Elongated golf-club grip

Abstract

The present invention discloses a golf club manufactured with an elongated grip that extends down the length of the shaft. The elongated grip allows the golfer to assume a more comfortable choked down hand position which in turn will promote better choked down golf shots and thus better control of non-standard distances. The grip can be of uniform or varying thickness and have a length selected by the golfer to correspond to his preferred choked down hand positions. The present invention also discloses and promotes the use of a set of two or more golf clubs designed to produce distance differentials that exceed those that come with traditional sets.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for use with an iron or wood type golf club, comprising, 
 an elongated grip, wherein said elongated grip is an integral part of the iron or wood type golf club and has an extended length.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said extended length comprises at least 11 inches from a free end of a golf club shaft.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said extended length comprises a range of 11 to 24 inches from said free end of the golf club shaft.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said extended length comprises extension to a range of 16 to 20 inches from a golf club head.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising markings on said elongated grip to indicate alternative hand positions.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said elongated grip has a constant thickness.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said elongated grip has a thickness adapted to provide a constant diameter thickness for the elongated grip together with a golf club shaft.  
     
     
         8 . An iron or wood type golf club, comprising, 
 an elongated grip, wherein said elongated grip is an integral part of the iron or wood type golf club and has an extended length.    
     
     
         9 . The golf club of  claim 8  wherein said extended length comprises at least 11 inches from a free end of a golf club shaft.  
     
     
         10 . The golf club of  claim 9  wherein said extended length comprises a range of 11 to 24 inches from said free end of the golf club shaft.  
     
     
         11 . The golf club of  claim 8  wherein said extended length comprises extension to a range of 16 to 20 inches from a golf club head.  
     
     
         12 . The golf club of  claim 8  further comprising markings on said elongated grip to indicate alternative hand positions.  
     
     
         13 . The golf club of  claim 8  wherein said elongated grip has a constant thickness.  
     
     
         14 . The golf club of  claim 8  wherein said elongated grip has a thickness adapted to provide a constant diameter thickness for the elongated grip together with a golf club shaft.  
     
     
         15 . An iron or wood type golf club for improved golf play, comprising: 
 an elongated golf club grip adapted to allow a golfer to choke down on the iron or wood type golf club so as to provide for at least one alternative golf club grip position, wherein said alternative golf club grip position comprises a hand position on the elongated golf club grip that is separate from a hand position for a traditional golf club swing but which retains a chosen grip feel and which facilitates a consistent average distance range for a full swing.    
     
     
         16 . A set of golf clubs for improved golf play, comprising: 
 at least two golf clubs, wherein an average distance range differential for a full swing between consecutive pairs of golf clubs is at least 12 yards; and    at least two elongated grips, wherein each of said at least two elongated grips is an integral part of each of said at least two golf clubs and has an extended length.    
     
     
         17 . The set of  claim 16  wherein said extended length comprises at least 11 inches from a free end of a golf club shaft.  
     
     
         18 . The set of  claim 17  wherein said extended length comprises a range of 11 to 24 inches from said free end of the golf club shaft.  
     
     
         19 . The set of  claim 16  wherein said extended length comprises extension to a range of 16 to 20 inches from a golf club head.  
     
     
         20 . The set of  claim 16  wherein said average distance range differential is achieved by modifying at least one of the characteristics selected from the group consisting of: shaft length, club head weight, loft angle and any combination thereof.  
     
     
         21 . The set of  claim 16  wherein each of said at least two elongated grips has a constant thickness.  
     
     
         22 . The set of  claim 16  wherein each of said at least two elongated grips has a thickness adapted to provide a constant diameter thickness for the elongated grip together with a golf club shaft.  
     
     
         23 . The set of  claim 16  wherein each of said at least two elongated grips has a thickness independently selected by a user for each of said at least two golf clubs.  
     
     
         24 . A set of golf clubs for improved golf play, comprising: 
 at least two golf clubs, wherein an average distance range differential for a full swing between consecutive pairs of golf clubs is at least 12 yards.    
     
     
         25 . The set of  claim 24  wherein said average distance range differential is achieved by modifying at least one of the characteristics selected from the group consisting of: shaft length, club head weight, loft angle and any combination thereof.