Golf putter grip

Abstract

A grip for a golf putter having an elongate handle with a first end, a second end, an intermediate body portion, and means for connecting the handle to the putter such that the second end is contiguous therewith. The handle is provided with a thumb-receiving surface and finger-receiving surfaces adjacent the second end on opposite lateral sides thereof and normal to the thumb-receiving surface. The handle defines a pointed portion including the second end and the finger-receiving surfaces. The handle is adapted to be gripped by a golfer with the thumbs in side-by-side relation upon the thumb-receiving surface pointing towards a club head of the putter, the index fingers lie upon the finger-receiving surfaces and against the thumbs, the tips of the middle fingers touch and lie against the index fingers and a rear surface of the handle, and the ring and small fingers of the golfer's hands are intertwined.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A grip for a golf putter of the type having a club head having a rear part defining a heel, a front part defining a toe, a head axis extending between the heel and the toe, a substantially planar sole which is arranged parallel to the head axis and a lateral axis lying in the plane of the sole and arranged normal to the head axis; and a shaft having a lower end operatively rigidly attached to the club head and proximate thereto, an upper end disposed upwardly, rearwardly from the club head and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the grip comprising: 
 an elongate handle having a first end, a second end, and a body portion intermediate the first end and the second end; and    means for rigidly connecting the handle to the shaft such that the first end is disposed substantially longitudinally upwardly from the upper end of the shaft and the second end is contiguous with the upper end of the shaft;    the handle being provided, on a front surface of the handle adjacent the body portion, with a substantially flat thumb-receiving surface having a profile arranged substantially parallel to the lateral axis, and with the thumb-receiving surface arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and further being provided with a pair of substantially flat finger-receiving surfaces which are disposed on opposite lateral side surfaces of the handle adjacent the second end, and are arranged substantially normal to the thumb-receiving surface, wherein the handle tapers in lateral width and in thickness as it extends from the body portion to the second end, thereby to define a substantially pointed portion of the handle adjacent to the body portion and including the second end, and wherein the finger-receiving surfaces are formed on the pointed portion of the handle;    wherein the handle is shaped and dimensioned to be gripped by the hands of a user in a grip hold wherein: the thumbs of the user point substantially towards the club head and are disposed in side-by-side relation upon the thumb-receiving surface; the index finger of each hand lies against the thumb of each hand and against a respective one of the finger-receiving surfaces; the tips of the middle fingers of the hands touch one another and lie against the respective index fingers thereof and against a rear surface of the handle; and the ring and small fingers of the hands are intertwined.    
     
     
         2 . A grip according to  claim 1 , wherein the handle is further provided with two front beveled surfaces extending between the pointed portion and the first end, with each of the front beveled surfaces intermediate the front surface of the handle and a respective one of the opposite lateral side surfaces of the handle; and wherein the grip hold is such that the palm of each hand of the user lies against a respective one of the front beveled surfaces.  
     
     
         3 . A grip according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the front beveled surfaces widens as it extends from the pointed portion to the first end, as aforesaid.  
     
     
         4 . A grip according to  claim 3 , wherein the handle tapers in thickness as it extends from the first end to the pointed portion at a rate of taper that is less pronounced than the taper of the handle in thickness as it extends from the body portion to the second end, as aforesaid.  
     
     
         5 . A grip according to  claim 4 , wherein the handle is further provided with two rear beveled surfaces each intermediate the rear surface and a respective one of the opposite lateral side surfaces of the handle; and wherein the grip hold is such that portions of the middle fingers of each hand of the user lie against a respective one of the rear beveled surfaces.  
     
     
         6 . A grip according to  claim 5 , wherein the thumb-receiving surface is provided with grippable member portions shaped and formed therein.  
     
     
         7 . A grip according to  claim 6 , wherein the means for rigidly connecting the handle to the shaft comprises a socket provided in the handle for the shaft.  
     
