Golf club shaft and grip and method for gripping golf club

Abstract

An improved golf club shaft comprising a plurality of alternating circular and rectangular cross-sections extending from a top end of the shaft toward a club head and a corresponding grip which closely follows the alternating cross-sectional contour of the shaft. The rectangular cross-sections allow the shaft of the golf club to fit between chosen fingers on either hand of a golfer, thus stiffening the golfer's grip on the club without creating additional tension in the golfer's arms, which can cause extraneous motion. Improved golf club shaft grips, employing the alternating cross-sectional area system as disclosed for the improved shaft are attachable to conventional golf club shafts for a golfer's use. An improved method for holding a golf club, conventional or as taught herein, to provide additional stability to a golfer during a golf swing is also taught.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A golf club having a club head attached to a shaft via a hosel, the shaft having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end being attachable to the hosel, the shaft comprising: 
 an upper section, a lower section and a middle section intermediate the upper and lower sections, the upper section extending from the top end of the shaft to one end of the middle section, the lower section extending from the bottom end of the shaft to an end of the middle section opposite the upper section, the upper and lower sections having circular cross-sections approximating a conventional golf club shaft, the middle section of the shaft having a plurality of alternating rectangular and circular cross-sections extending therethrough, the circular cross sections approximating the cross sections of the upper and lower sections of the shaft, the rectangular cross-sections having a length, a width, and a height, the length of the rectangular cross sections being greater that the width, the width and height of the rectangular cross sections being sufficient to insert said rectangular cross sections between fingers of at least one hand of a golfer, and wherein the length of the rectangular cross sections is approximately the same as a diameter of the circular cross-sections of the middle section, and    a grip adjacent to and surrounding a portion of the shaft, the grip having a first grip portion extending from the top end of the shaft to the middle section of the shaft, a second grip portion extending over the middle section, and a third grip portion cover a part of the lower section extending from the middle portion toward the bottom end of the shaft, the first grip portion having a generally cylindrical cross-section, the second portion of the grip comprising corresponding alternating rectangular and circular cross sections, the circular cross sections being convex along each length of the circular cross sections of the shaft, the rectangular cross sections of the grip corresponding to the rectangular cross sections of the shaft, and the third portion of the grip being convex relative to the lower section of the shaft.    
     
     
         2 . A golf club according to  claim 1 , wherein the rectangular cross sections of the grip corresponding to the rectangular cross sections of the shaft are positioned such that the length of the cross sections are oriented perpendicular to the club head.  
     
     
         3 . A golf club according to  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the convex shaped portions of the grip is greater than the length of the rectangular cross sections of the grip.  
     
     
         4 . A golf club according to  claim 1 , wherein the width and the height of the rectangular cross sections of the grip and shaft are of a sufficient size for a golfer to position at least one finger along each length of at least one of the rectangular cross sections of the grip and shaft.  
     
     
         5 . On a golf club having a head attached to a bottom end of a shaft, the shaft having a top end opposite the bottom end, a grip comprising a tube extending from the top end of the shaft toward a terminating position intermediate the top and bottom ends of the shaft, the tube having an inner diameter sufficiently sized to insert the shaft therethrough, the tube also having a first end proximate to the top end of the shaft and a second end at the terminating position, the grip further comprising an outer surface having a contoured area, said contour being relative to a longitudinal axis of the grip intermediate the first and second ends.  
     
     
         6 . The grip according to  claim 5 , wherein the outer surface comprises a first contour section and a second contour section, the first contour section extending from the first end of the grip to a transition point between the first and second contour sections, the second contour section extending from the transition point to the second end of the grip.  
     
     
         7 . The grip according to  claim 6 , wherein the first contour section of the outer surface is cylindrical.  
     
     
         8 . The grip according to  claim 7 , wherein the second contour section of the outer surface is an extension of the first contour section of the outer surface.  
     
     
         9 . The grip according to  claim 7 , wherein the second contour section of the outer surface is convex.  
     
     
         10 . The grip according to  claim 7 , wherein the second contour section of the outer surface has a first part and a second part, the first part extending from the transition point and the second part extending from the first part to the second end of the grip, the first part having an outer surface contour approximating the first contour section of the grip, the second part having a geometric shape with an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of the first part.  
     
     
         11 . The grip according to  claim 7 , wherein the second contour section of the outer surface has a first part and a second part, the first part extending from the transition point and the second part extending from the first part to the second end of the grip, the first part being convex, the second part approximating the first contour section of the grip.  
     
     
         12 . The grip according to  claim 7 , wherein the second contour section of the outer surface has a first part, a second part and a third part, the first part extending from the transition point to the second part, the second portion extending to the third part, and the third part extending to the second end of the grip, the first and third parts being convex with a defined diameter, the second part approximating the first contour section of the grip.  
     
