Ergonomic golf club grip

Abstract

An ergonomic golf grip is disclosed which provides a more natural and comfortable position for the hands on the club. In general, in cross-section, the golf club grip has an outer circumference having a palm engaging section and a finger engaging section. The finger engaging section has an arc length ranging between approximately 315° and 180°, and preferably has a continuous circular shape. The palm engaging section preferably has an arc length ranging between approximately 45° and 180°. The palm engaging section further has a shape which may vary between flat and concave up to a radius of curvature slightly greater than that for the finger engaging section.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An ergonomic golf club grip for being gripped by a golfer's top hand on an upper portion of the grip and a bottom hand on a lower portion of the grip below the upper portion, the golf club grip comprising: 
 a finger engaging section for being gripped by fingers of the top hand, said finger engaging section having a length and a cross-section perpendicular to said length, said finger engaging section having a first radius of curvature in said cross-section; and    a palm engaging section for being gripped by a palm of the top hand, said palm engaging section having a length and a cross-section perpendicular to said length, said palm engaging section having a second radius of curvature in said cross-section, said second radius of curvature being greater than said first radius of curvature.    
     
     
         2 . An ergonomic golf club grip as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first radius of curvature is substantially circular.  
     
     
         3 . An ergonomic golf club grip as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said second radius of curvature is substantially circular.  
     
     
         4 . An ergonomic golf club grip as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said second radius of curvature is substantially flat.  
     
     
         5 . An ergonomic golf club grip as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said finger engaging section has an arc length between 180° and 315°.  
     
     
         6 . An ergonomic golf club grip as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said palm engaging section has an arc length between 45° and 180°.  
     
     
         7 . An ergonomic golf club grip as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the grip is formed of rubber.  
     
     
         8 . An ergonomic golf club grip as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the grip is formed of a composition including rubber.  
     
     
         9 . An ergonomic golf club grip, comprising: 
 an upper portion of the grip for being gripped by a golfer's top hand, said upper portion of the grip including: 
 a first finger engaging section for being gripped by fingers of the top hand, said first finger engaging section having a length and a cross-section perpendicular to said length, said first finger engaging section having a first radius of curvature in said cross-section, and  
 a first palm engaging section for being gripped by a palm of the top hand, said first palm engaging section having a length and a cross-section perpendicular to said length, said first palm engaging section having a second radius of curvature in said cross-section, said second radius of curvature being greater than said first radius of curvature; and  
   a lower portion below said upper portion for being gripped by the golfer's lower hand, said lower portion including: 
 a second finger engaging section for being gripped by fingers of the bottom hand, said second finger engaging section having a length and a cross-section perpendicular to said length, said second finger engaging section having a third radius of curvature in said cross-section, and  
 a second palm engaging section for being gripped by a palm of the bottom hand, said second palm engaging section having a length and a cross-section perpendicular to said length, said second palm engaging section having a fourth radius of curvature in said cross-section, said fourth radius of curvature being greater than said third radius of curvature.  
   
     
     
         10 . An ergonomic golf club grip as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said second radius of curvature is substantially circular.  
     
     
         11 . An ergonomic golf club grip as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said second radius of curvature is substantially flat.  
     
     
         12 . An ergonomic golf club grip as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said fourth radius of curvature is substantially circular.  
     
     
         13 . An ergonomic golf club grip as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said fourth radius of curvature is substantially flat.  
     
     
         14 . An ergonomic golf club grip as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said first and second finger engaging sections have an arc length between 180° and 315°.  
     
     
         15 . An ergonomic golf club grip as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said first and second palm engaging sections have an arc length between 45° and 180°.  
     
     
         16 . An ergonomic golf club grip as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the grip is formed of rubber.  
     
     
         17 . An ergonomic golf club grip as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the grip is formed of a composition including rubber.  
     
     
         18 . A golf club, comprising: 
 a head for striking a golf ball;    a shaft having a distal end to which said head is affixed; and    a grip affixed to a proximal end of said shaft opposite said distal end, said grip capable of being gripped by a golfer's top hand on an upper portion of said grip and a bottom hand on a lower portion of said grip below said upper portion, said golf club grip including: 
 a finger engaging section for being gripped by fingers of the top hand, said finger engaging section having a length and a cross-section perpendicular to said length, said finger engaging section having a first radius of curvature in said cross-section, and  
 a palm engaging section for being gripped by a palm of the top hand, said palm engaging section having a length and a cross-section perpendicular to said length, said palm engaging section having a second radius of curvature in said cross-section, said second radius of curvature being greater than said first radius of curvature.