Golf putter shaft and grip and method for gripping golf club

Abstract

An improved putter shaft and grip wherein the grip has a thumb stop and a finger stop both recessed in the surface of the grip parallel to the direction of putting to allow desired loose gripping of the putter, consistent gripping location, and proper alignment for swinging of the putter in the intended direction. In an alternate form, the grip and shaft are formed with a plurality of alternating circular and rectangular cross-sections extending from the top of the shaft toward the club head, with the rectangular cross-sections allowing the shaft of the club head to fit between desired fingers on either hand of the golfer.

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 than 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 covering 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, 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.    
     
     
         15 . A grip for a golf putter comprising a main gripping body having an upper end, a lower end and an exterior gripping surface, and a thumb stop recessed in said surface at a location for gripping engagement by a thumb of a hand of a golfer to allow relatively loose gripping of the putter without lengthwise sliding of the grip in the hand of the golfer.  
     
     
         16 . A grip for a golf putter according to  claim 15  characterized further in that said thumb stop is substantially inclined inwardly from said surface.  
     
     
         17 . A grip for a golf putter comprising a main gripping body having an upper end, a lower end and an exterior gripping surface, and a thumb stop recessed in said surface at a location for gripping engagement by a thumb of a hand of a golfer and facing generally normal to the intended direction of the putting stroke of the putter, thereby facilitating stroking of the putter in the intended direction.  
     
     
         18 . A grip for a golf putter according to  claim 17  and characterized further in that said thumb stop is generally flat widthwise and extends generally parallel to the intended direction of the putting stroke of the putter.  
     
     
         19 . A grip for a golf putter comprising a main gripping body having an upper end, a lower end and an exterior gripping surface, and a thumb stop recessed in said surface at a location for gripping engagement by a thumb of a hand of a golfer to allow relatively loose gripping of the putter without lengthwise sliding of the grip in the hand of the golfer, said thumb stop being substantially inclined inwardly from said surface and faces generally normal to the intended direction of the putting stroke of the putter, thereby facilitating stroking of the putter in the intended direction, said thumb stop being generally flat widthwise and extending generally parallel to the intended direction of the putting stroke of the putter.  
     
     
         20 . A grip for a golf putter comprising a main gripping body having an upper end, a lower end and an exterior gripping surface, and a finger stop recessed in said surface at a location for gripping engagement by a finger of a hand of a golfer to allow relatively loose gripping of the putter without lengthwise sliding of the grip in the hand of the golfer.  
     
     
         21 . A grip for a golf putter according to  claim 20  characterized further in that said finger stop is substantially inclined inwardly from said surface.  
     
     
         22 . A grip for a golf putter comprising a main gripping body having an upper end, a lower end and an exterior gripping surface, and a finger stop recessed in said surface at a location for gripping engagement by a finger of a hand of a golfer and facing generally normal to the intended direction of the putting stroke of the putter, thereby facilitating stroking of the putter in the intended direction.  
     
     
         23 . A grip for a golf putter according to  claim 22  and characterized further in that said finger stop is generally flat widthwise and extends generally parallel to the intended direction of the putting stroke of the putter.  
     
     
         24 . A grip for a golf putter comprising a main gripping body having an upper end, a lower end and an exterior gripping surface, and a finger stop recessed in said surface at a location for gripping engagement by a finger of a hand of a golfer to allow relatively loose gripping of the putter without lengthwise sliding of the grip in the hand of the golfer, said finger stop being substantially inclined inwardly from said surface and faces generally normal to the intended direction of the putting stroke of the putter, thereby facilitating stroking of the putter in the intended direction, said finger stop being generally flat widthwise and extending generally parallel to the intended direction of the putting stroke of the putter.  
     
     
         25 . A grip for a golf putter comprising a main gripping body having an upper end, a lower end and an exterior gripping surface, a thumb stop recessed in said surface at a location for gripping engagement by a thumb of a hand of a golfer, and a finger stop recessed in said surface opposite said thumb stop at a location for gripping engagement by a finger of the hand when the thumb of the hand is in engagement with said thumb stop, said thumb stop and said finger stop allowing relatively loose gripping of the putter without lengthwise sliding of the grip in the hand of the golfer.  
     
     
         26 . A grip for a golf putter according to  claim 25  and characterized further in that said thumb stop and said finger stop are substantially inclined inwardly from said surface.  
     
     
         27 . A grip for a golf putter comprising a main gripping body having an upper end, a lower end and an exterior gripping surface, a thumb stop recessed in said surface at a location for gripping engagement by thumb of a hand of a golfer, and a finger stop recessed in said surface opposite said thumb stop at a location for gripping engagement by a finger of a hand of a golfer and facing generally normal to the intended direction of the putting stroke of the putter, thereby facilitating stroking of the putter in the intended direction.  
     
     
         28 . A grip for a golf putter according to  claim 27  and characterized further in that said thumb stop and said finger stop are generally flat widthwise and extend generally parallel to the intended direction of the putting stroke of the putter.  
     
     
         29 . A grip for a golf putter comprising a main gripping body having an upper end, a lower end and an exterior gripping surface, a thumb stop recessed in said surface at a location for gripping engagement by a thumb of a hand of a golfer, and a finger stop recessed in said surface opposite said thumb stop at a location for gripping engagement by a finger of the hand when the thumb of the hand is in engagement with said thumb stop, said thumb stop and said finger stop allowing relatively loose gripping of the putter without lengthwise sliding of the grip in the hand of the golfer, said thumb stop and said finger stop being substantially inclined inwardly from said surface and facing generally normal to the intended direction of the putting stroke of the putter, and being generally flat widthwise and extending generally parallel to the intended direction of the putting stroke of the putter, thereby facilitating stroking of the putter in the intended direction.