     
         13 . The grip according to  claim 12 , wherein the second part of the second contour section of the grip has an outer diameter sufficiently sized such that the second part is insertable between fingers of a golfer for establishing a hold on the golf club.  
     
     
         14 . A method of gripping a golf club, said club having a head attached to one end of a shaft, the head generally perpendicular to the shaft, the shaft having a longitudinal axis extending upwardly from the head to a top end of the shaft, the shaft manipulatable by a golfer, the method comprising the steps: 
 orienting a controlling hand perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and perpendicular to the head;    placing the shaft between two fingers of the controlling hand;    closing the controlling hand about the shaft, the shaft resting upon a portion of the controlling hand opposite the fingers; and    encircling the shaft with a guiding hand, the thumb of the guiding hand parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the guiding hand in vertical relationship to the controlling hand relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.    
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the golfer has a left hand and a right hand, the left hand of the golfer being the controlling hand and the right hand of the golfer being the guiding hand.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the golfer has a right hand and a left hand, the right hand of the golfer being the controlling hand and the left hand of the golfer being the guiding hand.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the locating step comprises placing the shaft between an index finger and a middle finger of the controlling hand.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the locating step comprises placing the shaft between a middle finger and a ring finger of the controlling hand.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the locating step comprises placing the shaft between a ring finger and a little finger of the controlling hand.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the encircling step comprises placing the guidance hand on the shaft intermediate the controlling hand and the top end of the shaft.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the encircling step comprises placing the guidance hand on the shaft intermediate the controlling hand and the head of the club.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the enclosing step further comprises extending at least one finger of the guidance hand parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the at least one finger comprises an index finger.  
     
     
         24 . A method of gripping a golf club, said club having a head attached to one end of a shaft, the head generally perpendicular to the shaft, the shaft having a longitudinal axis extending upwardly from the head to a top end, the shaft manipulatable by a golfer, the method comprising the steps: 
 orienting a controlling hand parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and oriented in the direction of the head such that the shaft is intermediate the controlling hand and the head;    placing the shaft between two fingers of the controlling hand;    closing the controlling hand about the shaft, the shaft resting upon a palm of the controlling hand; and    encircling the shaft with a guidance hand, a thumb of the guidance hand parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and oriented toward the head of the club, the guidance hand in vertical relationship to the controlling hand relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.    
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the golfer has a left hand and a right hand, the left hand of the golfer being the controlling hand and the right hand of the golfer being the guidance hand.  
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the golfer has a right hand and a left hand, the right hand of the golfer being the controlling hand and the left hand of the golfer being the guidance hand.  
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the locating step comprises placing the shaft between an index finger and a middle finger of the controlling hand.  
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the locating step comprises placing the shaft between a middle finger and a ring finger of the controlling hand.  
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the locating step comprises placing the shaft between a ring finger and a little finger of the controlling hand.  
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the encircling step comprises placing the guidance hand on the shaft intermediate the controlling hand and the top end of the shaft.  
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the encircling step comprises placing the guidance hand on the shaft intermediate the controlling hand and the head of the golf club.  
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the enclosing step further comprises extending at least one finger of the guidance hand parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.  
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the at least one finger comprises an index finger.  
     
     
         34 . A method of gripping a golf club, said club having a head attached to one end of a shaft, the head generally perpendicular to the shaft, the shaft having a longitudinal axis extending upwardly from the head to a top end, the shaft being manipulated by a golfer, the method comprising the steps: 
 orienting a controlling hand perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and perpendicular to the head;    placing the shaft between two fingers of the controlling hand;    closing the controlling hand about the shaft, the shaft resting upon a portion of the controlling hand opposite the fingers;    orienting a guidance hand parallel to the controlling hand orientation relative to the shaft;    placing the shaft between two fingers of the guidance hand; and    closing the guidance hand about the shaft, a thumb of the guidance hand parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft,    wherein the guidance hand is in vertical relationship to the controlling hand relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.    
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the golfer has a right hand and a left hand, the left hand of the golfer being the controlling hand and the right hand of the golfer being the guidance hand.  
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the golfer has a right hand and a left hand, the right hand of the golfer being the controlling hand and the left hand of the golfer being the guiding hand.  
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the locating step comprises placing the shaft between an index finger and a middle finger of the controlling hand.  
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the locating step comprises placing the shaft between a middle finger and a ring finger of the controlling hand.  
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the locating step comprises placing the shaft between a ring finger and a little finger of the controlling hand.  
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the encircling step comprises placing the guidance hand on the shaft intermediate the controlling hand and the top end of the shaft.  
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the encircling step comprises placing the guidance hand on the shaft intermediate the controlling hand and the head of the club.  
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the enclosing step further comprises extending at least one finger of the guidance hand parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.  
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 42 , wherein the at least one finger comprises an index finger.