     
         8 . A golf putter comprising: 
 a club head having: a rear part defining a heel; a front part defining a toe; a head axis extending between the heel and the toe; a substantially planar sole which is arranged substantially parallel to the head axis; a lateral axis lying in the plane of the sole and arranged normal to the head axis; and a planar striking face on one lateral side of the club head, the planar striking face being arranged parallel to the head axis and substantially transverse to the sole;    a shaft having: a lower end operatively rigidly attached to the club head; an upper end disposed upwardly and rearwardly from the lower end; and a longitudinal axis extending between the upper end and the lower end, the longitudinal axis being disposed at an angle of 10-20° to a plane which is normal to the head axis and lying in a plane that is arranged substantially normal to the sole and includes the head axis; and    an elongate handle having a first end disposed substantially longitudinally upwardly from the upper end of the shaft and extending therefrom substantially longitudinally, downwardly to a second end operatively rigidly attached to the upper end of the shaft and contiguous therewith, the handle having a body portion intermediate the first end and the second end;    the handle being provided, on a front surface of the handle adjacent the body portion, with a substantially flat thumb-receiving surface having a profile arranged substantially parallel to the lateral axis, and with the thumb-receiving surface arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and further being provided with a pair of substantially flat finger-receiving surfaces which are disposed on opposite lateral side surfaces of the handle adjacent the second end, and are arranged substantially normal to the thumb-receiving surface, wherein the handle tapers in lateral width and in thickness as it extends from the body portion to the second end, thereby to define a substantially pointed portion of the handle adjacent to the body portion and including the second end, and wherein the finger-receiving surfaces are formed on the pointed portion of the handle;    wherein the handle is shaped and dimensioned to be gripped by the hands of a user in a grip hold wherein: the thumbs of the user point substantially towards the club head and are disposed in side-by-side relation upon the thumb-receiving surface; the index finger of each hand lies against the thumb of each hand and against a respective one of the finger-receiving surfaces; the tips of the middle fingers of the hands touch one another and lie against the respective index fingers thereof and against a rear surface of the handle; and the ring and small fingers of the hands are intertwined.    
     
     
         9 . A golf putter according to  claim 8 , wherein the handle is further provided with two front beveled surfaces extending between the pointed portion and the first end, with each of the front beveled surfaces intermediate the front surface and a respective one of the opposite lateral side surfaces of the handle; and wherein the grip hold is such that the palm of each hand of the user lies against a respective one of the front beveled surfaces.  
     
     
         10 . A golf putter according to  claim 9 , wherein each of the front beveled surfaces widens as it extends from the pointed portion to the first end, as aforesaid.  
     
     
         11 . A golf putter according to  claim 10 , wherein the handle tapers in thickness as it extends from the first end to the pointed portion at a rate of taper that is less pronounced than the taper of the handle in thickness as it extends from the body portion to the second end, as aforesaid.  
     
     
         12 . A golf putter according to  claim 11 , wherein the handle is further provided with two rear beveled surfaces each intermediate the rear surface and a respective one of the opposite lateral side surfaces of the handle; and wherein the grip hold is such that portions of the middle fingers of each hand of the user lie against a respective one of the rear beveled surfaces.  
     
     
         13 . A golf putter according to  claim 12 , wherein the thumb-receiving surface is provided with grippable member portions shaped and formed therein.  
     
     
         14 . A method of instruction pertaining to putting in golf which comprises guiding a golfer to grip the handle of a putter in a grip hold wherein: the thumbs of the golfer point substantially towards the club head and are disposed in side-by-side relation upon a front surface of the handle; 
 the index finger of each hand lies against the thumb of each hand and against a respective one of opposite lateral side surfaces of the handle; the tips of the middle fingers of the hands touch one another and lie against a rear surface of the handle, with portions of the middle finger of each hand lying against respective opposite lateral side surfaces of the handle and against the respective index finger of each hand; and the ring and small fingers of the hands are intertwined.