Rotating and axially moving putter grip

Abstract

A system and method is presented for a putter grip having a lower section that is free to both rotate and axially slide along the putter shaft. In the preferred embodiment, this lower grip section slides and rotates over a core upon which is mounted an upper grip section that does not move relative to the putter shaft. The lower grip section is restrained in its axial movement to a portion of the putter shaft through the use of movement stops.

1 . A golf club as specified by the United States Golf Association definitions and key design characteristic regarding clubs in general and more specifically putters and putters with two grips. (ref. www.usga.org “The rules of Golf”) Appendix II.  
   
   
       2 . The golf club as defined in  claim 1 . with the added feature of the lower grip allowed to function kinetically as an inversion of a crank-slide mechanism (ref. Kent's Mechanical Engineers' Handbook, Copyright 1915 by William Kent) and (www-2.cs.cmu.edu/People/rapidproto/mechanisms/chpt5.html) chapter 5.2.7 figure 5-14d  
   
   
       3 . A method of putting a ball using a pendulum characteristic swing that has a club head velocity in both the back swing and forward swing directions according to the acceleration and velocity of the lower grip slide-link mechanism.  
   
   
       4 . Further the slide-link method of putting allows for better distance control because the putter head velocity at impact or force imparted to the ball is the result of two velocity vectors of the lower grip, one being the velocity of the slide-link along the club shaft and the second being the velocity of the slide-link in the fore-aft swing direction.  
   
   
       5 . Further the slide-link method creates smooth ball roll every time because the relationship of the putter shaft is always at the optimum vertical position at ball strike since the upper grip is held in a fixed location throughout the swing for all putts regardless of the distance or length of putt.  
   
   
       6 . Further the slide-link method of putting eliminates many of the variables present with the conventional putting stroke, i.e. the confounding of both target line and distance along with the body motion—shoulder roll, the inter actions of left and right arms as well as the hands.