layer is between about 0.03 inch and about 0.06 inch thick.  
     
     
         5 . The grip of  claim 3  wherein the second layer is about 0.25 inch thick.  
     
     
         6 . The grip of  claim 3  wherein the first layer and the second layer are plastisol.  
     
     
         7 . The grip of  claim 6  wherein the second layer is foamed plastisol.  
     
     
         8 . The grip of  claim 3  wherein the first layer has a durometer hardness of about 68 to about 72 and the second layer has a durometer hardness of about 15 to about 25.  
     
     
         9 . The grip of  claim 3  wherein the first layer has a durometer hardness of about 70 and the second layer has a durometer hardness of about 20.  
     
     
         10 . The grip of  claim 3  wherein the first layer is about 0.5 inch long.  
     
     
         11 . The grip of  claim 1  having a diameter between about 0.9 inch and about 1.1 inch.  
     
     
         12 . The grip of  claim 1  having a diameter of approximately 1.0 inch.  
     
     
         13 . The grip of  claim 1  wherein the grip has a mass between about 145-165 grams.  
     
     
         14 . A golf club comprising: 
 a shaft;    a head mounted on a lower end of the shaft; and    a plastisol grip mounted on an upper end of the shaft and having a length greater than about 11 inches.    
     
     
         15 . The golf club of  claim 14  wherein the plastisol grip is about 19 inches.  
     
     
         16 . The golf club of  claim 14  wherein the plastisol layer further comprises: 
 a plastisol layer; and  
 a foamed plastisol layer.  
 
     
     
         17 . The golf club of  claim 16  wherein the plastisol layer has a higher durometer hardness rating than the foamed plastisol layer.  
     
     
         18 . The golf club of  claim 16  wherein the plastisol layer has a durometer hardness between about 68 to about 72, and the foamed plastisol layer has a durometer hardness between about 15 and about 20.  
     
     
         19 . The golf club of  claim 16  wherein the plastisol layer has a durometer hardness of about 70, and the foamed plastisol has a durometer hardness of about 20.  
     
     
         20 . The golf club of  claim 16  wherein the plastisol layer is between about 0.03 inch and about 0.06 inch thick and extends about 0.5 inches down from a butt end of the shaft.  
     
     
         21 . The golf club of  claim 14  wherein the plastisol grip has a diameter between about 0.9 inch and about 1.1 inches.  
     
     
         22 . The golf club of  claim 14  wherein the plastisol grip has a diameter about 1.0 inch.  
     
     
         23 . A grip for a golf club, the grip comprising: 
 a tubular member sized to be fitted over an upper end of a shaft of the golf club, the tubular member being greater than 11 inches and made of a suspension resin containing polyvinyl chloride.    
     
     
         24 . The grip of  claim 23  wherein the polyvinyl chloride is suspended in plasticizer.  
     
     
         25 . The grip of  claim 23  wherein the suspension resin also contains a foaming agent.  
     
     
         26 . The grip of  claim 23  wherein the suspension resin also contains a blowing agent.  
     
     
         27 . A golf club comprising: 
 a shaft;    a head mounted on a lower end of the shaft; and    a grip mounted on an upper end of the shaft and having a durometer hardness of about 20.    
     
     
         28 . The golf club of  claim 27  wherein the grip has a circular cross section and is greater than 11 inches.  
     
     
         29 . The golf club of  claim 27  wherein the grip is formed from plastisol.  
     
     
         30 . The golf club of  claim 29  wherein the grip is also formed from foamed plastisol.  
     
     
         31 ., A grip for a golf club having a uniform outer diameter of about 1 inch and having a length of about 19 inches.  
     
     
         32 . A method of making a grip for a golf putter, the method comprising: 
 forming a first flexible layer on a mold rod;    forming a second flexible layer over the first flexible layer that defines the length of the grip; and    curing the first flexible layer and the second flexible layer.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the first flexible layer is plastisol and the second flexible layer is foamable plastisol.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  and further comprising: 
 preheating the mold rod about 12 minutes at about 415° F. before forming the first plastisol layer.  
 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the plastisol and the foamable plastisol are cured between about 9-10 minutes at about 415° F.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the first flexible layer has a durometer hardness between about 68 and 72, and the second flexible layer has a durometer hardness between about 15 and 25.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the first flexible layer has a durometer hardness of about 70, and the second flexible layer has a durometer hardness of about 20.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the mold rod has a diameter similar to a shaft of the golf putter.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32  and further comprising: 
 removing the grip from the mold rod using air pressure; and  
 positioning the grip on a shaft of the golf putter using air pressure.  
 
     
     
         40 . A method of making a grip for a mid-length golf putter, the method comprising: 
 dipping a mold rod into plastisol;    dipping the mold rod coated with the plastisol into foamable plastisol; and    baking the plastisol and the foamable plastisol while on the mold rod to form the grip.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the plastisol has a higher durometer hardness rating than the foamable plastisol.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the mold rod is made of aluminum.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the mold rod is made of stainless steel.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40  wherein dipping the mold rod into the plastisol for a dwell-time of between about 10 seconds to 15 seconds.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 40  wherein dipping the mold rod coated with the plastisol into the foamable plastisol has a dwell-time of approximately 2.5 minutes.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the mold rod is dipped about 0.5 inch into the plastisol.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the mold rod coated with the plastisol is dipped about 19 inches into the foamable plastisol.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the foamable plastisol contains a foaming agent that foams when baked.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the plastisol has a durometer hardness rating greater than the foamable plastisol.